2017.11.02
TokyoWalker

1 Hour and 40 Minutes from Shinjuku! Secluded Nature Spots at Lake Okutama, Tokyo

Okutama is an actual hidden gem that is easily accessible from central Tokyo. It is a secluded spot that is rich in nature. This article introduces what locals call the “Drum Bridge” at Lake Okutama.

Walk down the long stairs to the lake, and you'll come across the 220m-long Drum Bridge. The bridge made of connected buoys and rafts sways every time you take a step, making for an interesting time.

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Once you've had your fill of the wonderful panoramic view from the Drum Bridge, explore the path by the lake. It is recommended to take the hiking trail leading to Yama no Furusato Mura (Mountain of Furusato Village). Going and returning is a 5km hike. There are signs pointing towards nearby mountains for people that enjoy hiking. The view of Lake Okutama from the lakeshore is spectacularly special.
Light shines through the trees lining the mountain trail, so you can enjoy scenery that’s different from the open panoramic view from the Drum Bridge.

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The fall foliage is particularly beautiful in mid-November. The colorful trees that surround the lake, such as maple and Japanese zelkova, are reflected on the water.

Refresh your body and soul in Okutama, which is easy to get to, yet still full of nature.

■Lake Okutama
Phone: 0428-83-2152 (Okutama Tourist Information Center)
Hours: Open all day
Closed: None *Closed when winds are strong

Lake Okutama

Kawano, Okutama-machi, Nishitama-gun, Tokyo

[This article was originally published in Walkerplus on 10.11.2017]

*Please note that the information in this article is from the time of writing or publication and may differ from the latest information.