On the weekend we decided to drive to the mountains to try and escape the summer heat for at least a day. It has now officially been declared the hottest summer ever in Tokyo (and Japan) with the temperature in the last 16 days never falling below 27 degrees Celsius (even at night). It turned out that everyone had the same idea and the expressway out of town was bumper to bumper. Over the day we drove for seven hours and covered less than 150 kilometres. Unfortunately the cunning plan also failed. When we hopped out of the car there was a strategically placed temperature gauge that said it was 34 degrees. No escape from the heat at all.
The place that we chose was the Okutama dam to the west of Tokyo.
The dam is located in the steep, cedar wooded hills, but the water (when you consider your within 80 kilometres of Tokyo), is the most amazing glacial colour. There were also large black bass and some trout cruising around in the no fishing section near the dam wall.
The park near the dam was beautifully maintained with gravel walkways and shaped pine trees.
The car park took advantage of the weather with solar panels making up the roof.
Though there appeared to be some steps from the carpark to nowhere.
But, even with all of the heat, it was great just to get out of Tokyo and have an uninterrupted view of green.
The place that we chose was the Okutama dam to the west of Tokyo.
The dam is located in the steep, cedar wooded hills, but the water (when you consider your within 80 kilometres of Tokyo), is the most amazing glacial colour. There were also large black bass and some trout cruising around in the no fishing section near the dam wall.
The park near the dam was beautifully maintained with gravel walkways and shaped pine trees.
The car park took advantage of the weather with solar panels making up the roof.
Though there appeared to be some steps from the carpark to nowhere.
But, even with all of the heat, it was great just to get out of Tokyo and have an uninterrupted view of green.
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