OZE

Oze is Japan's largest alpine marsh decorated with flowers, a Paradise on earth.

Oze National Park is a must-see in the Oze area. The splendor of nature in Oze will fascinate you as you step into the park. You will be welcomed by the marsh with seasonal flowers everywhere and bird songs from the surrounding mountains.
The more you walk, the more you will be rewarded with the beauty of Oze.
You will be comforted with the wind over the marsh and tiny flowers. In Oze, there are still landscapes that will impress you with the beauty of nature. They keep changing every season to fascinate and impress the tourists beyond words. Every step on the wooden boardwalk will make you feel refreshed and help you find something new for sure. Oze National Park is the 29th national park of Japan.

What to see in Oze

Oze is one of the major treasuries of plants in Japan.
It is a snowy area and there are differences in the flora, depending on the natural conditions of the respective areas, including Ozegahara, which is an alpine marsh, Ozenuma Lake, and Mt. Shibutsu, which is made largely of serpentinite.
About 900 kinds of pteridophytes and other higher plants have been identified in Oze.
Ozegahara Marsh is on the main tour route of Oze. The landscape with the wooden boardwalk straight ahead of you that has beautiful chito (small ponds developed in the marsh’s peat layer) around it is unique to Oze. Moreover, the course on the ridgeway of the somma located in the south of Ozegahara Marsh to the beautiful Ayamedaira Marsh has an atmosphere of Paradise in the air.
Mt. Shibutsu and Mt. Hiuchigatake, two of the top 100 great mountains in Japan, standing face to face, will make you forget that the place is only two hours’ travel from Tokyo. Oze is not only for beginner hikers but also for hard-core mountaineers.

Hiking and trekking

A day hiking course 1
(Hatomachi Toge [pass] ⇒ Yamanohana [rest spot] ⇒ Ushikubi [branch-off point]: out

Degree of hiking difficulty：

Approximate hiking time: 4 hours
/Distance:11 kilometers
Elevation gain/loss: About 200 meters
(If you have lots of energy, you may include the walk from Ryugu Jujiro [crossing] to Yoppi Tsuribashi [suspension bridge], which will increase the time to about 6 and half hours and the distance to 17 kilometers.)

This is the main route taken by about half of the hikers who visit Oze. You can fully enjoy the unique features of Oze.
You can enjoy seasonal flowers that include mizubasho (Japanese skunk cabbage. Rest assured. This plant has no bad smell.)
first to bloom at the end of May each year, nikko kisuge (broad dwarf day lily) in early summer, and ezorindo (gentian) in early autumn as well as autumn-colored tree leaves and plants between the end of September and early October.
Please be forewarned, however, that Oze is extremely crowded on the weekends in June, the peak flowering season of mizubasho.

A day hiking course 2
(Oshimizu [bus stop] ⇒ Ichinose [rest spot] ⇒ Sanpei-Toge [pass] ⇒ Ozenuma Lake ⇒ Oe Marsh: out and back)

Degree of hiking difficulty：

Approximate hiking time: 6 and a half hours
Distance: 17 kilometers
Elevation gain/loss: About 570 meters

The hikers will enjoy the sceneries of Oe Marsh, popular as the marsh of flowers among the many tourist spots of Oze, and Ozenuma Lake.
Photos of the bright yellow nikko kisuge (broad dwarf day lily) flowers in full bloom covering the Oe Marsh between July and August often appear in magazines and posters as a representative image of Oze.
The course lets you enjoy all the fun of hiking: After a tough climb from Ichinose to Sanpei-Toge, you will see Ozenuma Lake and Mt. Hiuchigatake, which will give you a sense of achievement/fulfillment. Then, you will walk along the east bank of Ozenuma Lake, which will fill you with a feeling of freedom.
The degree of hiking difficulty is 2, because of the elevation gains/losses, remaining snow and slippery places on the route, but it is a course any healthy adult can complete.

Leisurely two-day hiking course
Staying at a lodge to enjoy a starry night and fantastic foggy morning
(1. Hatomachi Toge [pass] ⇒ Yamanohana [rest spot] ⇒ Miharashi [rest spot] ⇒ Sanjo-no-Taki [falls]/Hiraname-no-Taki [falls] ⇒ Yoppi Tsuribashi [suspension bridge] ⇒ Hatomachi Toge [pass])
(2. Hatomachi Toge [pass] ⇒ Yamanohana [rest spot] ⇒ A climb of Mt. Shibutsu ⇒ Hatomachi Toge [pass])

Degree of hiking difficulty：

Two-day hiking course: Hiking 11-20 kilometers for a total of 8-10 hours
Degree of difficulty: 3-5
Lodge: in Ryugu, Miharashi or Yamanohana areas

The whole area of Oze is located in the mountains. Even if you are to make a day trip, it is essential that you bring mountaineering boots and other necessary equipment with you. Moreover, the animals and plants living in the rich natural environment in the area are important natural assets.

While you are in Oze to appreciate nature, you are requested to follow the basic rules and behave appropriately, including taking garbage home with you.

As Oze is a highland with an altitude of 1,400 meters and higher, the temperature there is 10 to 15 degrees centigrade lower than that in Tokyo. You will need appropriate clothing and equipment.

It is essential that you develop a loose schedule with one or more overnight stays and bring appropriate mountaineering equipment and check the weather forecast, if you are to climb either Mt. Shibutsu or Mt. Hiuchigatake, two of the top 100 great mountains in Japan.

Please note that the trails of Mt. Shibutsu are closed between May and June each year for the protection of the alpine plants.

Respecting Oze(PDF)

Recommended spot

accommodation

Ryugu Hut

Ryugu Hut is the only lodge located at Ryugu Jujiro (crossing), which is a two-and-a-half hour walk from Hatomachi Toge. […]

Hatomachi Mountain Villa

Hatomachi Mountain Villa is used as the base for a climb on Mt. Shibutsu, one of the 100 great mountains […]

Shibutsu Mountain Villa

Shibutsu Mountain Villa is best as a base for a walk around Ozegahara Marsh and a climb on Mt. Shibutsu. […]

Touden Hut

Touden Hut is conveniently located for those planning to walk around Ozegahara Marsh and those travelling from the south to […]

Motoyu Mountain Villa

Motoyu Mountain Villa has onsen (hot springs) facilities, which is rare within the Oze National Park. Hot water that has […]

Ozenuma Mountain Villa

Ozenuma Mountain Villa stands on Ozenuma Lake, one of the 100 Landscapes of Japan. The trail runs along the old […]

Ozegahara　”DAI-NI Chozo Hut”

DAI-NI Chozo Hut is a simple and clean lodge in Miharashi in Ozegahara Marsh located roughly in the central part […]

Ozenumahan　”Chozo Hut”

Chozo Hut is a long-established wooden building built back in 1934. It is conveniently located to allow for a walk […]

Experience

Katashina School of Mountains and Forests (an incorporated non-profit organization)

How about walking around Oze with a professional guide? Go on an eco tour of Oze that is a little […]

Katashina Mountain Guides Association

We offer guided tours for you to better enjoy the beautiful nature of Oze. Professional guides will help you find […]

Shigehachi Indigo Dyeing Studio

Shigehachi is a studio where you can experience the traditional official aizome, or indigo dyeing, with a method called Tennen-Aku-Hakko-date […]

Katashina Village Promotion Office: Oze Tourist

Taking advantage of Oze National Park and other tourist attractions, local agriculture and other unique local characteristics, Oze Tourist proposes […]

Food

Katashinaya: We sell local products from Katashina.

Katashinaya is a direct sales store operated by the village. We are conveniently located right next to the Kamata bus […]

Minori-no-Sato farm restaurant

We are a farm restaurant directly operated by a private farm of about 8,000 tsubo, or 26,450 square meters. The […]

Onsen(hot springs)

Tokura-no-Yu (for day-use only) in Oze Purari Hall

Tokura-no-Yu, an onsen for day-use only, is located in Oze Purari Hall in Tokura that serves as the doorway in […]

Yoriiyama Onsen Hokkori-no-Yu

Hokkori-no-yu is an onsen (hot springs) available to non-staying guests only and located in Kamata at the center of Katashina […]

Plant

Forest of Mizubasho

About 15,000 mizubasho (Japanese skunk cabbage. Rest assured. This plant has no bad smell.) grow in the Forest of Mizubasho, […]

Oze Iwakura Lily Garden

Oze Iwakura Lily Garden is one of the largest of its kind in the Kanto region. Three million lilies in […]

Snow Activity

Katashina Kogen

Katashina Kogen is the only skiing area in the Kanto region exclusively for skiers, which makes it great for a […]

White World Oze Iwakura

White World Oze Iwakura has the largest ski area in the Kanto region. There are sixteen different slopes to choose […]

Snow Park Oze Tokura

Snow Park Oze Tokura, the pioneer of snowboard parks in Japan, is the closest super halfpipe to the Tokyo metropolitan […]

Souvenirs

Katashinaya: We sell local products from Katashina.

Katashinaya is a direct sales store operated by the village. We are conveniently located right next to the Kamata bus […]

Katashina Soba (Yokosaka Seimen Corporation)

Udon made with wheat grown in Japan and dry soba, both made by our company, will make great souvenirs to […]