Sayama

Sayama Hills Prefectural Natural Park lies in the Tama Hills region of western Tokyo and neighboring Saitama Prefecture, forming one of the largest remaining green spaces within the greater Tokyo metropolitan area. Centered on Sayama Lake (also called Tama Lake), a reservoir constructed in the 1920s to supply drinking water to the capital, the park encompasses rolling forested ridges, wetlands, and satoyama landscapes typical of the Kanto hill country. Covering roughly 3,500 hectares across both prefectures, it serves as a vital ecological corridor and recreational refuge for tens of millions of urban residents. The park is managed jointly by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Saitama Prefecture, with visitor facilities spread across multiple entry points accessible by train and bus from central Tokyo in under an hour.