Are looking for somewhere to cool off in the crazy hot Tokyo summer? Why not escape to Okutama where it’s 2-3˚C cooler than Tokyo. Cycle to our best cooling spots:
Recommended places to go to cool off
There is a hidden river with a big pool near Lake Okutama (Course A)
Inside Nippara limestone cave is a cool 12˚C (Course B)
There are a few spots to jump into the river in the Unazawa valley (Course C)
More information
Obon holiday season
Japan’s summer public holiday ‘Obon’ is from the 11th August through to 18th August. Our shop will be busy during this period and some days we will be booked out. So please book in advance. If you arrive without a booking, it may be difficult to rent a bike to you.
Festivals
Okutama Festival and Fireworks – August 10th (Saturday) – 11th (Sunday)
Okutama’s main festival with floats, lion dances and food stalls.
Fireworks are held on Saturday Evening: 7:45pm – 8:20pm.
Other festivals
Okutama has many lion dance festivals, here are the locations and dates.
| Place | Name | Shrine name | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Otaba, Okutama | Aoki Shrine Lion Dance | Aoki Shrine (2.3km from Kawaii station) | August 25th (Sun) |
| Tanazawa, Okutama | Tanazawa lion dance | Kumano Shrine (Near Kori station) | August 18th (Sun) |
| Shiromaru | Motosu Shrine Lion Dance | Motosu Shrine (Near Shiromaru station) | August 18th (Sun) |
| Unazawa | Unazawa lion dance | Unazawa Furiai farm (2.6km from Shiromaru station) | August 4th (Sun) |
| O-Hikawa (part of Okutama’s main festival) | O-Hikawa Shrine lion dance | Oku-hikawa Shrine (Near Okutama station) | August 10th (Sat) & 11th (Sun) |
| Kotoura | Sangi Shrine lion dance | Sangi Shrine & Jigan-ji temple (Behind Okutama hospital 1.5km from Okutama station) | August 25th (Sun) |
| Nippara | Ishiyama Shrine lion dance | Ishiyama Shrine (Nippara town) | September 1st (Sun) |
| Tochikubo | Nemoto Shrine lion dance | Nemoto Shrine (Near Okutama station) | August 25th (Sun) |
| Sakai | Shirahige Shrine lion dance | Shirahige Shrine & Sakai community centre | August 16th (Fri) |
| Hara | Hara lion dance | Onsen shrine & Ogouchi Shrine | September 8th (Sun) |
| Kawano | Kawano lion dance | Yakyu shrine & Ogouchi Shrine | September 8th (Sun) |
