Refreshing day trip from Tokyo

As Tokyo’s summer heat emanates from concrete, few treatments are as soothing as nature retreats. Nestled on the wooded hills of the city of Aquiruno in western West Tokyo, the Aquigava Valley offers a refreshing riverside escape and a world away from the city.

share Transformed into “Autumn River”. Although its cool and refreshing water is particularly attractive in summer, the valley is beautiful year-round, especially in autumn, where the surrounding trees change color. Whether you are pursuing perfection or not HakigoriAkigawa is a riverside hike or dip in crisp water, which is like a full reset day trip.

This is how to spend a day in the area.

kurochaya: A charming restaurant with a century-old house

In the quiet landscape of Akichuan kurochayaa famous restaurant located in an elegant 300-year-old building. Surrounded by lush forests and landscaped trails of over 11,000 m2, the ground is home to teahouses, many seating areas and shaded sidewalks. You can also find a koi pond and wooden terrace overlooking the Akiga River below.

In warmer months, the highlight is rakuana seasonal shaved ice shelf hiding in the garden. Using natural ice, slowly freeze during winter, using pure spring water drawn from deep underground. Shave the ice to a soft snow texture with syrup handmade by restaurant chefs. In summer, there are two flavors: strawberry milk made with real fruit and condensed milk, and Azuki matcha milk with sweet red beans and rich green tea syrup.

Guests can enjoy Kakigori on the open-air terrace overlooking the river. After that, you can dip the garden trail along the edge of the river or swim along the edge of the river.

Kurochaya also has one High The restaurant offers quality dining and souvenir shops, with local crafts and specialty snacks. There is even one You’re here Standing, you can try traditional dumplings made with fermented buckwheat dough and are filled with sweet red bean paste or scallion flavor. The weekends can be crowded, but only kurochaya can travel to Akigava.

Explore the Split Valley

Apart from Kurochaya, Akigawa Valley offers a range of other attractions that highlight its natural beauty and cultural heritage.

The favorite place among visitors is Ishibunebashi BridgeThis is a striking 96-meter suspension bridge that extends over the Akigawa River. This is especially picturesque in autumn when the surrounding forests and mountains are soaked in red and golden shadows.

This bridge is also a gateway to Seoto-no-YuThis is a local hot spring facility with indoor and outdoor bathrooms, views of the surrounding greenery and free foot baths.

For spiritual and historical detours, please visit Kotokuji Templeoriginally established in 1373. The thatched roof hall of the temple and the towering ginkgo trees can give the ground a timeless mass, especially in autumn, when the gold leaves blankets behind.

One of the most surprising attractions in the valley is Otaki FallsIt is a 30-meter-high cascade that flows along mossy rocks into the cool basin below and along the hiking trails to Odake Mountain. At the foot of the mountain, you will find Otake limestone cavedesignated nature monument. The 300-meter-long cave winds through fascinating rock formations, giving it a glimpse of the geological history of the region.

Arrive at Akichuan Valley

Despite the distant feeling, the Akigawa Valley is still easy to reach. From Shinjuku Station, take the JR Chuo Line to Haijima Station, then transfer to the JR Itsukaichi Line and then ride to Musashi-Itsukaichi Station. From there, local buses connect to various attractions in the valley, including Seoto-No-Yu and Kurochaya in about 10-15 minutes. The total journey takes about 90 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the transfer time.

Please note that in Akigawa Valley, public transportation is not as frequent as in central Tokyo, so be sure to check in advance whether the bus and train schedules travel smoothly.

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