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Highlights of Oze National Park

  • Cautions for Mountain Climbing
    Much of Oze National Park is mountainous. The sights that have been introduced here can be reached from mountain trails. When climbing mountains, be sure to prepare equipment and clothing appropriate for the season in advance and plan so as to give yourself ample time.
Mt. Kasagatake
photo of Mt. Kasagatake
Mt. Kasagatake and Mt. Joshu-Hotaka
Mt. Kasagatake
Course time: 5 hrs 30 mins from Hatomachi Pass
Mt. Kasagatake (2,057 m above sea level) is a mountain to the south of Mt. Shibutsu. To reach the summit, follow the mountain trail from Hatomachi Pass to Mt. Shibutsu and take the trail that branches off along the way at Oyamazawatashiro. Fields of flowers spread out around the trails, and from the summit you can enjoy a 360ยบ panoramic view including not only Mt. Shibutsu and Mt. Hiuchigatake, but also Mt. Joshu-Hotaka in the distance.
Mt. Shibutsu
photo of Mt. Shibutsu
View of Ozegahara Plateau from Mt. Shibutsu
Mt. Shibutsu
Course time: 6 hrs from Hatomachi Pass
Mt. Shibutsu (2,228 m above sea level) is a representative mountain of Oze located on the western edge of Ozegahara Plateau. As the mountainside comprises serpentinite terrrain, rare serpentinite plant species, such as Arenaria katoana, Leontopodium fauriei var. Angustifolium and Japonolirion osense can be seen alongside mountain trails, and the mountain provides breathtaking views of Ozegahara Plateau from near the summit.
Ayamedaira Marsh
photo of Ayamedaira Marsh
Narthecium asiaticum blooming on
Ayamedaira Marsh (July)
Ayamedaira Marsh
Course time: 5 hrs or more from (Hatomachi Pass)
Ayamedaira Marsh is covering a broad, gradual ridge on the south side of Ozegahara Plateau. Because of the high altitude, snow melts slowly and flowers bloom intensely for short periods of time. The colonies of Narthecium asiaticum that bloom in July and August are especially spectacular, creating what can truly be called a "Heavenly Paradise".
Ozegahara Plateau, Lake Ozenuma
photo of Ozegahara Plateau, Lake Ozenuma
Boardwalk Provided in Ozegahara Plateau (August)
Ozegahara Plateau, Lake Ozenuma
Course time: 1 day or 2 days trip from Hatomachi Pass, Oshimizu or Numayama Pass, etc.
With an area of about 650 ha, this is the largest high moorin Japan. Wooden paths within the wetland let visitors enjoy a range of scenery that changes through the seasons, including White skunk-cabbage around mid-May, day-lily in mid-July, and fall foliage around October.
Lake Ozenuma, a volcanic dammed lake, has a maximum depth of 9 m and a moor circumference of about 9 km. There is a route by which visitors can walk around the moor in half a day. Stouts inhabit the area around the moor, and White skunk-cabbage, day-lilies, Iris setosa, and other plants can be seen.
photo of Day-Lilies (July)
Day-Lilies (July)
photo of Autumnal-tinted grass on the shore of Lake Ozenuma and Mt. Hiuchigatake (October)
Autumnal-tinted grass on the shore of Lake Ozenuma
and Mt. Hiuchigatake (October)
Sanjo-no-taki Falls
photo of Sanjo-no-taki Falls
Sanjo-no-taki Falls
Sanjo-no-taki Falls
Course time: 2 days trip from Miike or Hatomachi Pass
All of the rainfall of the Oze moor accumulates here and comes crashing down from a height of 100 m with a roar. Visitors can get an up-close view of the falls from the observatory.
Mt. Hiuchigatake
photo of Mt. Hiuchigatake
Lake Ozenuma Viewed from the Summit of
Mt. Hiuchigatake (September)
Mt. Hiuchigatake
Course time: 6 hrs or more from Miike or Oshimizu etc.
Mt. Hiuchigatake (2,356 m above sea level) is the highest stratovolcano in the Tohoku region and ranks alongside Mt. Shibutsu as one of Oze's representative mountains. From near the peak it is possible to look out over Lake Ozenuma and Ozegahara Plateau, and around the foot of the mountain, which is covered in one of Japanese foremost primeval Japanese beech forests, a precious ecosystem is being nurtured.
photo of Kumazawa-Tashiro Marsh (August)
Kumazawa-Tashiro Marsh (August)
Mt. Aizu-Komagatake
photo of Mt. Aizu-Komagatake
Looking towards Oze from Mt. Aizu-Komagatake (June)
Mt. Aizu-Komagatake
Course time: 7 hrs or more from Takizawa, Kirinte or Miike
Mt. Aizu-Komagatake (2,132 m above sea level) is a well-known mountain that represents the Aizu region. When the snow melts, the Koma-no-Oike Pond appears at the top of the mountain, and several ponds and swamps are scattered across the ridgelines that extend to Mt. Chumon. Visitors can thus enjoy a mixed landscape comprised of the mountain ranges of Echigo (Niigata) and North Kanto stretching out in the distance and vast nature in the form of high moors.
photo of Pond on Mt. Aizu-Komagatake
Pond on Mt. Aizu-Komagatake
Mt. Daikuratakayama, Mt. Taishaku, Mt. Tashiro
photo of Mt. Daikuratakayama, Mt. Taishaku, Mt. Tashiro
Autumnal Folage Viewed from a Mountain Trail
(September)
Mt. Daikuratakayama, Mt. Taishaku, Mt. Tashiro
Course time: 4 hrs or more from Umasaka Pass or Sarukura
Lovely white Ozabagusa flowers (Pteridophyllum racemosum), which are endemic to Japan, blossom in the area surrounding the Umasakatoge starting point of the trail heading up Mt. Taishaku, and the summit of the mountain offers views of Mt. Hiuchigatake and Mt. Aizu-Komagatake. The Tashiro high moor formed on the flat summit of Mt. Tashiro is populated with large numbers of Kinkoka (Narthecium asiaticum) and Chinguruma (Geum pentapetalum) plants.
photo of Mt. Daikuratakayama, Mt. Taishaku, Mt. Tashiro
Colony of Pteridophyllum racemosum Growing along
a Mountain Trail (July)
Mountain Lodges and Camping Grounds
photo of Mountain Lodges and Camping Grounds
Mountain Lodges and Camping Grounds
Within the three districts of Oze--Lake Ozenuma, Yamanohana, and Miharashi--visitor centers, mountain lodges, and camping grounds have been centrally provided, creating main bases for visitor activities. The visitor centers provide the latest information about Oze as well as nature commentaries, so please be sure to drop by when you visit Oze.

Wildlife & Plants

Japonolirion osense
photo of Japonolirion osense
Japonolirion osense
The Ozeso (Japonolirion osense) that gives Oze its name is called a "serpentinite-persistent plant" remaining in the serpentinite zone, which resists encroachment by other plants due to the high magnesium and iron content of the rocks. It can be seen at Mt. Shibutsu, which is composed of serpentinite.
Day-Lily (Hemerocallis dumortiei)
photo of Day-Lily (Hemerocallis dumortiei)
Day-Lily (Hemerocallis dumortiei)
Frequently found in large clusters on grasslands in mountain areas, colonies of this plant can be seen in the Ozegahara Plateau and Lake Ozenuma in the Oze National Park. In recent years, predation of the plant by deer has become a problem.
Japanese Beech (Fugus crenata)
photo of Japanese Beech (Fugus crenata)
Japanese Beech (Fugus crenata)
A typical tree of Japan's temperate forests. This primeval forest of Japanese beech (commonly called Bunadaira), found in the direction of Numayama about 1 km from Lake Miike (the entrance from the Fukushima Prefecture side), provides magnificent scenery.
Nannophya pygmaea
photo of Nannophya pygmaea
Nannophya pygmaea
The smallest dragonfly in Japan, with a wing length of 15 mm and body length of 2 cm. Many can be seen at Ozegahara.
Japanese Stoat (Mustela ermine nippon)
photo of Japanese Stoat (Mustela ermine nippon)
Japanese Stoat (Mustela ermine nippon)
A species of the weasel family, this carnivore inhabits the subalpine zone north of Chubu at an altitude above 1,500 meters. The Yamanohana and Ozemuma Visitor Centers issue "stoat discovery cards" to visitors who discover a stoat.

Activities

Hiking
photo of Hiking
Hiking
Inside Oze National Park, wooden paths have been built in places including Ozegahara Plateau and Lake Ozenuma, letting visitors enjoy hiking throughout the seasons. However, as Oze is a mountainous zone, visitors are asked to come sufficiently equipped and to make flexible plans.
https://www.oze-fnd.or.jp/ozb/b-ss/
(Reference: Oze Preservation Foundation website)