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Okutama to Yanagisawa Pass
Okutama is an area in western Tokyo within the Chichibu Tama-Kai National park. It is full of natural beauty. A Japan Times article once referred to it as “Montana in Tokyo”. It is one of my favorite places to ride.
Highway 411 runs from Ome up through Okutama to Okutama Lake and on up over Yanagisawa Pass down into Koshu. Okutama Station is the western most station in Tokyo at the end of the Ome Line. The train ride up there passes through some beautiful country and allows you to start riding from up in the mountains.
The road from Okutama Station up to Okutama Lake is a gradual climb of about 200 meters over 6 km. There are some nice views looking down on the Tama River off to the left. The lake is formed by the Ogouchi Dam. There is a nice park just up from the dam with some food stalls and restrooms. The hillside across from it has beautiful cherry trees scattered across it.
The traffic thins from this point on and the road is smooth and wide as it snakes for 10 km along the lake. About half way through the lake is a pontoon bridge that provides a short cut to the other side. I sometimes walk across it when coming from the other side of the lake.
The grade gets a little steeper after the lake and goes through some stunning mountain scenery to the village of Tabayama. It serves as an outpost for hikers going up into the mountains around it. Highway 18 goes south from Tabayama up over Imagawa Pass (906m) to Hwy 139.
After Tabayama the grades get a little steeper as you start to make your way up toward Yanagisawa Pass. I love to ride back here in the fall as the higher elevations produce some delightful autumn colors. There are some deciduous trees mixed in with the evergreens and some open areas toward the top. Hwy 411 is called the Daibosatsu Line, named for Mt. Daibosatsu which rises up over 2000 meters to the left.
The river down below turns into a narrow whitewater stream flowing out of the mountains through some deep gorges. It really feels remote back here. The climb gets more difficult as you begin to climb up the pass. There are a few switchbacks and a nice view looking back. As you approach Yanagisawa Pass you come across some trailheads for trails heading up on either side of the mountain.
The pass stands at 1472 meters and has a little noodle shop with a picnic table in front. On a clear day you’ll get a decent view of Mt Fuji as it peaks out from between the mountains. I’m usually pretty tired at this point and take a rest there to recuperate.
The descent down into Koshu is a nice smooth, winding glide. At the top you get some nice views of Mt. Fuji and then come down into the trees for a while before coming out into the vineyards above Enzan. It is a very pleasant place to ride, in either direction. A ride that I highly recommend.
Okutama to Yanagisawa Pass Gallery
Hwy 18 Over Tsuru Pass
A very nice way to approach Okutama is riding Hwy 33 out of Uenohara up to the intersection of Hwy 18, which follows the Tsuru River. If you were to continue straight on 33 you would climb up to a tunnel giving you access to the Akikawa Valley on the other side.
Hwy 18 is one of my favorites. It’s an older road with little car traffic and lots of pretty scenery. You quickly gain elevation as head out of town on Hwy 33 into the mountains. You get a nice view looking back on Mt. Fuji as you cross the bridge above the Tsuru River.
Just after turning right on Hwy 18 the road climbs along the north side of the river and passes through some beautiful valleys with lush forest. Both the river and the road snake along passing through a few small communities with several shrines and fishing spots. There is one bend called Tawanooumomiji that is particularly beautiful in the fall when the maples lining the road turn red.
At Nishihara the road begins to gain altitude more rapidly and giving you a superb view back down the valley. You come over a hill drop down a bit and then begin climbing again up to Tsuru Pass. Tsuru pass has a small rest area with restrooms but you are still below the tree line. The views of Okutama Lake don’t begin until slightly after you begin descending.
The road comes to a T at Hwy 139 just above the village of Kosuge where it begins following the Kosuge River that feeds into Okutama Lake. I like to turn right shortly before reaching 139 on a smaller road that goes down along the Shirasawa River past an interesting group of ancient looking straw huts built along the river.
I love this riding 139 in the autumn, especially the section near where Kosuge River empties into the lake. After crossing Mito Bridge 139 you come a T at Hwy 411, the main road running through Okutama.
Hwy 18 Over Tsuru Pass Gallery
