To many, Tokyo epitomizes big city life. Bustling crowds, highrises, and an ever-changing flow of entertainment paint a thrilling, yet sometimes overstimulating picture of the city. However, located in western Tokyo, just 60–90 minutes by train from the city’s center, is a naturally and culturally alluring haven where weary urbanites can unwind. Welcome to Ome City!
Ome is 63% forest and home to a number of natural treasures, including Mitake Gorge, the Tama River, and Mt. Mitake. These refreshing naturescapes play host to a variety of outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, canoeing, rafting, and more, making them perfect destinations for a friends’ getaway, a couples’ retreat, a family adventure, or even a solo journey. Alongside Ome’s rejuvenating nature are intriguing cultural workshops and facilities that provide insight into the region’s heritage, including its renowned natural indigo dyeing techniques.
In terms of accommodation, Kamenoi Hotel Ome, just a 15-minute walk from Ome Station, serves as an excellent home base in the city. Recently renovated in April 2025, this dog-friendly hotel embodies the natural tranquility of the region, offering diverse guest rooms, traditional Japanese kaiseki cuisine, and natural hot spring baths that overlook the Okutama Mountains and Tama River. The hotel even has a variety of activities—from a Tokyo sake brewing tour to river rafting—that you can enroll in directly through the hotel.
Discover Ome’s endless possibilities below!
What can I do in Ome?
As mentioned above, Ome is characterized by its accessible nature, cultural activities, and slower pace of life compared to central Tokyo.
Ome’s nature
One of Ome’s most stunning natural wonders is Mitake Gorge, which is also listed as one of the “100 Exquisite Waters of Japan.” This breathtaking gorge features lush trees along the rocky riverbanks of the Tama River, with majestic mountains framing the scenery. The area shines in all seasons but is particularly stunning in autumn when yellow, orange, and red leaves color the terrain. The gorge is home to two well-maintained, four-kilometer walking paths that flank the Tama River, providing easy access to the natural splendor. Enjoy a leisurely walk fragranced by the healing breeze and encircled by the peaceful melodies of the leaves and shifting waters.
The Tama River is a popular retreat for people looking to add some thrill to their outdoor adventure. In addition to calm activities like fishing, canoeing, and SUP (stand-up paddleboard), the river is also a hotspot for rafting! Set in the rapid, yet not extreme currents, of the Tama River, the rafting experience offers an exciting perspective of Ome’s nature. Guided by a professional, the excursion includes plenty of splashes and teamwork, making it a fun activity for friends, families, and couples. In summer, the Tama River’s cool, clear water is a refreshing respite from the heat. Kamenoi Hotel Ome facilitates easy reservations for rafting, SUP, and fishing!
Mt. Mitake is also a must-visit nature spot in Ome, featuring sprawling vistas, hiking trails, and the popular Musashi Mitake Shrine. The charming Mitake Tozan Cable Car takes you partially up the mountain to Mitakesan Station. From there, the mountain’s summit—home to the shrine—is about a 20 to 30-minute walk. The short walk winds through a quaint village packed with traditional inns and souvenir shops that have been serving mountain pilgrims for centuries.
From the mountain’s summit, a variety of forested trails branch off to neighboring peaks and valleys. One of the most popular sights is the Rock Garden, which is a fairytale-esque scenery along the trail composed of moss-covered rocks, overhanging trees, and a small stream. The trails also pass waterfalls and scenic lookout points.
Ome’s culture
Ome is home to a breadth of cultural heritage that is deeply rooted in its natural environment. An excellent example of this connection between nature and culture is natural indigo dyeing, called aizome in Japanese. During the Edo period (1603–1868), Ome was one of Japan’s most prolific textile manufacturers, producing close to 50% of the country’s demand. Indigo was one of the most commonly worn colors by the general public and eventually became a symbol of traditional Japanese culture. While most indigo clothing today is dyed synthetically, Kosoen in Ome still follows natural indigo dyeing techniques. At this workshop, you can peruse stunning indigo-dyed clothing and join an indigo dyeing experience (held on weekends and holidays). Choose between a handkerchief, bandana, stole, or t-shirt, and dye a souvenir to remember.
Sake enthusiasts will not want to miss Ozawa Sake Brewery—Tokyo’s oldest sake brewery. Established in 1702 and resting along the Tama River, this brewery has used the region’s pure spring water for centuries to brew its high-quality products. Join a brewery tour to learn more deeply about the company’s history, sake brewing process, and products (available in Japanese only; English brochure provided). Near the brewery is Sawanoi-en, a relaxing garden with a souvenir shop, sake tasting, and eateries.
Ome’s history
During the Edo period, Ome flourished as a post town on the Ome Kaido—a road that connected Shinjuku (Edo/Tokyo) to Kofu (Yamanashi Prefecture). Today, central Ome, also called Ome Juku, still retains a lot of Showa era (1926–1989) vibes, with traditional buildings intermixed into the modern landscape. As you walk through the city, you will also notice dozens of hand-painted, vintage movie billboards displaying an array of Japanese, European, and American movies.
The Showa Retro Goods Museum further immerses you in the past with its collection of retro candies, beverages, sundries, stationery, medicine, toys, and more. The museum even has a replica of a penny candy store. The town’s atmosphere, retro-style shops, and cozy cafes will make you feel far away from the dazzling lights of central Tokyo.
Step further into the past at the Former Miyazaki Family Residence, an immaculately preserved traditional Japanese farmhouse from the early 19th century. Located outside Ome Juku in Kamanofuchi Park, this building is designated as a National Important Cultural Property and showcases what rural life was like in the past. The three-room abode displays a variety of farming equipment and lifestyle goods that help you visualize what life was like during that time. The structure’s impressive roof, made with alternating layers of cedar bark and thatch, is unique to the Ome region.
Where should I stay in Ome?
Kamenoi Hotel Ome, located near Ome Station, is a four-star, ryokan hotel in Tokyo that rests along the banks of the Tama River, making it a convenient nature getaway. The facility’s carefully-designed guest rooms, cuisine, hot springs, and amenities act as extensions of Ome’s nature and culture.
Guest rooms
The hotel offers 13 different room types that can accommodate up to five people. The Western, Japanese, and Japanese-Western fusion rooms have modern designs that balance traditional aesthetics with natural tones to create relaxing spaces. All of the rooms also come equipped with wide windows that connect you to the greenery beyond. Some of the rooms even have open-air baths. The hotel is like your own private onsen in Tokyo.
If you are looking for hotels that allow dogs, Kamenoi Hotel Ome has you covered! Recently, it unveiled dog-friendly rooms. So, you can travel stress-free with your furry friends.
Cuisine
For dinner, Kamenoi Hotel Ome crafts delectable kaiseki—traditional, multi-course Japanese meals—centered on dishes that originated during the Edo period, such as soba (buckwheat noodles). These seasonal meals are crafted with Tokyo-sourced ingredients and feature premium local products, like Akigawa beef and Ome pork.
One of the hotel’s signature dishes is its “shabu shabu soba,” which you cook yourself by placing the soba in a handheld basket and submerging it in a delectable broth. In addition to its course menus, the hotel also has à la carte options, such as a sake-tasting flight from Ozawa Sake Brewery, salt-grilled mountain fish, seasonal vegetable tempura, and more. For breakfast, the hotel prepares a Japanese-style meal filled with a colorful array of ingredients.
The newly renovated restaurant is filled with warm wooden furniture set against floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the Okutama Mountains.
Hot springs
Kamenoi Hotel Ome is an onsen in Tokyo. The hotel’s large public bath epitomizes relaxation and is filled with natural hot spring water that is said to have skin-beautifying properties. The healing waters rest beside massive windows that showcase Ome’s seasonally-shifting naturescape. The tranquil space is an ideal way to begin or end your day.
Amenities and activities
Kamenoi Hotel Ome is your gateway to Ome’s wonders. At the hotel’s onsite store, you can browse the region’s popular products, including local sake, wasabi, and sweets.
The hotel also helps connect you to a variety of activities in the area, including Ozawa Sake Brewery tours, soba-making experiences, rafting, SUP, and fishing. Conveniently, you can book all of the activities online through Kamenoi Hotel Ome’s website, removing the hassle of booking through multiple sites.
Three-day, two-night sample itinerary in Ome
Day 1
- Morning: Travel from Shinjuku Station to Ome Station (60–90 minutes by train).
- Afternoon: Explore Ome Juku. Admire retro movie posters, and visit the Showa Retro Goods Museum. Then, join an afternoon dyeing workshop (from 1pm) at Kosoen (weekends and holidays only). Check into Kamenoi Hotel Ome at 3pm. Afterwards, visit the Former Miyazaki Family Residence and relax at Kamanofuchi Park.
- Evening/night: Enjoy a delicious kaiseki meal, relax in your guest room, and unwind in the hotel’s hot springs.
Day 2
- Morning: Start your day with a nourishing breakfast at the hotel.
- Late morning to Afternoon: Explore Ome’s nature. Some suggestions include walking along Mitake Gorge, hiking on Mt. Mitake (be sure to wake up early if you plan on hiking), or river rafting on the Tama River (bookable through the hotel).
- Evening/night: Have dinner and relax at the hotel after an exciting day outdoors.
Day 3
- Morning: Enjoy a nourishing breakfast at the hotel, and check out at 11am.
- Late morning to Afternoon: Join an Ozawa Brewery Tour (bookable through the hotel). Then, relax at Sawanoi-en. Enjoy sake tasting and a meal encircled by nature.
- Evening: Travel from Ome Station to Shinjuku Station (60–90 minutes by train).
Ome: A rejuvenating retreat in Tokyo
When the busyness of city life becomes too much, Ome’s natural and cultural charms are only a 60 to 90-minute train ride away. Majestic nature, age-old traditions, townscapes of the past, and a luxurious hotel are waiting for you in Tokyo’s backyard.
