Oze National Park, the largest basin marshland in Honshu island of Japan, has been registered under the Ramsar Convention from 2005. Oze is located over 3 prefectures, Fukushima, Niigata, and Gunma. Oze is consist of 2 areas, large marshland "Ozegahara", and mountain lake "Ozenuma", surrounded by mountains as Mt.Hiuchigatake, Mt.Shihutsu and others. Mt.Hiuchigatake is the highest mountain in Fukushima and northward. Many hikers visit Oze throughout the year to enjoy its seasonal beautiful landscape.
Ozegahara in mid autumn, tinted autumn reeds called "Kusamomiji", are shining gold all around with sunshine. Some "Chito" ponds in the marsh, their surfaces relrected blue sky, white cloud, and blue mountain in the distance. The juxtaposition and contrast of different colors, red, yellow, green, blue and white, are so beautiful.
Entering Ozegahara from the gateway "Hatomachi-touge" mountain pass in Gunma, walking forward on wooden footpath for some kilometers, and enjoying the autumnal grand view of marshland, you will reach the base of Mt.Hiuchigatake at last. Here "Miharashi"(meaning view or lookout in japanese) is the intermediate point between Ozegahara and Ozenuma, and there are some mountain lodges around here.
Many hikers take rest, or stay at mountain lodge, to enjoy sunset marshland and mountain scenery with drinking beer or hot Sake, and fantastic landscape walking in morning fog on the following early morning. Next day, some hikers will traverse to Ozenuma area, ascending uphill mountain trail to the edge point of Ozenuma "Nushiri", or some will return to the gateway Hatomachi-touge to enjoy Ozegahara view again.
Ozenuma, mountain lake at the south base of Mt.Hiuchigatake, is approximately 250m higher than Ozegahara, and has different picturesque scenery with Mt.Hiuchigatake at back. Some trees and leaves are still green, some are coniferous trees and evergreen around Ozenuma.
Some mountaineers enjoy climbing up Mt.Hiuchigatake steep trail directly running up to the top with labor. Nushiri is the west edge point Ozenuna circle footpath, and the east side, Oze visitor center and "Chozo-goya" mountain lodges are there, is the final destination. From visitor centor, you can chose the gateway to Hinoemata village, Fukushima pref, or Katashina village, Gunma pref. And reverse course is also good trekking route.
Therefore, there are respective and various ways to enjoy Oze for hikers, climers, and others. Visit Oze, and wish Fukushima cheer up!
more photographs on Facebook (1) (2)
more information about Oze;
Oze Preservation Foundation
Hinoemata village, Fukushima pref.
Katashina village, Gunma pref.
