The western suburbs of Tokyo go on and on, and Nishitokyo, Kiyose and the old town of Tanashi sit in the middle of them: a quiet, flat, residential belt of low houses, apartment blocks, train stations and shopping streets, about twenty kilometres from the centre. Nishitokyo was formed in 2001 when Tanashi and Hoya merged, and its tallest landmark is a slim tower that carries broadcasting and observation equipment, visible from far away.
Kiyose, just to the north, has an unusual history. In the early twentieth century its clean air and woods made it a centre for tuberculosis sanatoria, and the town became one of Japan's main hospital areas. Many medical institutions remain today, and the woods that once healed the sick still survive in patches, along with the Yanase river valley, where you can walk along the water among fields and groves. Elsewhere, the suburbs are a mix of new houses and old farm plots, where vegetables are still grown in small fields between homes.
It is a logical end to a Tanzawa and Doshi Road day. The Doshi Road, Route 413, runs from Sagamihara through a beautiful forested valley to Lake Yamanaka at the foot of Mount Fuji, with river crossings, tight curves and steep climbs, and it is a favourite with Tokyo riders, though it gets crowded at weekends and police are often present. The ride back usually comes in on the Chuo expressway or along the roads through Hachioji and Tachikawa, and then into the long suburbs. Expect heavy traffic, lots of lights, and slow progress in the late afternoon.
There are plenty of convenience stores, family restaurants, ramen shops and fuel stations around, and many train lines into central Tokyo, which helps if someone is collecting you. It is not a beautiful place, but it is calm, safe and practical, and after a long day in the mountains, a hot bath at a local sento, the public bath that many Tokyo neighbourhoods still have, may be the best end you could wish for.