The Okutama/Ome area has a rich natural environment that one would not expect to find in the metropolis of Tokyo. From spring to fall, there are many leisure activities to enjoy in the great outdoors, such as camping, barbecues, and river sports.
Here is some recommended local information on Okutama/Ome. Okutama and Ome are home to sightseeing spots such as Mt. Mitake, Atago Shrine, and Mt. Untori, sightseeing events such as the Ome Marathon, Dondoyaki, and Daruma Market, and local delicacies such as sukiyaki, motsunabe, and soba noodles.
The Okutama-Akishima-Ome area is famous for Yoshino Plum Village, the largest plum village in the Kanto region. Yoshino Plum Village is located at the entrance to Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park, which is known as "the back seat of Tokyo." Surrounded by mountain streams and the Hinode Mountains, the area stretches 4 km from east to west and is rich in nature and culture, with facilities such as the Eiji Yoshikawa Memorial Museum and Kimono Museum displaying valuable cultural assets, and Sokuyoji Temple designated as a city historic site. Ome, a famous ume (Japanese apricot) blossoming area.
At "Ome City Ume Park," a famous ume blossom viewing spot, the annual Ume Festival is held from late February to late March, attracting many visitors to view the magnificent ume blossoms. The location in other seasons is also good, but once you visit during the Ume Festival, you will be amazed at the beautiful plum blossoms! Many visitors come to Yoshino Plum Blossom Viewing Festival in addition to Yoshino Plum Blossom Viewing Festival.
In addition to Yoshino Plum Village, there are many other places where you can fully enjoy nature, such as "Okutama Lake," where you can enjoy the beautiful seasonal scenery of Okutama Lake, which is so fused with nature that it seems man-made, "Akikawa Valley," a scenic spot where you can enjoy beautiful scenery such as fresh green and autumn leaves, "Hossawa Falls," which is one of the best 100 falls in Japan, "Showa Park" where you can see magnificent cherry blossoms, and "Shimogawa River. There are many spots where you can fully enjoy nature, such as "Showa Park" and "Shimogawa River.
Okutama, Akishima, and Ome are urban oases that can be reached in about an hour and a half from central Tokyo. There are many hiking mountains, campgrounds, and experience facilities, as well as the Ome Akatsuka Fujio Kaikan, an interesting and fun Akatsuka World theme museum featuring Fujio Akatsuka, one of the most famous cartoonists of the Showa period. In addition, there are also historic sites and art museums that can be enjoyed all year round.
At the Yamabuki Shop, directly managed by the Tourism Association, you will find Hinohara pickles, yuzu jam, yuzu miso, fresh vegetables, and other specialties of Hinohara Village made by members of the villagers' handmade association. Fresh vegetables and other specialties of Hinohara Village are available for sale.
The Akikawa Farmer's Center, a product center with a barbecue house and a snack corner, also sells freshly picked vegetables, fruits, plants, and bonsai trees, and many people stop by for souvenirs.
Refresh yourself in the nature-rich Okutama, Akishima, and Ome areas! Even within the greater Tokyo area, it is rare to find a place where you can enjoy nature to the fullest. You can fully enjoy the area even on a day trip from the center of Tokyo.