It all started with a simple thought — ‘Let’s go fishing for river trout.’
So we headed north from central Tokyo to the Okutama area, just a short walk from Okutama Station, to the Hikawa International Trout Park.
Okutama Station
The travel time from Shinjuku Station to Okutama Station varies depending on the transportation method, but by train, here’s a typical route:
JR Chuo Line + JR Ome Line
Shinjuku → Tachikawa (Chuo Line Rapid: approx. 40 min)
Tachikawa → Okutama (Ome Line Rapid: approx. 1 hr 10 min)
Total: about 1 hour 50 minutes to 2 hours.
Peering down, I found…
Whoa!
I can handle roller coasters, but bungee jumping? No way.
Just a little further to our destination — the trout fishing park.
I wondered if it was a climbing mat.
Arrived at Hikawa International Trout Park.
The place was more spacious than I imagined, and surprisingly lively with plenty of people enjoying themselves.
Here’s how the pricing works
Full-Day Ticket – ¥3,800 per person (includes admission & fishing) / Catch up to 10 fish
Morning Ticket – ¥2,200 per person (until 12:00, reception opens from 8:00) / Catch up to 5 fish
Afternoon Ticket – ¥2,200 per person (from 12:00, reception opens from 11:50) / Catch up to 5 fish
I kept waiting and waiting… but still no catch.
We arrived around 2:00 PM, and the fishing session was set to end at 3:30 PM.
Before I knew it, there was only an hour left… and I hadn’t caught a single fish.
Across the river, people who clearly knew what they were doing were already cleaning their trout, getting them ready for a salt-grilled feast.
I watched enviously… when suddenly—
Twitch!
Could it be!?
I caught one!
After that, I managed to catch one more fish, and together the three of us ended up with three trout in total.
Time’s up!
As a bonus, we were given three more fish.
I had expected to catch lots easily, but it seems arriving in the morning would have been wiser.
Also, bringing a portable stove would let you grill the trout right on the spot—and I’m sure it would boost your motivation too!
Grill them, fry them—either way, I’m excited to dig in!
It was about time to eat, so I took a big bite straight from the belly.
Fluffy and perfectly cooked—so delicious I was overwhelmed!
Shiso leaves, also called Perilla or Japanese basil, are a staple in Japanese cooking. They add a fresh, minty note to dishes like sushi, sashimi, and tempura.
We even made trout tempura, and wow—it was shockingly good! Highly recommend trying it yourself.
Hikawa International Trout Park
397-1 Hikawa, Okutama-machi, Nishitama-gun, Tokyo, Japan