Autumn Trekking in Japan: Weekend Trip to Oze National Park
Video 2 of 3 – Overnight Trip to Oze National Park
In this video, we take an overnight trek through Oze National Park in the heart of Honshu, Japan. Oze National Park is a massive protected wilderness area that spans four prefectures, Gunma, Tochigi, Fukushima, and Niigata.
We went to Oze during one of the most popular seasons, Autumn. In late September to early October you can take a trek through pristine wilderness. Its during the Autumn season that the marshland grasses and mountain trees change colors to gold, yellow, orange, and red.
The park contains “Ozegahara” which is the largest high altitude mountain wetland in the Honshu region, and “Ozenuma” which is a lake formed by a volcanic eruption. There are also famous mountains around the area such as the “Mount Hiuchigatake” which is 2,356 meters above sea level making it the highest mountain in the Tohoku region, and “Mount Shibutsu” which is 2,228 meters above sea level. Both mountains are on the list of 100 famous mountains in Japan.
Day 1 of our Oze trip began pretty rough. One of us forgot trekking shoes and the other forgot their puffy jacket. Luckily, when we arrived in Hatomachitoge (the more common starting point of the trek through Oze) there was a small store that sold food, some clothes, and of course trekking shoes. Keep in mind, it is not common to be so lucky. We were very fortunate. The terrain and some portions of the trail can be rough and slippery so good shoes are a must. Also, the weather in Oze National Park can change quickly as day turns to night, definitely bring a puffy jacket. The first day of trekking in Oze is pretty flat and there are a lot of nice stopping points along the trail. We recommend stopping in Yamanohana for lunch (you can bring your own or buy something from the restaurant). Yamanohana is the most populated stop we experienced along the trek. Many people turn around the middle of Ozegahara Marsh to return back to Hatomachitoge making the trip a short day hike.. On our trek we decided to continue on to Yashiro Lodge where we stayed in a shared room overnight. The Yashiro Lodge serves food, beer and other drinks, and they have a small cafe there with limited selection of cakes, coffee, and tea. The Yashiro Lodge also has its own onsen which is not common in the other lodges in the area. The Yashiro Onsen is small and has a nice view, but it can get crowded. Definitely, take a walk around the area because there are other lodges that sell food and drinks. We highly recommend making your trip a 2 day trek because there is still a lot more to see as you continue past the lodge and on to Lake Ozenuma.
Check out Day 2 of the Oze trek in our other video.
Here are 10 tips to:
Enjoy Your Trek Through Oze National Park
1. Bring trekking shoes with hard soles.
2. Pick up a free Japanese trail map.
3. Walk on the right side of the trail.
4. Bring snacks and a water bottle.
5. Try Hanamame ice cream in Yamanohana.
6. Donate 100 yen when using the toilets.
7. Watch out for bears.
8. Food is available, but its expensive.
9. Bring a small bag for trash.
10. Know the bus schedule.
Cameras Used:
Sony – ZV – Vlogging Camera (1080p Video)
GoPro Hero 8 – HD (4k Video)
Olympus OMD EM-5 Mark II – HD (1080p Video)
Canon iBS HF G20 (1080p Video)
DJI Drone – Mavic Pro 2 – HD (4k Video)
Other Equipment:
MSR Reactor Stove (1.0 L)
YETI Rambler Mug (14 oz.)
REI Co-op FlexLite Chairs
Mont Bell Trekking Shoes (Trail Gripper)
Nalgene Wide Mouth (32 oz.) (1 L)
AloJapan.com