Nice dam lake with the beautiful views surrounding the lake with the bridges.

I visited this place on 29 Nov 2024. There were very few tourists. Traveling here is quite limited if you don’t drive, as the area is quite vast. However, there are buses available. I love this place; it’s more beautiful than I could have imagined. But it takes quite a long time to get here and requires several transfers. If you have time, finding accommodation nearby would make the trip less tiring.

Oct. 14, 2024 2nd monday of October. Sports day. From the parking with the toilet head to the dam Cross to the other side, and in the middle of the bridge, there's observatory. Don't miss it! It's worth going to see the dam structure and miniature.

It is a beautiful lake accessible by train and bus from central Tokyo in about 2.5h. The lake has a serene atmosphere which is very soothing after experiencing busy Tokyo.

I came here by bus from Okutama JR station. I stopped at Lake Okutama “奥多摩湖”. Firstly, I surprised about the big lake and it’s beautiful deep blue color. Then I climbed the observatory to see the whole scene of the Lake, the Ogouchi dam, the mountains. It was a bit scary to look down from the window but it was a great view. There is a good atmosphere and a beautiful nature here. I was healed so much from my busy days.

Definitely an must visit place if you are Japan. One of the beautiful places I visited. Prefered time to visit is autumn. You can get busses from Okutama station to Lake Okutama. The journey with mountains valleys and autumn colours will be amazing to see. Get down at the dam and spend sometime there. But the real view comes later take the bus from the dam again and get down at Ideno bus stop. This place seems like no where but if you walk a little 100m from the bus stop you can find a opening that will lead you down hill and directly to the bank of the lake. You can get the best view of Lake and the surrounding mountains from here. It was stony and dangerous but also exciting and thrilling.

Beautiful lake! Nice parking area

This expansive, beautifully winding limestone cave seems popular with young Japanese couples and friend groups for dates and outings. The cave itself is impressively deep with stunning geological formations and refreshingly cool air that provides relief from outside heat. However, getting there is genuinely terrifying. The access road is single-lane both ways, forcing cars to back toward cliff edges when meeting oncoming traffic. Most incredibly, regular buses navigate this route multiple times daily - I cannot fathom how drivers manage this, especially during rain or fog when visibility drops to zero due to mist. The bus drivers deserve serious respect for their skill and courage. If you can handle the nerve-wracking journey and brief moments wondering if the cave might collapse, you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular natural wonder. Just be prepared for white-knuckle driving and quick cave visits due to the challenging access.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Really enjoyed exploring the Nippara Limestone Caves with my guide, Ayumu. It was one of the highlights of my trip. Be warned! The temperature within the caves drop down to 10 degrees (this was during Summer time and I was looking at the thermometer inside the caves drop down). It’s best to bring a jacket. The cave inside has lots of twist and turns with some small openings, so be careful when walking up the stairs (you might bump your head). Inside, it’s quite a sight to behold and very tranquil.

A cool cave system to explore. It’s quite cold (around 5-10 Celsius) so bring a jacket. Though you might build up a sweat since there are SO MANY stairs to climb around the cave. And these stairs are very steep and slippery, so you have to tread carefully. Make sure to bring a jacket and a pair of non-slip shoes. As for things to see around the cave - there are a few shrines, large caverns, and stalactites and stalagmites to view. I’m not particularly interested in these things, but it was an experience to visit once. My boyfriend who really loves nature loved this though. Regarding facilities, they are well-developed. There are restrooms, a small store/restaurant, and even a smoking area. Once we bought tickets, they also gave us some themed bookmarks. If you’re in the Okutama area, I think this would be worthwhile to see. I don’t think it’d be worth it to come to the area just for this spot though. It is quite difficult to get here (45min bus ride from Okutama station that only has a few runs per day)

This was a fun and unique experience on my trip to Japan. The drive here was scenic and exciting- full of winding, narrow mountain roads and amazing views. The entire cave system is lit, but I recommend bringing your own headlamp so that you can peek around unlit crevices. My friend once found an old 1960s Fanta can. He brought it home but later thought that it had bad energy as he was having nightmares and night sickness which ended as soon as he got rid of the can. I believe him because this place is quite eerie. There is a shrine in the back full of small piles of stones that were assembled by grieving parents and which allegedly hold the souls of their lost babies and fetuses. The legend says that these souls are here as punishment for the pain that they caused their parents. There is also a deep section of the cave called "Hell's crevice," and there was a miniature shrine building labeled "the black gate" down in that section. If you don't know any of this, then you can just stroll through the caves with the only impediment being the many stairs and the bats - some of the bats are lurking in tight spaces where they could be close to your head. But if you do know all of this information, then there's an extra layer of eeriness about the caves and you find yourself imagining what you would do if the power went out. Thankfully I had the headlamp lol. Price was very affordable, you will probably spend more on gas getting here if you drive than you do on the admission. The cave only took 1 hour to explore, so we also visited some local hiking trails, the local gorge and canyon, and a local onsen.

It's extremely lovely. Please highly recommended to visit, especially for the people who love old caves. 7000 years old. Moreover, it's kind of cold inside 11 degrees, and good pictures can be taken inside and along the way to the caves.

One of the highlights of the Okutama area, the Nippara Limestone cave is huge and fascinating except that there are no signs or descriptions in English so you do not know what you are looking at. We went on a weekday so it is not crowded at all. (although there is a huge 200 lot car park nearby so I would assume it gets very crowded in the weekends)

Very nice place. You will enjoy the creations of mother nature. You need walk on narrow and shorter ceiling areas. And also steep staircases like ladders. Sometimes you need to twist your body (depends on your size).

Got there around 11 am. Available parking even though there were tons of people. We were able to catch 5 trouts and had them grill them for us. Slightly pricey for what it is as they’re not wild but more thrown into a pond. You can bbq and picnic freely. We had fun.

Great place to visit near tokyo in about 2 hours distance to the location. Locates 10 minutes walk from okutama station . Good environment with not so costly price . You can lend fishing goods there and can take home all the fishes you caught as well.

It's nice but overcrowded! My kids had fun fishing and eating the fish we caught.

Really nice fishing area, you can rent all the stuff here and BBQ here as well. Feels colder because of the river so dress appropriately. On the website they mention that you can get fish cleaned professionally, but I didn't see that service, I had to clean by myself. The prices are a bit on the high side, I feel the afternoon only pass is more worth it

Literally a walk from the end of the rail line. Here you can walk from the station and for a few catch your meal. The fish are stocked, the choice is live or artificial bait. The hidden gem is the restaurant, great curry, great view, relaxed atmosphere. Highly recommended even if you don't fish.

The restaurant in the place is idyllic with ok food. The fishing area feels like a scam - they charge you 1,700 yen for basic rods and then charge for each person separately as well as for the bait. The fishery organizer was quite rude - he refused to sell rods and tickets separately to us as we were two families. Also, the fish are about 15cm long (6 inches) and released only when you pay. Many do not catch fish at all. Nice for kids but not a good experience overall except for the restaurant. There are also a lot better fisheries.

Fantastic trout fishing experience. They refill the area with trout to make sure that people have something to catch. It's a nice surprise if you are able to catch the mountain trout that are naturally there - not the ones they release into the water. It's better to focus on fishing earlier in the morning when the fish bite more so you can have more catch, and start grilling them early afternoon. They only accept cash and paypay so make sure you have either ready.

11-Feb-2025 #intothewild At the Top of Tokyo: Mount Kumotori (2017.1m) 🥾🧗‍♀️🏔️ This is highest point of Tokyo and route easy but very long. We started our hike from Mitsumine Shrine around 11AM and arrived at Kumotori sanso at 6PM. For hikers, we suggest to arrive at least before 4PM. We stayed at Kumotori sanso. Next day we started at 6AM and sun was already on horizon. It took 1hr to reach the peak of Mt Kumotori. It was windy and cold in peak so we only stayed couple of minutes there. For about an hour we stayed in emergency shelter near peak. The shelter is well established with toilets too but no water. We enjoyed breakfast in shelter with beautiful view from there. Around 8:30 we descended to Okutama. Always wanted to do winter hike, and on this special occasion of my birthday we embark for this challenge. It was also the birthplace of one my favorite anime Kamado Tanjiro (Demon Slayer)🥷 It was tough and memorable days with my beautiful wife❤️

Standing at 2,017 meters, Mt. Kumotori is the tallest mountain in Tokyo Prefecture—and a 2-day, 1-night climb that's well worth the effort. We hiked on a Monday and had the trail mostly to ourselves (only five guests stayed at the lodge that night, including us). In June, the insects are relentless—no amount of repellent will fully keep them away. A face net is your best defense, along with light-colored clothing. We started our hike at 10:30 AM and reached the lodge around 3:30 PM, including a 40-minute break to take shelter from the rain. Just follow the trail signs and use Google Translate when needed. However some of the signages cannot be read but we were very lucky to bump into climbers coming down which were able to point us the direction (there is just 1 part of the trail midway which is confusing and a wrong turn will lead you back down the mountain on the other side.)

Took me 8.5 hours to get to the top and to get back. If you are a slower hiker, it is better to take the first bus. Otherwise it will be too dark for you to come back....alive.

Totally recommend warming up by starting from a breakfast spot on the lake level. I dropped 1 stop before Kamosawa and ate my bread on the Tozura floating bridge. The approach to the parking lot was fairly easy to find. At the end of October, this route saw more traffic as my wife said it was some holiday period in Japan. Everyone was friendly on the trail, I lost track of the number of greetings I said up the forest tracks. Interestingly, there were a few water spring spots along the hike in the forest and the approach after the Nanatsuishi hut. I would pretend these had extra minerals and chug them sparingly from my bottle till the end of my hike. This year (2023) also saw more bear sightings according to the news, and my mother in law packed a rusty bear bell for me carry, though the 'ching ching' does sounds like dinner bells to my ears. Once you ascended Nanatsuishi, you can see Kumotori in the distant cloudy tree tops. Tracing the top of the ridge would bring you past a helipad and up rocky zig zags slopes before finally seeing the shelter hut at the top. Foolishly, I chose the dark descent to Sanjo no Yu which was my hut, and the next hour saw a desolated, quiet descent which saw a few huge animals rustling away from the chingaling bells from my hips. I saw glimpses of 2 deers and 1 white animal which I believe to be a goat. Overall I loved the climb despite the complaints from my thighs and feet.

A very long trek to the top from Kamosawa bus stop. Easy to climb except for some steep sections near the top. A very good experience that also included encounters with deer, monkey and a cat at the Mt. Nanatsu cabin. The trek itself is easy but feels difficult due to the long and unending trail to the top. I covered 24 km. in a single day starting at 0758 in the morning and finished at 1845 in the evening. I do not recommend a day trip to this mountain but if you want to make sure to reach the trailhead by 0600 in the morning(only possible by car/taxi), or take the 0534 bus from Okutama station that will drop you near the trailhead at 0608.

Great mountain! A bit snowy during the winter, but still beautiful views. When I had visited, a local had offered to let me stay a night in his home in fear of the mythical oni that roamed at night. I had declined at first, but he insisted. The next morning, I kept venturing up the mountain until a foul smell hit my nose, and from there I decided to turn back. Other than that, great experience!

Amazing view of Mt Fuji and Minami Alpes. For hiking is great. It’s not a hard trail, just some steep parts, however it is long one, around 10 km until the top. There’s a place to sleep, bring your sleeping bag.

a wonderful place to go after hiking :) you will have to wait a while if you ordered the grilled river fish (20+ minutes)

One of the best meals we had in Okutama. This remote, charming restaurant is known for its delicious mushroom pot rice and perfectly grilled sweetfish. Ordering is simple with a tablet menu. Be sure to try one of the meat set meals—either yakiniku or yakitori—and don’t miss out on adding the mushroom pot rice. It's a must. Open during lunch only.

It's a beautiful little restaurant back in the Okutama Hills. The building is the traditional style and has a gorgeous garden in the front. For being so small and off the beaten path, it's actually very popular and well run to accommodate a good amount of guests. I went on a cold November night and was still comfortable seated in the outside terrace thanks to the heater they had outside. The service is great! They also take all kinds of payment forms which is pretty rare in those countryside restaurants. But the food is certainly the highlight. Very clean. Very homemade. Very natural. After a day of hiking in the area it totally hit the spot. The rice they serve is very high quality. I would like to ask them which prefecture it comes from. The pickled items are just the right type of funky, and the shiitake mushrooms were delicious and almost tasted like beef. My o-kazu was pork yakiniku with dark miso sauce, which was so good. I will definitely be returning and recommending to friends. I'll have to try their signature dish next time: kamameshi.

My daughter and I were first on the list because we meant to be early. the place is quiet and you can relax. because we were the first on the list, we were given the best spot. where you can see the beautiful view. They serve food quickly. The food and the soup are delicious. I recommend this place

Awesome atmosphere good food. Loved the unagi set meal. There’s a wait time here and seems always busy till late afternoon. Orders came faster than I thought definitely coming here again. They also do takeouts.

Beautiful place and delicious food. It was a really wonderful discovery. The karage was excellent and also the zaru udon. The ambience is relaxing, and you get the chance to enjoy a meal while looking a traditional Japanese garden. Highly recommended

Great Food, Big Portions, Beautiful Location, Great Value!

Got lunch, really delicious food in a cozy atmosphere with a great view. Great escape from Tokyo!

Cycled here from Okutama and enjoyed the homemade ramen. Miso better than soy, now for the ride home with a stomach full of ramen

Took awhile to get here, but it was worth the trip. Right across is a beautiful lake which made waiting for a parking worth it. The food is great and the environment is calming. Recommend coming here at least once or twice a year.

Great local gem. Looks much better inside than outside and both Ramen and Soba are handmade and great

Mother's Day lunch 2024, great drive to the restaurant. It was busy but we were quickly seated and our ramen and soba noodles were delicious.

Had the most delicious chashu-men here!! Must visit, specially after a long run or a bicycle ride, or for no reason at all! :)

Nice view, good handmade ramen, lovely atmosphere

One of my favourite Japanese breweries so I was very pleased to visit the taproom for a few beers after a whole day cycling in Okutama. Nice setting, good staff, great beers. Unfortunately, the fish & fries had the saltiest fries I've possibly ever tasted and kinda ruined the whole dish. We couldn't eat them and saw other customers unable to finish them as well. Please adjust this! Everything else was great.

Very nice craft beer restaurant. Only open on weekends and National Holidays. 10 beers to choose from. A pint is a little expensive but good quality. Staff friendly and English is OK. Indoor and outdoor seating options. Very close to the train station and they have a shop for buying cans of beer across from the train station. Give it a try.

I don't drink but my husband absolutely loved their beer. As for the food, it is pity that they make karaage in their special beer batter but they don't use it for the fish and chips. Also, the fries were a bit too salty for my liking. The atmosphere was nice, especially at the outdoor seating.

few vegan options reduced to snacks...DOG FRIENDLY, to order you go to the cashier, and they hand you your beverage. beer is a plenty, the atmosphere is super up beat and really friendly, if you don't have a pint here you are missing out...bit confusing, it's down an alley across from the trail station.

Wonderful brewery in a gorgeous location. We loved all the beers, the laid back vibe of the garden and adorable out Japanese house. Plus the food is wonderful! The beer battered fried chicken is our favorite, but I also loved the duck ceasar salad.

Favorite micro brewery in Japan! Everything they make is incredible. If you're a craft beer lover, then this place is a must-visit. The brewery gets really crowded, especially on sunny days as there is outdoor seating in their garden/terrace. You can also purchase their cans to go at their can shop near the station. In terms of food, they mostly have meat and fried options, not a lot to choose from for vegetarians. The staff is very friendly and a few of them are English speakers. Great lunch spot for relaxing and hanging out with friends or after a long hike.

Really nice place with good food and locally produced craft beer. Unfortunately, we could not sample the beer because of the emergency situation (they are not serving alcohol) but you can take away canned beer from their near by brewery. The food was good and came in large portions. The minus one star was because of the slightly expensive price for food and no great options for families with kids seating-wise.

Traditional Japanese cuisine using fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Very tasty and not too expensive. The Good: supports the local economy, very fresh and delicious food for a good price. The Bad: The seating is a little uncomfortable, and the temperature was too warm inside The Bottom line: Great place to have a delicious lunch and support local business!

Bad attitude and rude to us. Not finished lunch but the woman keep pushing us to pay and leave. Ridiculous and suggest to eat somewhere else.

Enjoyable to the local delight food. From the clean mountain and river. I tried the single food(the rice and grilled fish with salt). Yes a bit expensive(mine was 2100-2200Yen) Take a look the menu table and try!

Enjoying the authentic Kamameshi set menu (rice, meat, and vegetable dish served in a small pot) at the Hatonosu Kamameshi restaurant!

This is one of the best japanese home cooked food feeling you can have! Please drop by before heading to Okutama!

Authentic Japanese food, not very common in Tokyo. Fresh river fish and mountain vegetable sets. Delicious.

Tempura is awesome 😍

Excellent soba. I've never had soba with grated yam before and I loved it. A beautiful shop in a picturesque place, and the service was so nice and friendly even tho I can barely communicate in Japanese

The soba is handmade and The texture is rich. You can refill the sauce of the soba if you need to. Oyakudon is amazingly delicious too. The order takes quite a long time to arrive because that time there are only people in the restaurant. But if you are not in a hurry, that'll be fine because the food is worth the wait. The restaurant is in front of the Times parking. We spend only¥100 on it because we just went there to it in Hatomi.

Decent soba noodle restaurant. Their signature morisoba (chilled soba served on a dish) is tasteful. Portion is a bit small though. Price is reasonable. Accept cash payment only.

After a short hike from 奥多摩, I stopped by this soba shop for lunch. I must say, the warm soba with meat was spot on!

The katsudon is delicious. The soba are good but a bit too soft for my taste.

Good food

One of the best totoro soba i ever had