Hello, this is _hiroyuki.ta.
This time, I went on a motorcycle tour from Ageo City, Saitama Prefecture to Hinohara Tomin no Mori, Tokyo.
Hinohara Tomin no Mori is a mountain park rich in nature at the foot of Mt. Mito in the western edge of Tokyo, and is a place where you can relax and escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. This time I would like to introduce its charm.
Route to Hinohara Tomin Forest
The starting point is Ageo City, Saitama Prefecture.
From here, take the Ken-O Expressway from Okegawa City in Saitama Prefecture to Akiruno City. The Ken-O Expressway is a relatively new expressway, so it has very little traffic and is comfortable to drive on.
Along the way, you can see the scenery surrounded by greenery and mountains, which will lift your mood. At Akiruno City, get off the Ken-o Expressway and enter the Takiyama Kaido. Takiyama Highway continues towards Okutama as National Route 411, but this section is narrow and has many curves, so be careful. As you drive along the Takiyama Highway, you will come to a place where two rivers, the Akigawa and Minamiakigawa, intersect. Here, there are cherry blossom trees along the river, making it a spectacular cherry blossom viewing spot in spring. I took a break here once. The sound of the river and the scent of cherry blossoms will soothe you.
If you continue along Takiyama Kaido toward Okutama, you will enter a road called Hinohara Kaido. Hinohara Kaido is a road that passes through Hinohara Village and connects to a toll road called the Okutama Shuyu Road. The Okutama Tour Road is a road that connects tourist spots such as Lake Okutama and Mt. Mito, and the scenery is spectacular. However, this road may be closed at night and some sections may be closed during the winter, so be sure to check in advance. I rode several horses on the Okutama loop road. Kazuma is the center of Hinohara Village and has hot springs and restaurants.
It takes about 10 minutes from Kazuma to the destination, Hinohara Tomin no Mori. As you drive along the Okutama Tour Road, you will see a large signboard on your right. This is the entrance to Hinohara Tomin Forest. After turning at the sign and walking for a while, you will arrive at the parking lot.
Highlights of Hinohara Tomin Forest
Hinohara Tomin no Mori is a 200-hectare site with hiking trails divided into five zones, exhibition facilities, and experience facilities. First, I took the free shuttle bus from the parking lot to Shinrinkan. The Shinrinkan is the central facility of the Hinohara Tomin Forest, where you can get maps, guides, and information on wild birds and wildlife. There is also a reception desk for restaurants and nature experiences. I received a map of Mt. Mizu hiking trails at the Shinrinkan. Mt. Mito is the highest peak in Hinohara Tomin Forest, with an altitude of 1528 meters. There is a beech forest near the summit, which has been designated as a special natural park protection area.
I walked the hiking course from Shinrinkan to the summit of Mt. Mizuyama. There are two routes, Otaki no Michi and Buna no Michi, but I chose Otaki no Michi. Otaki no Michi is a course where you can see Sanzu Otaki, a waterfall with a height of about 30 meters. The waterfall has a large amount of water and is very impressive. There is a steep climb from the waterfall, but the view through the trees is beautiful and will brighten your mood. Once you reach the top of the mountain, you will be greeted with a 360 degree panorama. You can see Lake Okutama, the three Okutama mountains, Mt. Fuji, and the Southern Alps. The air is clear and feels good.
When descending from the summit, I chose the beech path. Beech Road is a course that passes through a beech forest, and the sunlight filtering through the trees and the fresh greenery are beautiful. The beech forest shows various expressions from spring to autumn. I went in spring, and the young leaves were shining gently. Walking along the beech path will take you back to the Forest Hall.
Hinohara Tomin no Mori parking lot
Parking at Hinohara Tomin no Mori is free.
However, the number of parking spaces is limited and may become full. In that case, you will need to use the Kazuma parking lot, which is about 1 km away. A free shuttle bus also leaves from the Kazuma parking lot. Parking lot opening hours are from 7:00 to 17:30 (from July 21st to August 31st, until 18:00, from November 16th to March 15th, from 8:00 to 17:00 minutes). The park is closed every Monday and during the year-end and New Year holidays (however, it is open every day during certain periods).
There are also quick chargers for electric cars installed at Hinohara Tomin no Mori.
Summary
This time, I went on a motorcycle tour from Ageo City, Saitama Prefecture to Hinohara Tomin no Mori, Tokyo.
Hinohara Tomin Forest was a wonderful place where you can experience nature. We enjoyed waterfalls and beech forests on the hiking course of Mt. Mizuyama. The view from the top of the mountain was also spectacular. The roads I rode my bike on were comfortable and the scenery was nice.
