Okutama

Lake Okutama

Okutama (奥多摩) is a mountainous region along the Tama River, at the extreme western end of Tokyo.

Understand

Tourist information site

The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site with integrated Google Translate.

Get in

By train

1 Oku-Tama Station (note the hyphen, or else you won't find it in route searches) is located at the end of the JR Ome Line. From Tokyo and Shinjuku, take a Chuo Line rapid service to Ome (which might require a transfer at Tachikawa, depending on which rapid train you catch), then change trains in Ome for Oku-Tama. The trip from central Tokyo takes around 1¾-2 hours and costs ¥1,080.

Get around

Several buses ply the main routes in Okutama, and taxis and rental cars are also available around Oku-Tama Station. The town itself and several mountain hiking areas are within walking distance of the station.

Do

• Trekkling (1 min from Okutama station). Rent-a-bike and bike tours, including a wasabi farm tour guided by David, Australian ex-reporter. Its website is bilingual. 

Hot springs

Okutama is home to several hot springs.

• 1 Moegi-no-yu (もえぎの湯), 119-1 Hikawa (10 minutes walk from Okutama Station.), ☏ +81 428-82-7770. Tu-Su. A hot spring that features views of the Tama River valley. Adults ¥750. 

Outdoors

The areas around Okutama and Mitake stations receive the most visitors, but the smaller stations in between are also good for hiking in the hills or enjoying riverside scenery and camping.

• 2 Lake Okutama (奥多摩湖). Located behind a large dam on the Tama River is the largest lake in Tokyo. The western end of the lake extends into Yamanashi. Regular buses are available from Okutama Station (20 min). There's also a mostly gentle 9-km hiking trail called the "Mukashi-michi" (昔道, "old road") that can get you there in about 4 hours. 
• 3 Mount Gozen (御前山). Hiking trails lead to the 1,405 m summit. 
• 4 Mount Odake (大岳山), Hinohara. Hiking trails lead to the 1,267 m summit. 
• 5 Nippara Caves (日原鍾乳洞), ☏ +81 428-83-8491. Full of stalagmites and stalactites, can be reached by bus. 
• 6 Mount Mitake (御岳山). This 929 m mountain is famous for the mountaintop Mitake Shrine. If you don't want to hike up the mountain, a ropeway and bus service cover most of the distance between the shrine and Mitake Station on the Ome Line. On a clear day you can see all of Tokyo as well as Nikko's peaks to the northeast. From the mountaintop there are trails, some quite strenuous, that can make for a good half-day of hiking. 
• 7 Tokyo Summerland (東京サマーランド), 600 Kamiyotsugi, Akiruno City (30 minutes by bus from Hachioji station), ☏ +81 42-558-6511. Big pools complex with many attractions. ¥3500. 

Eat

Wasabi-zuke (わさび漬け) is Wasabi stem and leaf pickled in sake lees, which you can find for about ¥400-500. A good companion to a bowl of rice or sake itself.

Sleep

Budget

Okutama is home to many campgrounds, quite a few of which will allow you to pitch a tent for free.

Mid-range

There are a number of minshuku in the area, charging around ¥6,000 per night.

Splurge

• 1 Suiko-en (水香園), Kawai 640 (Near Kawai Station.), ☏ +81 428-85-2221. The most expensive ryokan in the area. ¥18,000 and up. 

Go next

• Hinohara
• Ome
• Hinode
• Akiruno
• Hamura
• Fussa
• Hanno
• Tabayama
• Hachioji
• Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park

Routes through Okutama

END ←	W  E	→ Ōme → Haijima → Tachikawa
END ←	N  S	→ Otsuki → Fuji Yoshida → Fujinomiya
Kofu ← Koshu ←	W  E	→ Ome → Hachioji