Another green escape that got away from us - while Tokyo's famous parks like Ueno and Shinjuku Gyoen get all the attention, Sayama Natural Park sounds like one of those perfect urban oases where you can actually forget you're in Tokyo. We're talking about nearly 8 square kilometers of proper nature, not just manicured garden spaces.

Established back in 1951, it's one of those places that proves Tokyo isn't all neon and skyscrapers. The Sayama Hills (which apparently inspired some Studio Ghibli landscapes, and this is why it made our list) offer a completely different side of the city that most tourists never see.