I always choose Okutama area for my riding season opening (usually in late March). I do ride in December~February but I mainly take short trips to the ocean side such as Izu and Chiba where the temperature is relatively mild and less chance of encountering icy road conditions.
Okutama is located in the north-west of Tokyo. You will be surprised you can find such mountainous area within Tokyo.
In Okutama, there is a popular road for riders in Kanto Area, Okutama Shuyu Doro (奥多摩周遊道路). This 20 km of nice winding road will be filled with riders and bikers (bicycles) during season.
There are several ways to access Okutama area from Tokyo. Here is one of my favorite routes.
1. From Tokyo, take Chuo Expressway toward to Hachioji.
3. TURN RIGHT at [Oyokomachi 大横町] Intersection.
4. TURN RIGHT at [Motohongo-cho 元本郷町] intersection. You will be on Akikawa Kaido Way (Route 32). Keepgoing for a while.
5. TURN RIGHT at [Higashimachi 東町] intersection. You will be on Hinohara Kaido Way (Route 33 檜原街道) Keep going for a while.
6. There will be a T-intersection [Tachibanabashi 橘橋] and TURN LEFT (there is a stop-light at this intersection and also you see a sign for Uenohara/Kazuma 上野原/数馬]. Keep going and eventually you will be on Okutama Shuyu Doro.
[Onsen] There is a good onsen, Kazumano-yu (Kazuma Onsen) on Route 33/Hinohara Kaido Way before Okutama Shuyu Doro. It is a nice and clean facility and they have rental Towels.
[Rest Area] After you get on the Okutama Shuyu Doro, there is a rest area, Hinohara Tominno Mori, on your left, where you will meet lots of riders, bikers, and hikers.
7. At the end of Okutama Shuyu Doro, there is a bridge and a T-intersection. TURN RIGHT on Route 139 and soon you will hit another T-Intersection (Route 411)
If you want to check the Okutama Lake, TURN RIGHT (Route 411) and go to Okutama Dam and [Mizu-to-Midori-no-Fureaikan / Rest Area].
Or, if you are not interested in, you can TURN LEFT at the first T-intersection and go on Route 139 and skip to #9.
[Food & Sightseeing] Mizu-to-Midori-no-Fureaikan / Rest Area has a free museum and also a restaurant. You can walk around by the lake and Okutama dam. Also, there are some restaurants and souvenir shops along the Route 411 between the bridge and dam.
8. From Okutama Dam, go back toward to the Bridge (2nd bridge/T-intersection) and TURN LEFT (Route 139) so that you will go back to the 1st Brigde, which was the end of Okutama Shuyu Doro. Pass the bridge and keep going on Route 139.
[Note] From the Okutama dam, you can keep going on Route 411 (Oume Kaido Way), which will go to Oume and toward to Tokyo City Area. You will find signs for expressway entrance on the way if you wish to go back using it. You can go back to Tokyo by Route 411 but it is a long way and often this road in city area has some heavy traffic.
9. From the T-intersection of Route 411 and 139, ride for about 4 km. Then, there is an entrance to a back-road on left-side (there is a small sign in Japanese before you reach there). TURN LEFT. This is a by-path/shortcut to Route 18 (Tsuru-toge Way) which will go toward to Uenohara IC of Chuo Exp.
[Food & Sightseeing] Shortly after you are on this back-road, you will see some ancient pit houses and an old style Japanese house on your right. It is a Genshi-mura [原始村/primitive-age village]. I believe this is a camping-site and you might be able to stay at one of those pits (maybe... not sure). The Japanese style house is a soba noodle restaurant. I have had one before and I remember it was very delicious. The entire site was closed when I went there last week so they might not be open until April.
10. Route 18 or Tsuru-toge [鶴峠] is narrow and has some tight corners. If you are looking for speed, this route is not for you. This road goes through small villages and you will see idyllic scenes.
11. At the end of Route 18, there is a T-intersection. TURN RIGHT and go on Route 33.
[Note] If you turn left on this intersection, you will be able to go back to Hinohara Kaido Way (#6).
12. Route 33 will merge to Route 20 and soon you will see a sign for Chuo Express Way UENOHARA IC Entrance.
[Summary]
From Tokyo:
Chuo Exp Hachioji Ext > R16 > R32 Akikawa Kaido Way > R33 Hinohara Kaido Way > Okutama Shuyu Doro > R139 > R411 to Okutama Dam > R411 > R139 >Backway and R18 Tsuru Toge Way > Chuo Exp. Uenohara Entrace
I love taking Route 18 and going back to Tokyo from Uenohara IC to avoid traffic. On weekends, you will run into some traffic jam anyway you choose to get back to Tokyo, but this route will minimize it.
Riding Okutama, you will see lots of nature and enjoy riding winding roads. It is about 200 km round trip from Tokyo area. A bit short for "full" one-day trip but this means you can spend more time for sightseeing or visit onsen.
Unfortunately, I have not found good restaurants in this area except a few soba places. I often buy a good Obento/lunch box in Tokyo and bring it with me. Also, I often bring a burner and cooker so I can make good coffee anywhere I find spring-water.
My directions above might be a bit difficult to follow but don't worry. There are many ways to get to Okutama and also many ways to come back. Even you lost your way, somehow you will find your own way back. That is how I find those back roads... Just watch out for running out of gas (btw, many gas stations in countryside close on Sundays).
Also, the altitude is high around Okutama Shuyu Doro (about 900-1000 m above sea level) and temperature is lower. If you are riding in Spring or Fall season, I recommend something extra clothing to ware or rain gear will help. In March, it was about 12c in Uenohara area but it was only 3c in the mountain.
As of last week, no Sakura (Cherry Blossoms) in Okutama Area. Perhaps 1st or 2nd week of April might be good for Ohanami there.
Enjoy and have a safe ride!
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