Doraemon lives here, in a manner of speaking. The museum of Fujiko F. Fujio, the manga artist who created the robot cat, stands in the green hills of Kawasaki's Tama ward, a short ride south of the Tama River, and it is a pilgrimage site for anyone who grew up with the character. Next to it, the Ikuta Ryokuchi park preserves a collection of old farmhouses brought from all over Japan, with thatched roofs, earthen floors and open hearths, a world away from the city.
This finish lies on the edge of Tokyo, between Komae and the Tama River, where the hills of the Tama area rise from the flat plain. The river is broad and gravelly, with wide banks used for sports, picnics and walking, and on summer evenings it is a cool, open space in the crowded city.
Noborito, on the Kawasaki side, is a lively neighbourhood with a station, shops and restaurants, and the hills behind it are covered with woods and parks. The view from the hills over the river and the city is fine on a clear day.
Coming back from Okutama and Chichibu, the last leg runs along the Tama River downstream, through the suburbs of western Tokyo, and the traffic can be heavy. Plan for delays on weekend evenings.
The museum and folk-house park keep daytime hours, so this works best if you are back by mid-afternoon. Otherwise, settle for the river: park near the bank, watch the trains rumble across the bridge, and let the mountains of Okutama replay in your head.