Hinohara Village is a quiet mountain community on the edge of western Tokyo, bordering Yamanashi and Kanagawa prefectures. It has served as a trade route between mountain regions and the city for centuries. (Another article on Hinohara Village can be found here.)
A spot that perfectly encapsulates Hinohara Village's charm is Tanagokoro Village, a facility that includes on-site cottage accommodations with barbecue pits, saunas overlooking a ravine, and a bakery selling freshly baked organic rice yeast bread. It's a place where visitors can fully immerse themselves in the local natural environment while enjoying its cozy, relaxing atmosphere.
Australian YouTuber Currently Hannah recently visited Tanagokoro Village, a country hideaway not far from central Tokyo.

Hannah, who had just moved from Osaka to Tokyo, had never been to Hinohara Village, and was caught by surprise. "I didn't realize Tokyo was such a vast area with not just urban spaces, but mountains and islands too!” she said. “In my home country of Australia, we have lots of dramatic natural landscapes, but seeing such pristine streams so close to where people live feels really fresh and new to me."

Hannah participated in the "Retreat Experience Event: Yoga, Sauna, and Nature Experience with Vegan Lunch," which started in 2024. This luxurious package consisted of a vegan lunch featuring an abundance of homegrown vegetables, an harvesting experience in Hinohara Village’s steep fields, yoga practice, and finally, a relaxing session in the sauna. “We’re planning to continue offering this retreat experience once a month,” says Sae Suzuki, the facility’s public relations representative. “We consider the act of freeing oneself in nature as a form of adventure tourism.”

The vegan lunch was served on a terrace overlooking the clear waters of the Aki River. Hannah, who studied dance in university and worked as a performer, is a vegetarian. “In major cities overseas, where health and environmental consciousness is high, even fast-food restaurants offer vegetarian options,” she said. “It’s still quite challenging, though, to find vegetarian menus in Osaka or Tokyo.

Tanagokoro Village’s fully vegan menu doesn’t use any animal products whatsoever. Most of the vegetables used are sourced from Hinohara Village, and the dishes are delicious even for those not familiar with vegan offerings.

The lunch for the day consisted of (See photo, clockwise from the top):
・Pumpkin salad with soy milk mayonnaise
・Gratin with soy milk white sauce
・Lettuce and locally grown tomato salad
・Deep-fried eggplant marinated in grated onion with a ponzu sauce of citrus juice, rice wine vinegar and soy sauce
・Homemade stir fry of zucchini and luffa with shiokoji, a condiment made by combining spores of rice mold with water and rice and allowing it to ferment.
・Tanagokoro bread made with organic rice yeast
・Ratatouille with summer vegetables
・In the center: Carrot prepared to resemble fried shrimp and fried wheat gluten
・For dessert: Japanese ginger sorbet

“There’s such a variety of vegetables, and they’re all fresh with a nice texture,” said Hannah. “I’m also happy that I can get plenty of protein not just from the vegetables, but from the wheat gluten too. And it’s fun to see playful touches like the carrot made to look like fried shrimp.”

In the mountainous village of Hinohara, flat land is scarce, and farming must be carried out on small, sunny slopes. A unique feature of this retreat experience is the opportunity to encounter the lifestyle and culture specific to mountain villages, something not typically available on ordinary tourist farm visits.

The farming part of the day’s itinerary focuses on different crops being harvested depending on the season. During Hannah’s visit, blueberries were in season. Over 10 varieties of blueberries are grown here, which are used in the bakery at Tanagokoro Village. Taste-testing of the berries at various stages of ripeness is recommended for visitors to find their preferred flavor.
“I’ve picked strawberries before, but this is my first time harvesting blueberries,” said Hannah. “There were some tart varieties, but I prefer the sweet, large ones. They would be delicious in yogurt as well as on their own.”

Depending on the season, visitors can experience harvesting other vegetables. In spring, shiitake mushrooms; in autumn kiwi fruit. (During the winter, guests can also enjoy cooking foil-wrapped meals over a bonfire.) Many of the seasonal vegetables grown here are used in the vegan lunch served at the Village. It’s truly an opportunity to experience the blessings of Hinohara Village’s land and its people’s way of life.

After working up a pleasant sweat harvesting fruits or vegetables, guests can refresh their mind and body with a yoga session. The lessons are led by yoga instructor Mamiko. The yoga program began after the company president noticed Mamiko, a staff member, practicing yoga in a natural setting during her break times.

"Today, due to the heat, we held the session indoors, but in spring and autumn, we conduct yoga on the wooden deck looking directly over the ravine," Mamiko said. "In yoga, we place great importance on the five senses. Here, you can enjoy a luxurious time immersed in nature—smelling the natural fragrances, taking in the greenery, listening to the sounds of the stream and birdsong, and feeling the breeze on your skin. I believe Hinohara Village is a place where humans can return to their origins."

Last on Hannah’s agenda was the barrel sauna experience. These saunas, which originated in Northern Europe, are barrel-shaped saunas that can be installed outdoors. Their circular shape allows for efficient heating of the interior. The sauna at the Village was recently completed in 2024. The firewood used to heat the sauna is, of course, wood from trees thinned from the Hinohara Village forest, making it a facility where you can truly experience the blessings of the nature surroundings.

Hannah found the barrel sauna new and very clean, and she enjoyed being enveloped by the aroma of the löyly (the steam created when aromatic water is poured over the sauna stones) and the sound of the rushing stream. For the löyly, guests can choose from three aromatic options: Citrus, Black Forest, or Mountain Herb. “The sense of unity with nature visible through the window is something I think you can't experience elsewhere," said Hannah.

She particularly liked the "stream bath,”—cooling off in the adjacent clear Aki river stream instead of a cold plunge pool. This activity, which calls for bathers to adjust to water temperatures below 20℃ is very popular among visitors. "The moment you step into the cold stream, you're overwhelmed by sensations, and when you come out of the stream, you feel refreshed in both body and mind,” Hannah said.

As someone who enjoys spending time in natural environments, Hannah found the Hinohara visit a satisfying experience, with a variety of activities. “It's the perfect place for a 'lovely escape' when you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city for a while," Hannah said.

The blessings of nature can be enjoyed throughout the day’s itinerary: the vegan lunch on the terrace surrounded by mountains, the agricultural experience that lets you feel the seasons of the mountain village, the yoga soothed by the sound of flowing water, and the barrel sauna.

According to public relations staff Suzuki, Tanagokoro Village is a local enterprise deeply rooted in the lifestyle of Hinohara Village. It is operated by Inoue Store, a local fuel company that values living a rich, fulfilling life. While incorporating the trend of retreats, their high level of hospitality is in fact the very essence of the welcoming spirit of the mountain village people.

"We have a diverse range of regular customers,” said Suzuki. “The bakery attracts many women from the local area and nearby regions. Our cottage stays are popular with families in their 30s who want to enjoy river activities and barbecues. The sauna draws many people in their 20s from central Tokyo. It seems that everyone is attracted to the sense of privacy, a feeling that they have the natural environment all to themselves."

Suzuki said the facility warmly welcomes people of all ages who feel stressed by city life and want to try this kind of natural experience. “Our young staff members and I are constantly thinking of and preparing new offerings to make our guests want to come back,” she said.

Tanagokoro Village
Address: 2100-1 Henbori, Hinohara Village, Nishitama District, Tokyo [MAP]
Phone: 042-598-6307
Operating hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM (excluding lodging)
Retreat experience (monitor price): 8,800 yen (tax included) * Prices may vary depending on the contents.
Website: https://www.tanagokoro-village.com/
By car: Approximately 30 km from "Akiruno IC" or "Hinode" on the Ken-O Expressway
By train and bus: Take the Nishi Tokyo Bus bound for "Kazuma" from JR Musashi-Itsukaichi Station on the Itsukaichi Line, get off at "Uzushiki Iriguchi"

【Adventure Tourist】
Currently Hannah
YouTuber from Brisbane in eastern Australia. She studied performing arts at university and came to Japan to work as a dance performer at a theme park in the Kansai region. Captivated by Japan's nature, she turned to YouTubing. She creates content showcasing Japan's nature and culture, including publishing travel ebooks.

※This content is supported by a grant from the Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau for the Promotion of Adventure Travel.

Text by Toru Otawara and Photo by Atsushi Ishihara