It’s a perfect spot for a daytrip from Tokyo (or as part of your Okutama adventures) to spend a day relaxing in their Sawanoien garden area whilst enjoying the tranquil, relaxing scenes of the vibrant turquoise waters . One can enjoy snacks, coffee, sake and other alcohol from their Snack Shop on the open terrace area. If you fall in love with any produce you’ve tried, never fear there’s a souvenir shop available with their sake, food products and delicious yuba to take home.

Within the grounds one can also spend the time exploring the two museums, the Kushi Kanzashi Museum which features over 4000 pieces of traditional hair accessories, clothing, accessories, living products throughout Japan’s history and the Gyokudo Museum which showcases the work of the acclaimed master Gyokudou Kawai who specialised in Japan style painting. You can find their websites HERE and HERE respectively.

They also offer a free sake brewery tour (which you must reserve in advance) which goes for about 30mins showcasing not only the brewery but the sake making process as well. Its only in Japanese but there’s an English brochure available. You can reserve HERE. Unfortunately we didn’t do it, as it didn’t align with our schedule & I had already been on several brewery tours with my travel work.

ACCESS

SHINJUKU STATION (via the JR OME LINE “RAPID SERVICE”) - OME STATION

OME STATION (change/stay on board for JR OME LINE “LOCAL SERVICE”) - SAWAI STATION