If you’re planning a trip to the Okutama forests in Tokyo’s west, we have some good news: you can explore the Kanto region’s largest limestone cave again, as it finally reopened on July 9. The attraction has been closed for nine months after a heavy typhoon in October 2019 damaged the Nippara Highway, the only road leading to the cave.
Formed over thousands of years and with a depth of about 800 metres, the Nippara Limestone Cave has been designated as a natural monument of Tokyo. Plus, it’s the perfect getaway for a hot and humid summer day – the average temperature inside is around 11ºC year-round. The trail inside is well lit and marked, but we recommend wearing some sturdy shoes and a simple raincoat, as the floor is often wet, especially during rainy season.
The cave is easily accessible by train and bus within two hours from Shinjuku. Get off at Okutama Station and hop on the Nishi-Tokyo local bus towards Nippara, which brings you directly to the cave. Note that on weekends and holidays, the bus stops at Higashi-Nippara; from there it’s a 25-minute walk. The cave is open from 9am to 5pm, and there's a ¥800 entry fee (junior high school students ¥600; primary school students ¥500).
Check our guide on going out safely in Tokyo, or anywhere for that matter.
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