The Otama Walking Trail is a nice and easy 8km trail in Okutama, in western Tokyo. It follows the valley formed by the Tama River from Kori station to Okutama station. I had already followed the section of the trail in Hatonosu Valley last autumn but I came back for the whole trail in spring. It took me about 3.5 hours to reach Okutama.
A couple of weeks ago, I went to Okutama in western Tokyo on a hike to Mount Otake and Mount Mitake.
After Todoroki Valley, I continued walking south until I reached the Tama River (多摩川). It is the same river that passes through Okutama and Ome. I then followed it until Tamagawadai Park, famous for its hydrangea (which bloom in early summer).
Okutama Mukashi Michi (literally “Okutama’s Old Road”) is a 9km path that roughly follows the Tama River from Okutama Station (the last stop of the Ome Line) to Ogouchi Dam and Lake Okutama. It used to be the main road in the area, until 1945 when the new road, which had been constructed originally for transporting material for the construction of Ogouchi Dam, became open to the public. Nowadays, the Mukashi Michi is a popular walking course that goes through mountain trails and paved roads, passing by suspension bridges, shrines and waterfalls along the way and offering a great view on the surrounding mountains, especially now with autumn colors near their peak.
The Otama Trail is in Okutama City, in Nishitama District, the westernmost area of Tokyo. It is a gentle path that follows the Tama River from Kori to Okutama through well-built trails, mountain roads and suspension bridges. I followed it for a short section, from Hatonosu to Shiromaru Dam. Autumn colors were not fully there yet but the sights were still great.
Earlier this week, I went on a hike in Ome City, in the western part of Toyko. Heading north of Ikusabata Station on the Ome line, I took a trail through the forest, passing through the summits of Mount Takamizu (高水山, 759m), Mount Iwatakeishi (岩茸石山, 793m) and Mount Sogaku (惣岳山, 756m) before going down to Mitake, where I spent some time strolling on the banks of Tama River.
Earlier this week, I went on a hike to Mount Mitake to Mount Otake and Okutama, in the mountains in the western part of Tokyo.