Another scorching hot summer has arrived this year. The conditions remain extremely tough for riding a motorcycle. But perhaps it's just the nature of a rider to want to go on a tour. So I thought, "That's right, I should go somewhere cool!" And so I decided to go to a limestone cave, which is said to be a natural refrigerator.
We set off for Okutama, but…
When I think of limestone caves, the first thing that comes to mind is Nippara Cave in Okutama. I've been there a few times, and it's a popular touring route, so I set off immediately, heading for Nippara. I
finally left Hachioji city and headed toward Akiruno, but it was incredibly hot and exhausting. That's because the temperature that day was over 35°C. I began to worry, "Will I even make it to Okutama?" So I quickly changed my destination and headed to Odake Cave in Akiruno City.
Odake Cave is located in the Yozawa district of Akiruno City, south of Mount Mitake. From Musashi-Itsukaichi Station, head toward Hibara on Tokyo Prefectural Route 33, Hibarakaido, then turn right at the Torigoi intersection and follow Tokyo Prefectural Route 201 deep into the mountains. However, instead of continuing straight ahead, we decided to pass by Minamisawa Hydrangea Mountain so that we could see the hydrangeas on our way.
The JR Itsukaichi Line ends at Musashi-Itsukaichi Station. Buses depart from here to Hinohara Village and Yozawa.
Minamisawa Hydrangea Mountain is home to approximately 10,000 hydrangeas, which are usually at their best from June to early July.
Minamizawa Forest Road is a paved forest road about 2.6 km long. The road surface is not particularly smooth and it is narrow, so please drive carefully.
Fukazawa Observatory is located halfway along the forest road. There is a simple rest area, and if the weather is good, you can see the view towards central Tokyo.
We went around the back of Musashi-Itsukaichi Station and drove along a narrow city road toward the Fukazawa district. As we drove deeper into the mountains, the heat subsided slightly, perhaps due to the lush greenery. Just before entering the Fukazawa settlement, we spotted a sign for Minamisawa Hydrangea Mountain. Following the sign, we led our Cub toward the Minamisawa Line forest road. A short distance later, Minamisawa Hydrangea Mountain was on our left. A local man named Tadakazu single-handedly planted 10,000 hydrangeas over 50 years, making it a popular tourist spot in Itsukaichi. While the peak season for hydrangeas had already passed, we were still able to see several varieties of hydrangea along the forest road. While the
entire Minamisawa Line forest road is paved, it is narrow and lacks guardrails in many sections. Furthermore, moss grows in shady areas, and fallen rocks and dead branches are scattered everywhere, so we drove carefully. Along the way, we enjoyed a distant view of downtown Tokyo from the Fukazawa Observatory.
The junction of Minamizawa Line and Hoshitake Line forest roads
The Hoshitake Line is a 3.5km forest road. Until a few years ago, the entire road was unpaved, but now most of it is paved. However, there are branches and leaves and fallen rocks scattered on the road, so you need to be careful when driving.
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There are no observation decks on the Hoshitake Line forest road, but there are some good vantage points.
From where the Minamizawa Line forest road ends, head right onto the Hoshitake Line forest road. There are still some unpaved sections, but most of the road is now paved. However, you should still drive carefully as there are falling rocks, dead branches, and moss.
The Yozawa area has a mountain village landscape that makes it hard to believe it’s in Tokyo.
Yozawa Shrine was created by merging five shrines in the Yozawa area: Kumano Shrine, Hachiman Shrine, Yasaka Shrine, Niten Shrine, and Monkyakujin Shrine.
It is unique in that it is home to a statue of the Dragon King.
About 2 km along the Odake Line forest road, you will come to the Odake Cave. The road becomes unpaved near the cave.
The entrance to Otake Cave. There is a parking space, and it is visited by many tourists on weekends.
After driving along the Hoshitake Line Forest Road, you will come out onto Prefectural Route 201. Route 201 continues up the Yozawa River to the southern foot of Mt. Mitake. Campsites, fishing spots, and villages are scattered along the road. This mountain village scenery is unlike anything you'd expect in Tokyo, and it really makes you feel like you're on a journey. About
6 kilometers up this road you will come across Yozawa Shrine. The Odake Line Forest Road continues from beside the shrine. You will need to drive along this forest road to reach the Odake Cave. The cave is about 2 kilometers away, and although there are unpaved sections, it only takes about 5 minutes to get there.
Once you pay the cave entrance fee at the reception, you will be given a helmet to rent. [Official] Otake Cave Otake Campground
The exploration course inside the cave is about 300m. However, the passage is narrow, so you are forced to crouch down.
According to the guide, Otake Cave was discovered by Okazo Tanaka in October 1961 and opened in 1962. It was hand-dug to allow people inside, and a married couple has been protecting it ever since. As a privately run cave, it's quite small compared to the Nippara Cave, the largest in the Kanto region. The cave is also quite narrow, about 300 meters long. Therefore, helmets are provided for head protection. I hesitated for a moment, knowing that
those with weak legs or lacking confidence in their physical strength were not allowed inside. However, the allure of the 11-13°C temperature was irresistible, and I managed to explore the cave, resting wherever I could stretch out. Indeed, the cave was cool and comfortable. Furthermore, it's the closest cave to Tokyo, making it a recommended spot for riders looking to go on a tour even in the heat of summer. However, please be aware that it puts a lot of strain on your legs and hips. My thighs were sore for a few days. So, next time I visit a limestone cave, I think I'll go to Hibara, my original destination.
Togura Shiroyama Terrace is a tourist facility that utilizes the abandoned Togura Elementary School in the Togura district of Itsukaichi, and offers four functions: experiences, accommodation, dining, and exhibitions.
The school building, which also houses accommodation and exhibition rooms, has a restaurant called “Shokuinshitsu” where even non-staying guests can stop by for a meal.
There are various menu items, but I chose the rice ball set meal (1,100 yen).
The distance traveled was 82 km. The cost of this trip was 700 yen for the cave entrance fee, 1100 yen for meals, and 218 yen for 1.4 liters of gasoline. The total was 2018 yen.
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