Oze National Park (Gunma Side)

Spanning Gunma, Fukushima, Niigata, and Tochigi prefectures, Oze National Park is one of Japan’s leading natural parks and home to the largest highland marsh in Honshu. From Hatomachi Pass, the gateway on the Gunma side, a walk along the boardwalk opens up to the vast Ozegahara marshland at an elevation of Approx. 1,400 meters, with grand views of Mt. Shibutsu and Mt. Hiuchigatake.

Ozegahara is a highland marsh covering Approx. 760 hectares, surrounded by mountainous terrain formed by eruptions in the Oze volcanic range. At the source area of the Tadami River, dammed by volcanic activity, lies Lake Ozenuma, with famous peaks such as Mt. Shibutsu, Mt. Hiuchigatake, and Mt. Aizukomagatake rising nearby.

In early summer, Asian skunk cabbage blooms across the marsh, followed by Nikko daylilies in summer and autumn colors in fall, giving the landscape a different look each season. The boardwalk crossing the marsh is well maintained, so even beginners can enjoy exploring with ease. Along the way, there is the Yamanohana Visitor Center on the Gunma side, as well as the Ozenuma Visitor Center on the Fukushima side, where you can learn about the area’s nature, plants, and wildlife as you walk.

For access, use the shuttle bus from Oze Tokura to Hatomachi Pass. Private car restrictions are in place, making it possible to enter the area in an environmentally friendly way. It is a special place where you can experience the quiet and beauty of Oze while helping protect its natural environment.