shiofune kannonji

From where we live Shiofune Kannonji is about 2 hours away by train and bus, in Ome, which we visited before.

I think I marked this place "to check out" during the pandemic.

They have hillsides with azaleas

It was something to see!

Hike up to the Kannon (goddess of mercy)

Points if you see Mount Fuji

The photos I’ve seen online had more red/pink bushes, so I don't think this was full bloom, or maybe it was already past its peak?!

There are many trails to get up to the Kannon, even a paved route (for wheelchairs/strollers) be careful though, there are snakes, bees and fuzzy worms that give you a rash....eep! luckily we didn’t see any while we were there

Still, we were glad we were able to check this place out.

Shiofune Kannonji

194 Shiobune

Ome, Tokyo

Hours: 9:00-16:00* check for days off

Admission: 300 yen per person

okutama day 2

If we thought dinner had too much food, breakfast was even more krazy!

And we ate it all!

After breakfast, we checked out and went to check out the Tama river.

So clear!

I needed coffee, so I had this Aeropress tonic from Wasabi Shokudo, a small food truck 

They also farm wasabi in Kori (another area of Okutama), need to go back to check out their wasabi.

Then we caught the bus to Lake Okutama, which provides drinking water for Tokyo which means no swimming or fishing in the lake

There was a pontoon bridge that Satoshi was interested in crossing (FYI it is closed if the winds are too strong)

And then we went to Ogouchi Shrine where they were having some kind of festival.
 

From Okutama we headed to Ome.

There are many vintage looking buildings, as well as vintage movie posters (back in the day I think they were painted)

At Kongoji, there is an ume tree, the fruit does not change color, and stays green which is apparently how the area got it’s name, the kanji (chinese characters) is "green ume".

Ome also has lots of cat motifs here and there.

Apparently there were many textile factories in the area and since they had rodent problems they brought in cats and somehow the cat motifs are still around today.

Lunch was at Natsu e no tobira (literally door to summer)

This cafe is right next to the tracks, so you can watch the trains pass by as well as listen to jazz

I had chicken curry while Satoshi had the veggie curry.

Spicy and filling.

It was nice to check out this area of Tokyo, it made you feel like you were travelling in another area of Japan.

We look forward to coming back.

Natsu e no tobira

16 Suminoe-cho

Ome, Tokyo

Phone: 0428.24.4721

Closed Tuesdays

Hours: 10:00-18:00

*cash only

More photos here