Hinohara Village Nature Tour: Waterfalls, Forest & Village Life
Is this really Tokyo? Ride a thrilling mountain monorail to the capital's oldest folk houses, surrounded by the untouched nature of Hinohara Village.
Overview
Slip just two hours west of central Tokyo and the skyline gives way to Hinohara Village, the capital's only remaining mountain village. The pace here is unhurried: over a leisurely seven-hour day, your private guide leads you on foot through rich forest and the village's most loved spots, far from the city's hustle and bustle.
The Akigawa River threads through the heart of the village, and along its banks rustic mountain life still holds to traditional arts and architecture. It is a place full of cultural attractions, where the four seasons of Tokyo show themselves more vividly than anywhere downtown.
Travelling entirely by public transit, you visit the Kobayashi house, Hossawa Falls and Seoto-no-Yu Spa, tracing a single unhurried day of traditional living deep in the mountains of Tokyo.
Details
❖ Meet your guide at Musashi Itsukaichi Station
09:30
At 9:30 am you meet your guide at Musashi Itsukaichi Station, the gateway to the western mountains, before setting off for the Kobayashi family residence by public bus and forest monorail.
❖ Monorail ride to Kobayashi Residence
11:05 - 11:15 (10 min)
Originally built to haul timber, this single-track monorail now carries you up the hillside at a maximum slope of 43 degrees: a genuine thrill, and one to brace for if heights make you uneasy.
❖ Kobayashi Residence
11:15 - 12:05 (50 min)
Raised in the first half of the 18th century, the Kobayashi house is the oldest dwelling in Hinohara Village and a nationally designated important cultural property. Step beneath its thatched roof, sit by the open hearth, and feel the rhythm of lives once lived in harmony with these mountains. Perched on an open slope of Jinma Ridge at 700 metres, it commands a spectacular view; afterwards, a gentle 20-minute walk down the mountain brings you to the bus stop.
❖ Hossawa Waterfall
13:15 - 13:30 (15 min)
Falling 62 metres over four tiers, Hossawa Waterfall is Tokyo's sole entry on Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls. A legend tells of a great serpent dwelling in its plunge pool, lending the gorge a mysterious air. It rewards every season: bright water in summer, blazing foliage in autumn, a frozen wonderland in winter. The clear mountain air alone leaves you feeling restored.
❖ Hinohara Tofu Chitoseya
13:45 - 13:55 (10 min)
Just at the entrance to Hossawa Falls stands Chitoseya, a traditional tofu shop. Its handmade tofu, drawn from Hinohara's spring water and high-quality Hokkaido soybeans, is exquisite, and the freshly fried soy-milk donuts are a local favourite. Pause here for a warm snack while you wait for the next bus.
❖ Lunch Time at Kawagiri
14:15 - 15:00 (45 min)
Wrapped in wide picture windows and attached to Seoto-no-Yu, Kawagiri serves lunch made from local ingredients, soba among them, while the Akigawa Valley unfolds before you: deep green in summer, splendid red and orange in autumn.
❖ Seoto-no-Yu (Foot Bath)
15:00 - 15:25 (25 min)
A celebrated hot-spring facility within Chichibu Tama Kai National Park, Seoto-no-Yu looks out over mountains and deep valleys. Browse local specialities and wander the surrounding village, then sink your tired feet into the outdoor foot bath: soothing, high-alkalinity water that rises from 1,500 metres underground and leaves the skin smooth. Linger a while, soaking in the memories of your trip.
OPTIONS
Notes
Please arrive at the meeting point on time (9:30 am). There are not many buses in this area, so if you are late, the tour can only continue by taxi, and you will need to cover the taxi cost yourself.
Meeting Point
What's included:
English-speaking guide
Bus ticket
Monorail ride
Green tea
Foot spa
Soy milk donuts
Photos of tour participants
Local tax
What's not included:
Lunch
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
Free cancellation up to 8 days before the experience starts (local time)
Private experience
1
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4
Participants
Tokyo
From ¥17,000 /person
6:30 hours
Traveler Photos
From ¥17,000 /person
6:30 hours
Tokyo