Towada, Oirase, HakkodaTowada-Hachimantai National Park
- MOE
- National Parks of Japan
- Towada-Hachimantai National Park
- Towada, Oirase, Hakkoda
- Recommended courses
- Tsutayacho no Mori Course
Tsutayacho no Mori Course
Course Outline
Starting at Tsuta Onsen, this trail winds through six marshes: Tsutanuma, Kagaminuma, Tsukinuma, Naganuma, Suganuma, and Hyotannuma. Each is filled with clear water reflecting the trees of the forest. The Japanese beech trees sprout new leaves in May. The bright fall foliage appears in October and November, and the forest is blanketed in deep snow in winter. The area is known as a treasure trove of wild birds, where the call of the precious ruddy kingfisher can be heard. The mainly flat hiking trail is an easy walk, enabling everyone to enjoy the Japanese beech forest scenes.
Highlights
Tsutanuma Pond, with its beautiful reflections
Tsutanuma Pond is the first marsh that you can see along the hiking course. It is the largest among the six marshes. It has a circumference of about one kilometer. From the board walk and decks by the lake, himemasu (kokanee salmon) and char can be seen. A walk on the round-trip course up to Tsutanuma Pond does not take much time, and it is worth visiting. In the winter, guided “snow rambling” snowshoeing tour on the snow-covered forest is also recommended.
Forest green tree frog
Many wild birds can be seen in the Japanese beech forest. Along with Mandarin ducks, the ruddy kingfisher, a migratory bird with a distinctive cry, can be seen in the marshes. Around June, numerous plump masses of foam – the egg masses of the forest green tree frog – can be seen on the tips of branches along the lake shore.
Kyuan-no-Yu, one of Japan's top secluded baths
Tsuta Onsen is the only inn around this area. Surrounded by Japanese beech trees, the inn features a hot spring bubbling up from the floorboards of the bath tub, offering the enjoyment of natural hot water. The hot spring's history has been recorded from the Heian Era (approx. 800-1200 years ago). This inn is known that The Taisho Era (around 1912-1926) poet Omachi Keigetsu have stayed here.
* Day-visit bathing is possible. The bath is closed in winter.
Course Map
