Tokyo Okutama Day Trip Tour

My Tokyo Okutama Day Trip Tour was one of the most memorable highlights of my visit to Japan, thanks to my exceptional tour guide, Ayumu, and driver, Hiro! Although I originally booked a group tour, the other participants canceled, and I unexpectedly received a private experience. What a wonderful surprise! From the moment they picked me up at my hotel, Ayumu and Hiro were incredibly kind, welcoming, knowledgeable, and attentive. Throughout the day, we explored the breathtaking natural beauty of Japan's Okutama region, including the fascinating Nippara Limestone Caves, beautiful waterfalls, peaceful wooded landscapes, and scenic areas around Lake Okutama. One of my personal highlights was crossing a suspension bridge for the very first time! Some of the adventurous activities were unexpected, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed them. Due to an issue with one of the originally scheduled attractions, we visited the Hinohara Village Local History Museum instead. This small museum offered an interesting glimpse into the region's wildlife, history, and cultural heritage. I appreciated the opportunity to learn something unexpected and experience another side of Japan. One of the most meaningful experiences was visiting a rural wooded community where the population has been declining as younger generations move to urban areas, leaving older residents behind. As time passes, some homes become abandoned and gradually fall into disrepair. Seeing these places was both fascinating and heartbreaking. It reminded me that behind every abandoned home is a history, a family, and a community whose stories deserve to be remembered. I will always carry that experience with me, and I am grateful that Ayumu and Hiro introduced me to this lesser-known side of Japan. Another wonderful highlight was enjoying lunch overlooking a beautiful lake, surrounded by peaceful scenery. It was the perfect opportunity to appreciate the natural beauty of the region. Because we had additional time, Ayumu and Hiro even took me to Tokyo Tower, where I enjoyed exploring the shops. This unexpected bonus made an already incredible day even more special! What truly distinguished this experience was the genuine hospitality of both Ayumu and Hiro. As a solo traveler visiting Japan, I appreciated how comfortable and welcomed they made me feel. They shared fascinating information about the places we visited, were patient and considerate throughout the day, and introduced me to experiences I might never have discovered independently. This wasn't simply a sightseeing tour. It was an opportunity to experience Japan's natural beauty, cultural heritage, rural communities, and hidden treasures through the eyes of people who genuinely care about sharing their country with visitors. I wholeheartedly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to venture beyond Tokyo's busy streets and experience another side of Japan. The scenery was spectacular, the adventures were memorable, and the hospitality was exceptional. Thank you, Ayumu and Hiro, for an extraordinary day filled with adventure, discovery, kindness, and memories I will treasure for years to come!

This was a great tour. Very unique experience. I guarantee you will never be able to do this tour on your own. It was great to see what the "countryside" of Japan is like. Ayumu was a great tour guide and very accommodating. Worth the time when visiting Tokyo. Get out of the city...it was well worth it!! Enjoyed our day very much.

I turned out to be the only one on this trip, which sucked because the intention was to go on a group trip (I was on a solo trip). I would have cancelled if I was informed. Worse, the guide was injured and couldn't accompany me on most of the spots. So there was no guidance from the "guide." He was just driving me around from point to point. There was also almost no information provided on any of the spots we stopped at. His lack of presence was of particular concern because I was sent alone in areas that could potentially be dangerous. For example, I was sent into a massive cave alone with no phone signal and not a single sign in English in there. Getting lost on that maze would not have been fun. Another activity required some tricky climbing over a stream. All fun, but not when you're on your own. Most of it seemed designed to tick boxes. I sympathize with the injured guide (he was also very very polite), but I definitely should have been informed about this. Would have cancelled. Basically, I could have done this tour on my own for a fraction of the price. Don't recommend it.

The trip to Okutama was a private tour, and my tour guide's name is Izumu. We headed out to another part of Japan, getting away from Tokyo is a nice adventure in itself. You get to see a more laid back atmosphere. The first stop on this tour is Shiromaru Dam Control Lake. A nice sight to look at and a lot of beautiful scenery around. After this stop we went to Nippara Limestone Cave. I didn't go into the cave because the brochure was in Japanese and also I don't speak Japanese, so if I got lost in that cave I wouldn't be able to communicate with anyone. I would be in that cave by myself. I decided to check out other sights by the cave. May I suggest that in the future for the Nippara Limestone Cave Tour, The guide should also go in the cave with the client. After the cave we stopped by Okutama Water and Green Museum. The views were spectacular. I enjoyed the scenery with the water, trees, and the buildings surrounding this place. Next we went to have lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, the next place we went to was Kyu Kobayashike Jutaku, a farmhouse in Hinohara Village. This farmhouse was very nice to see. I also like the plants, trees, and all the nature that surrounded it. Then we left the farmhouse, to go to Kanoto Rock. The waterfall at Kanoto Rock is a magnficient sight to look at. A beautiful place I enjoyed being at. After leaving Kanoto Rock, we headed to Hossawa Falls, which was the last stop on the tour. This place also had breathtaking views, a beautiful sight. It took about 20-30 minutes to walk to get to the falls. I enjoyed everything on this tour. After the Falls we made a quick pit stop. Then we headed back to Tokyo. When we arrived in Tokyo I got Izumu to stop at Nihonbashi Philly Tokyo. I got the Philly Cheesesteak with cheez whiz, very good sandwich with fries. So if you're in Tokyo and you want a cheesesteak sandwich, go to Nihonbashi Philly. Thanks again Izumu for this extra stop. If you want to go to Okutama, I would recommend going. The name of the tour company is Tokyo Okutama Tour. Izumu is a nice young man, a very good tour guide, and has a lot of knowledge behind him.

Out of the three day trips we booked for our Tokyo trip, this was the best by far. Highly personalised, including pick up directly from our hotel, we were driven by our guide in a very comfortable SUV with individual seats and air conditioning. Every stop on this trip was interesting and unique, with mind blowing stops at caves, waterfalls and lakes. The highlight for us was the incredible monorail seating only 6 people, rising at 43 degrees through a beautiful forest to an authentic rural Japanese house at the top. Absolutely incredible experience we will never forget. Our guide was perfect - friendly, knowledgeable, courteous and non intrusive. Thanks for a wonderful day.

It was really nice to get out of the city and into the mountains for a day. The tour guide was lovely and did a good job. The places we stopped were a nice variety of natural spaces (walking to the waterfall, along the river, across the river bridge, etc) and indoor interpretive spaces (museums and cultural centers). Highly recommend as a change of pace from Tokyo urban or park activities and an opportunity to get into the wilderness a bit.

Absolutely loved the day! There's a lot of travelling, but every stop made it totally worth it! It felt authentic, genuine and interesting. We had a feeling as if a local guy was taking us around his favourite childhood places. Perfect get away from busy Tokyo!

Our guide Ayumi picked me up from my hotel in Akasaka in a comfortable vehicle with 2 other people. We travelled to Okotuma in about an hour. There were many highlights of the 14 hour trip including the lakes and waterfalls in the area.

I wanted to do a nature tour that was not your typical Japan tour, and thankfully Ayumu provided us with a unique and wonderful itinerary. If it weren’t for Ayumu, my family (4 including 2 teens) and I would not have seen another side of Japan that is so beautiful and serene. The highlights of his tour are the mysterious caves, one-of-a-kind monorail train, the Kobayashi cultural house, the adventurous river walk, and delicious traditional lunch. To our pleasant surprise, there were hardly any people at the places we visited in Okutama, so the lack of crowds and tourists were a big plus. Ayumu was very respectful, professional, and kind, always giving us time and space to soak in everything we saw. He drove safely, yet got us to each destination promptly. His van was very comfortable, clean, and spacious for the four of us. He was very knowledgeable about the areas we visited, managed the time well, and organized the activities (pickup, bathroom breaks, breakfast, lunch, dropoff, etc.) very well. Ayumu was also very helpful and made us feel safe. Needless to say, my family agree that we would do this tour again the next time we visit Japan…it was that great! It’s easily one of the best and most memorable things we did during our trip to Japan! Thank you so much, Ayumu!!

Perfect day as described on the Viator page. Our guide and driver was excellent in all ways. Picked us up on schedule from Asakusa. Clear instructions, kind and polite. Highly recommend this day trip. Thank you Ayumo Shinohara

We highly recommend this experience. From booking communications were excellent. Meeting point directions were accurate and easy. Our guide was punctual and friendly. He had an extensive knowledge of the Okutama region which he shared throughout the trip. He was also happy to answer our many random questions about Japan in general. Travelling in a small group we were able to squeeze more sites and experiences into the day. The region is beautiful and worth a visit. The picnic lunch was delicious!

This tour was such a great experience. We saw spots of Japan you would never see otherwise! If you love to explore/nature, seeing this side of Japan is a must. Our guide was such a friendly and kind person that made it even more enjoyable! Thank you again for driving us and showcasing some magical spots!!

He’s very kind and patient. We had a great time with our vacation. I truly appreciate it and thank you so much.

Absolutely the best day in Japan so far. The scenery was spectacular. The stops were great. Our guide was lovely. It was a long day but so worth it. I would highly recommend this tour.

This was an amazing experience and well worth the money.. a wonderful tour guide and places seen.. so nice to get out to see the real Japan. I would recommend this to anyone, especially those travelling solo. An experience like no other and things you’d never see otherwise…

Absolutely wonderful! Our guilds he so passionate about he job, very kinds and caring, an knowledge about country side of Tokyo

Cool tour if you’re into nature and seeing spots outside of the city! Our group was small but I enjoyed that it was a bit more intimate. Going through the cave was interesting and getting to the top of the mountain gave us such a beautiful view of the area! Our guide, Ayumu, was awesome and very knowledgeable about the history of the area as well as kinda and personable. The people who lived in the area were so much more welcoming than anywhere else I’ve been in Japan (but to be fair, I’ve only gone to three different cities). Would definitely recommend!

Excellent tour especially if you want to go sightseeing outside of the busy Tokyo area. Our guide was great and the tour only had four of us. We had two nights at Haneda Airport and had a spare day. Our guide picked us up from our airport hotel which was fantastic. Be prepared for a long day but well worth it.

The day was fantastic with our guide collecting us from our hotel (very early in the morning - get a good night's rest as its a long day!) You go into the part of Japan that you otherwise likely wouldn't as a tourist, your guide is passionate and knowledgeable and can tell he enjoys what he does. Ask him the main reason why - his response is very fulfilling. We stopped Ppenty of pit stops for coffee, snacks or bathroom breaks as well as a yummy lunch. Highly recommend to anyone visiting Japan especially if you want a day outside of the city / suburbs.

Great activity to do solo. Small van which was great and lovely guide. Lunch was excellent with a great view.

Highly recommend this tour of outside Tokyo city. Mr Ayumu was an excellent guide/driver, friendly, polite and informative. Highlights were cave, lakes and traditional Japanese house. Recommend wearing hiking boots or suitable footwear for activities.

This tour takes you out of the city and into the country where you can walk in a forest, across a two person suspension bridge, thru a well maintained limestone cave w nice surprises, a beautiful dam w a museum, a small village, museum, and a few short hikes w wonderful landscapes. Ayumu san takes you thru two small towns at the outskirt of Tokyo (1.5hrs out) and shares their culture.

Our Okutama tour with Mr. Ayumu Shinohara was an extraordinary experience that exceeded all expectations. From the moment we met him, Mr. Shinohara impressed us with his professionalism, warmth, and genuine passion for sharing the beauty of Okutama. He guided us through stunning natural landscapes, serene rivers, and lush forests, while weaving in fascinating stories about the region’s history, culture, and traditions. His ability to balance detailed knowledge with engaging storytelling made every stop feel meaningful and alive. What truly set this tour apart was Mr. Shinohara’s attentiveness and care. He ensured that each member of our group felt comfortable and included, adjusting the pace when needed and offering thoughtful recommendations that made the experience feel personalized. His enthusiasm was infectious, and his deep respect for nature and local culture added a special dimension to the journey. Thanks to Mr. Shinohara, we didn’t just see Okutama—we experienced it in a way that was authentic, enriching, and unforgettable. His guidance transformed a beautiful destination into a cherished memory. Would I recommend this experience to a friend? Absolutely, without hesitation.

We had a fantastic day on the outskirts of Tokyo in the Okutama village area. Our guide, Ayumu led us to caves, lakes, and beautiful canyon areas. He was super, pacing the day well, sharing history and culture of the people from the area. Many stops to local area. It was capped by a hot picnic lunch from a scenic viewpoint. A highlight day of our trip for sure!

Ayumu was an excellent tour guide. This was a fantastic journey to see nature and autumn leaves. The cave was exciting and the lunch picnic was good with a fantastic view. Visiting Hinohara and seeing the waterfall was my favorite part. This was the best day of our time in Japan and I would highly recommend this tour.

Pick up was smooth, on time, and very pleasant. It was an early departure so stopping to pick up a coffee and breakfast was appreciated. The tour was a perfect blend of nature, authentic village life, caves, waterfalls and scenic vistas. Delightful outdoor lunch. Ayumu was an excellent guide and driver.

This tour was great! Went to places typical places tourist wouldn’t go to. Also, the guide was great! Highly recommend!

The tour exceeded our expectations. The tour guide was prompt and courteous, and the locations were interesting and varied. The van was comfortable the driver was competent and friendly. We thoroughly enjoyed seeing all the beauty of rural Japan, and some gorgeous natural wonders.

Good day, interesting tour! We saw a lot in one day with plenty of breaks along the way. Fun to see a different side of Tokyo.

This was a great opportunity to explore Japan's mountainous forests in just a (long) day trip from urban Tokyo. Our guide was friendly, prompt, and a superb driver. He took our small group to beautiful places (massive cave, waterfall, huge lake, and traditional Japanese farm house), and let us enjoy them on our own, instead of hovering over us. The only disappointment was the fact that the onsen that was an advertised part of the tour was closed.

Excellent day trip to sights outside of Tokyo. Lakes, caves, waterfalls, mountains, villages, small hikes etc. Would definitely recommend it.

The places visited on this trip were very different from the other tours I went on and we truly enjoyed the sightseeing. Our guide Ayumo was very good too. The only issues we faced were the lack of vegeterian food and the car was too cramped for the number of people.

My tour guide Mr Ayumou is a good guide and a good driver. He is attentive, polite and informative and replying to all emails even before the tour. All the itineraries are covered except for those which are unavoidable such landslides happening in the highland village beforehand and he tried to make up for it by giving alternative options

This was a very unique tour we took this past April. Our guide was very accommodating and we had a small group of 6. We went to really unique caves- wear good shoes as it was wet in spots-but one of the coolest caves we have been in. We had lunch outside with a pretty view in clay pots we got to keep! It was a great souvenir to bring back home. We went up a little trolley to a traditional Japanese mountain house which was very interesting. Most of us finished the day at an onsen with dinner after. This is a full day tour. It’s amazing how different Tokyo is just 1.5 hours out of central Tokyo. This was one of our favorite tours and highly recommend it!

It was great to get out of the busyness and heat of Tokyo and experience the beauty and tranquility of Okutame. Ayumu was a wonderful and knowledgeable tour guide, whose love of the countryside was evident. Spectacular scenery, interesting caves, lakes, rivers and waterfalls all added to make this tour a thoroughly enjoyable escape from Tokyo.

The tour guide was very courteous, professional and kind. It was very interesting to see another side of Japan...the natural vegetation, waterfalls eric.

It was a great trip along paths that probably only the locals are aware of, not necessarily the tourists. Plenty of beautiful locales and local culture. A trip tailored for a person to take in, enjoy and be one with nature. Sincerely appreciate the guide Ayumu for showing me the hidden gems around Tokyo. Strongly recommend this tour.

This tour is a complete scam, they never showed up at my hotel, even tho they charge me an extra $50 to pick up, they sent email I week before to confirm pick up I emailed right bs k confirming they replied than you for your confirmation please be ready at 6am for pick up, I was waiting from 5.50am until 7.40 with multiple messages to the tour guide and no reply I called Viator they tried calling the tour guide and no answer, Viator was amazing and put through a Dispute for me and apologised, other tours I have booked through viator have been great. BUT DO NOT BOOK THIS TOUR ITS A SCAM

Ayumu shinohara was our guide. A local who created this tour himself with the intention to show Japan's hidden history and beauty. This entire tour really encapsulated Japan's elegeance, not to mention our tour guide was wxtremely understand and professional. My brother and I were thoroughly happy,especially with the potato sake 🍶. Near the end of the tour you have the option to go in the onsen (public bath) or just a foot bath. We chose just the foot bath which was refreshing and peaceful. Give this tour a try if you enjoy history and depth 👍

This was THE PERFECT getaway from the concrete jungle into Japan’s DEVINE nature… Not only was this a very well thought out & curated trip by its wonderful creator, driver & guide (Ayumu), but it also allowed us to see Japan through a total different lens: showcasing its cultural values and the best part seeing GODs architecture at its best! 1000% worth the travel time to/from with the hotel pick up & drop off option (it is a very long day so you will appreciate the convenience of being picked up & dropped off)!

⸻ We wanted to take a day trip around Tokyo, and we’re so glad we chose this tour! Ayumu-san took us on a breathtaking mountain and river scenic route that regular buses can’t access. He showed us hidden local photo spots while expertly navigating narrow country roads. The entire experience was amazing. Although we couldn’t visit the old historic house due to recent landslides in the area, Ayumu-san took us to a museum instead. Lunch was fantastic — a traditional Japanese kamameshi meal that was very tasty. The Japanese spritz and shochu tasting was a fun experience for my husband. To end the tour, he brought us to an onsen, where our 18-year-old daughter experienced her first time in a hot spring. My husband and I enjoyed a relaxing foot bath since we have tattoos. It was such a personalized and unforgettable trip! Most of the places we visited were frequented by locals — we hardly saw any other foreigners. If you want a unique and memorable experience, you must choose this tour. Highly recommended!

My husband and I wanted to experience nature on our trip and came across this tour. It was AMAZING!! I’m so glad we decided to book, it was worth every penny. Our guide was so kind, he called the night prior to our trip to make sure we’d be prepared with the correct clothing items for our tour. We paid additional to be picked up from the hotel and he was timely, courteous and professional. We toured 5 locations, all with detailed instructions of what to look forward to and learned some educational gems along the way. We stopped for lunch midpoint which was included and also very tasty!! I have nothing but good things to say here. The sceneries are absolutely stunning and I would definitely do this trip again. 10/10!!! I’d like advise taking water as there are some lengthy tours but plenty of restroom stops along the way.

If you are looking to get outside of the hustle and bustle of the city, this is the perfect experience! Ayumu picked me up from my hotel (and we picked up some other travellers in his car) and then we drove out of the city and into the mountains and villages. The highlights of this trip was seeing the beauty of nature and the picturesque scenery. You get to walk inside a cave (bring a jacket, even in Summer the inside of the cave is chilly) and also walk along/climb the side of a mini waterfall (remember to hold the metal chains). Ayumu was very patient and also shared some insights into the area. Please note that some of the areas are far from one another, but you can enjoy the mountain scenery or take a rest in the car). Also, take the time to have a chat with Ayumu! I enjoyed talking to him about what he does during his own free time and his interests. Great trip and definitely an experience like no other!

Ayumu is very patient and flexible. I highly recommend this tour. We saw a huge cave system, went to a gorgeous lookout for lunch with authentic food (and we got to keep the bowls!), saw a traditional 350 year old house, did a mini obstacle course to get to a local viewpoint, saw a waterfall, and went to an onsen. This tour is great value for money, and it definitely has hidden gems. 5/5

Ayumu was both the driver and guided tour. I would highly recommend this tour. This is a hidden gem.

It was so cool to see a different side of Tokyo! We went to so many cool places and despite it starting to rain halfway through the tour we still got to do most of the activities. Would highly recommend!!

Who would have thought that this stunning area is on the edge of Tokyo. What a treat to see nature at its best. A full, well planned day of exploring with a great guide. He was also interesting and considerate of our needs and wants.

  This tour definitely delivers what it promises . We’ve just returned from a most wonderful day full of different sites and activities, experienced all in the beauty of Japan’s outdoors. A most welcome break from the hustle and bustle of cities, cultural sites and learning how to get around. We do not need to repeat what all the reviewers have said about this tour, Ayumi, our guide, and the itinerary. They have said it well. But we do want to address the exception of 1 negative which, from the reviewer’s point of view was understandable because the tour was cancelled with short notice. But having spent 14 hours with Ayumu and knowing that he is the creator and only tour guide of this tour we believe he only did so for an unexpected and valid reason. He is committed to sharing the other side of Japan. When we return to Canada I plan on spreading the word that this is definitely a tour they want to look at if they ever come to Tokyo, Japan. Thank you Ayumu for an exhilarating day. Sydney & Jim New Westminster, BC Canada Sent from my iPhone

This day trip was literally the best day of our trip to Tokyo. We were initially a little hesitant due to the small number of [all very good] reviews-- I am so glad we went for it and booked the tour. This is not a big commercial tour company. This is one guy in his very nice, very clean van, taking you around to all the best places just outside of Tokyo-- places you would never manage to find on your own. We saw things you'd never be able to see in a big tour bus. We journeyed through mountains and tiny villages. We visited an amazing cave and nearby shrine. We walked across a suspension bridge. We saw where wasabi grows. We took a tiny train-type-vehicle up a 43 degree slope through a cedar forest to see a 300 year old traditional house. We had a lovely lunch overlooking gorgeous scenery. We hugged a stone wall as we walked right up against a rushing river. We walked along a waterfall. (I'm sure I'm leaving stuff out!). Finally, we ended at a scenic hot springs where, our guide walked us through the process (which, to me, was invaluable). I am so glad we took this trip. Our tour guide was warm, knowledgeable and thought of every little detail.