Okutama in western Tokyo: A breath of fresh air

(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

Japan’s tsuyu rainy season has just started and the steamy weather will continue until late July in the Kanto and other parts of Honshu. To avoid the heat and sticky weather, my wife, daughter and I took a refreshing escape to Okutama in western Tokyo.

(Okutama)

This mountainous region is blessed with beautiful forests, lakes and rivers offering a nice one-day driving route from most U.S. military bases in the Kanto Plain.

Anxious for cool, fresh air and beautiful landscapes, we left our home in Yokosuka City around 8 a.m. We drove through Yoko-Yoko, Tomei and Chuo Expressways, and it was around 9:30 a.m. when we got to Ome City. It was Saturday, but the route was not too crowded, which let us enjoy pleasant driving through the beautiful green valley of Tama River as we made our way to Ozawa Shuzo Brewery.

Hiking around old traditional brewery

Ozawa Shuzo, one of the oldest sake breweries in Tokyo, sits in a valley along the Tama River. Since opening its doors in 1705, the brewery has been brewing high-quality sake using rice and spring water of the Okutama Valley. The large brewery has a sizeable garden spreading along the riverside, complete with a restaurant, museum and souvenir shops.

We left the car in the parking lot of the brewery and ventured out for a stroll in the large brewery garden and along the riverside path in the cool breeze from the Tama River.

We visit the brewery grounds and sample some of the restaurant’s delicacies like handmade sweet-bean buns and wasabi-flavored tofu nuggets while overlooking the river and bright red suspension bridge. If you are not the designated driver, don’t forget to sample the brewery’s high-end sake brand “Sawanoi,” as the extremely mellow and smooth flavor pairs well with the menu.

Sawanoi (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

If you have time, join a 30-minute guided tour that includes a walk through the brewery’s wooden store house and water springs.

We enjoyed hours of hiking the beautiful nature trails along the river and saw some visitors enjoying fishing and rafting in the area.

Before we left the brewery, I made sure to buy a large bottle of delicious sake as a souvenir to take home.

Ozawashuzo Brewery

Location: 2-770 Sawai, Ome City, Tokyo

Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. M-S

WEBSITE

Tel: 0428-78-8215

Exploring a large limestone cave

Our next stop in the area was a drive through a narrow, cliffy road to arrive at the Nippara Shonyudo limestone cave.

This cave with an internal temperature of a cool 52 degrees Fahrenheit is an ideal place to escape the heat and humidity in the summer. This serene spot also once served as a sacred Buddhist site for meditation and training, so the rock formations and halls have names with Buddhist origins. We checked out the Hakuikannon (Bodhisattva in White Dress), Jigokudani (valley of Hell) and Amidanohara (The Field of Amitabha) as we explored this bright, illuminated cave. Standing in the large space underground made us feel as if we were traveling in the galaxy.

To tell you the truth, we weren’t expecting the cave to cool us down enough to need a jacket. But once we started walking along the cave stairs and different areas the temperature was fine.

Nippara Shonyudo (Limestone Cave)

(Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

Location: 1052 Nippara, Okutama Town, Nishikitama-gun, Tokyo (Parking lot is available for 700 vehicles)

Hours: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. M-S

Admission: 900 yen for adults; 700 yen for middle school students; 600 yen for elementary students.

Driving around Okutama Lake

Okutama Lake (Photo by Takahiro Takiguchi)

After we delved underground, the next leg of our tour brought us to Okutama Lake, a man-made reservoir which provides over 20 percent of Tokyo’s water supply. Many visitors enjoy leisurely walks and drives around the lake to enjoy its lush, forested surroundings.

The 13-mile Okutama Shuyudoro skyline makes for a nice, smooth drive and the view from the top of the area’s mountain ranges is breathtaking. We usually tour around the area in early November to check out the gorgeous autumn colors.

Drop by two parking lots, Tsukiyomi No.1 and No.2, as they are known for their splendid views of the lake and surrounding mountains.

The drive through the forests of fresh green leaves were simply beautiful, and the strong sunshine of early summer made us feel as if we were dreaming. We encountered a large group of monkeys with babies, standing aside the winding mountainous path and looking at us... the babies were so cute!

Ending trip with hot soak

It was already close to 3 p.m. and we were hungry, so we headed to the onsen for a soak and a nice lunch.

There are six one-day spa facilities in the Okutama area, perfect for a relaxing end to your hike or long drive.

These warm springs, rich in sodium and chloride, were relaxing after a long day. The spa contains various bathing pools and tubs as well as some dining facilities. We enjoyed a good soak and a light meal before we hit road at around 5 p.m.

Although we are now in the mid of the unpleasant rany season, don’t let the rain get you down as there are plenty of sunny days throughout. So, take advantage of the sunny day to head to Okutama for some driving, hiking and cool river breezes!

Kazuma-no-yu (hotspring)