Shinshu Atera emerald green valley

I would like to inform Atera valley of Okuwa village in Nagano prefecture.

Take the JR Chuo Line from Nagoya Station and head to Nojiri Station.

I walk to the west from Nojiri station for about 10 minutes and arrive at Atera Bridge.

The place where I crossed Aeda Bridge is the entrance to the Atera Valley.
From the entrance of the Atera River Valley, we are regulating vehicles during the summer(from July 21 to September 2, 2018) and should not be a car.
Since there is no cafeteria in the valley, we recommend that you purchase a box lunch in advance.

There is a guide bulletin board of the Aera Valley.

"Atera river," a tributary of the Kiso river flows, is a very deep valley, which has a valley floor and a maximum of 1,000 m of heading on both sides.

From here, it is a road for climbing to the north side.
While climbing the mountain stream of Atera, I climb the slope.
The water of the river is clear and the flow of emerald green is wonderful.



The side of the river is cool and very comfortable.
Hinoki beautiful forest, beautiful natural beauty which the distinguished rock creates, there are places where waterfalls are located, places where you can get down to riverbanks, there are signs in the sights.
The scenic spots of 'Tanukigafuchi', 'Inugaerinofuchi' and 'Ushigafuchi' are scattered.





Water flowing to Atera Valley has high transparency and beautiful emerald green.
The color of this water is also called "Atera blue", and it changes every time that the bluishness is strong due to the shimmering of light and the green is strong, and it attracts people as "everything is too mysterious!"

Because the water quality of the Atera River is very good, Yamato Iwana, Agime Dojo, Yamame, Amago, Ugai, etc. live.

As I climbed about 6 km from the entrance to the Aera River Valley, I arrived at Atera Valley Campground.

From Nojiri station, you can go to this campsite in about 2 hours.
We can accommodate day trip as well.
You can also do a barbecue.
If you want camping and barbecue, please make a reservation at the campsite in advance.

There is also a famous water called "beautiful face water" which has a legend that you can become a fair and beautiful girl when you wash your face. This water is chosen as a famous water and secret water of Shinshu, please wash your face.

Your face will be smooth.
You can also fish at the campsite.

Please enjoy the cool summer in the Atera valley.
that’s it.

Enjoy nature at Tokyo Okutama "Hatonosan Valley"

This time, I would like to inform the "Hatono no Valley" in Okutama.

Take the JR from Tokyo station and arrive at JR Hatonosu from about 70 minutes.



Cross the "Oume Road (National Route 411)" in the south from the station and get off the Tama river, you can see the "Hatononsu Valley" where clear stream flows between big and rocky rocks.

"Hatonosan Valley" is a valley formed by eroding the mountain of Chichibu with the stream of the Tamagawa River.
The walking of "Hatonosu Valley" is a course of about 2 km, with JR Oume Line Hatonohana Station and Shiromaru Station as the nearest station in the "Hatonosu Valley Promenade."
Big rocks and strange rocks are connected from the pigeon nest to the vicinity of Shiromaru lake.

After getting off at Hatonosu station and crossing the Oume road you will see "Ssangyong Falls".


Proceed to the right, walk in the direction of the river, and in about 10 minutes there is a suspension bridge called "Hatonosu Kobashi", this is the starting point of walking.

Cross the suspension bridge, you can see the whole valley.
Overlooking the big rocks from the suspension bridge, big trees surround the valley in the mountains.

If you enjoyed the spectacular view from the suspension bridge, it is the start of walking.

There is up / down of the staircase of the rock and it gets tired a bit.

A flat road will follow if you cross it, so you can walk while enjoying the scenery.

While walking for about 30 minutes looking at the Tamagawa clear stream, cedar forests and rocks, you can see the "Shiromaru dam".

In front of the white circle dam, there is a "Shiromaru fishwayroad entrance".

This fish road made a river way where Yamame, Ayu can go upstream to the dam.
Go down here and go down the spiral staircase, there is a fish road leading to the river, if you are lucky to see the fish.


Go back to the original road and look down the dam downstream from the Shiromaru dam.
The dam is quite high and I can see the downstream flow far away.

A Shiromaru lake is spreading upstream of this dam.
Shiromaru Lake is a beautiful lake whose lake surface looks like an emerald green.

After a while we arrive at "Kazumakai bridge".

From this bridge you can look over the Tama river and the whole "Shiromaru Lake".


Here we go back to "Hatanosu Bungalow".

To "Hatonosu Bungalow", there are many stairs and it gets tired a little.
Here, there is a bungalow where you can fully enjoy barbecue in the nature of the Hatono Nest Valley.


It is a historic bungalow, facilities are old, but you can use a 6-tatami bungalow for 4 people with ¥ 8000.
You can also fish trout and play in the river here.

I will have a barbecue here and stay in a bungalow for 1 night.
Accommodation is crowded on Saturdays of the season, but sometimes it can be used on a day barbecue. Please make a reservation in advance and use it.
On sunny days you can also see the shining night sky of the stars.
Please enjoy the majestic nature at "Hatonosan Valley" with good access from the JR Ome Line.
that’s it.

Walking around Takao Kiyotaki River in Kyoto

I would like to introduce a walking trip to explore the fresh green around Kiyotaki River


From JR Kyoto Station, take the Kyoto bus bound for Kiyotaki, arrive at Kiyotaki end point in about an hour.

Walking from the Kiyotaki bus stop towards the north, you will come to the Kiyotaki River.
The water of Kiyotaki River is clear and beautiful.

I cross Toen bridge, and walk northwest along the Kiyotaki River.


Religious relatives of Genji fireflies are decorated in Toen Bridge.

From around late May to early June around this bridge, around 19: 00-20: 00
Genji fireflies dance.
If you watch fireflies, there will be no return bus, so if you are viewing the fireflies,
Please secure an accommodation place near.


When I get off the riverbank from Toen Bridge, there is a monument of Basho Matsuo.


Go back to the road, walking and there is a Torii at the climbing mouth of Atagoyama.

When turning to the right turns at Torii, there is a branch to Atagoyama via the Getsurinji, and it goes down to the river.

I will walk next to the river.
In this area, the sun leaves through the trees, and you can enjoy a pleasant walk while watching the clear stream of the Kiyotaki River.

After a while there is a square.

I will take a break on the bench here.

As you go further, high cedar trees are planted.

After cedar tree, the pink flower of Taniutsugi is in bloom.

Walking further there is the Kiyotaki Bridge, you can see the wonderful view of the Kinun vally when looking at the downstream from this bridge.

A little upstream of this bridge you can see the Kansai Electric Power Kiyotaki Power Station Intake Dam.

It is a water intake of a hydraulic power plant with output of 250 kW 33.3 m, constructed by Kiyotaki River Hydropower Co., Ltd. in 1909. From here, it continues to the Kiyotaki power station, which is 2 km downstream of the conduit.


Proceed on for about 10 minutes and you will find a stone stairway to climb to the Jingo Temple on your left and climb here.
When I climb slowly, I arrive at the Jingo temple.





Visit and get off the stairs,I will arrive at "Takao Bridge" as I go a little way on the original road.

I will take a break at the Kiyotakigawa River and return to the original road.

Cross the Takao Bridge and return home from the JR bus 'Yamashiro Takao' bus stop to Kyoto Station.

Please go to Kaohsiung's Kiyotaki River in this season when fresh green feels good, refresh in forest bath.
That’s it.

Watching Asian skunk cabbage of Oze National Park

I would like to inform the one-night two-day trip to watch Asian skunk cabbage of Oze in the northeastern part of Gumma Prefecture.

About 10 o'clock, from Tokyo take JR, go to Numata Station, change to the bus and arrive at Oze Tokura Hot-spring in about 1.5 hours.
On the first day relaxing at the hot spring, next morning take a bus and head for Hatomachi Pass in about 30 minutes.


I climb to Ozegahara from Hatomachi Pass at around 8:30 am. This road is a bit tired for climbing.
On the way, Asian skunk cabbage is blooming everywhere.

I climbed the mountain road for about 50 minutes and arrived at the Mountain's nose.
You can see Mt. Shibutsu in the west.

"Ozegahara" spreads east from "Mountain's nose".
I will take a restroom with "Mountain Nose".

Ozegahara walks the tree over the ground so that tourists do not kill plants by stepping on the ground.

Many white and pretty Asian skunk cabbage are in bloom in Ozegahara.


The period of flowering of Asian skunk cabbage is usually from late May to mid June, but this year’s temperature is high, so mid-May to early June will be at the best time of Asian skunk cabbage’s full bloom.

After walking for about an hour, we arrive at the cabin of "Ryugu" so I will take a break.

I will take a commemorative photo with Asian skunk cabbage back in Ozegahara here.
You can see "Tokyo Electric Power company’s cabin" in the north direction.

Turning further to the east we arrive at the cabin of "Miharashi" in about 30 minutes.

I have early lunch here.

From here we go further east for about 1.5 hours and arrive at Ozenuma's "Numazjiri" around 13:00.
If you want to see Asian skunk cabbage slowly, please stop going to "Numazjiri".
You will not be able to catch the bus on the way back.

Ozegahara can hardly see water in wetlands, but Ozenuma pays water like a pond.
Many Asian skunk cabbages are blooming in Ozenuma.

I took a walk for about 10 minutes on the Ozenuma and return to the original road "Mountain’s Nose".

Returning on the early stages on the way home, I arrive at "Mountain’s Nose" by 16:20.

Please come back to Hatomachi Pass bus stop at 17:00 to catch the bus on the way back.
On the way back, you do not need to take a lot of pictures and you can also go back soon as you can.
Take the return bus and arrive at Tokyo station around 10 o'clock in the evening.

Many Asian skunk cabbages are seen in this period, at Ozegahara and Ozenuma.
In July, Yellow Nikko Kisuge will be in full bloom in Ozegahara.

Please watch Oze's Asian skunk cabbages by all means.

That’s it.

Mitake Castle Ruins Park, Mitake Forest、in Gifu Prefecture

I would like to inform "Mitake Castle Ruins Park" and "Mitake Forest"
in Mitake-cho, southern part of Gifu Prefecture.



Take the Meitetsu train from Nagoya station about one hour, then arrive at Mitake station.

From the station to the south, Mitake Forest will be visible in about 15 minutes on foot.

The Mitake Forest has parks and forests and hiking road.
In the park, there is a big stone written as "Mitake no Mori", and a lawn park is spreading.

When going southwest from the park, there is a pond and there is a guide board of "Sasa Yuri's self-fabric" on the left.

When heading there, there is a signboard of "Sasa Yuri's own fabric" where the bamboo grassed.
Here, "Sasa Yuri" is in full bloom from late May to early June.

Lily flowers are pretty little pretty pinkish.
In order to protect Sasa Yuri, there are electric wires running through both sides of the sidewalk.
Be careful not to touch the iron wire.


Go ahead and find a second pond.

I enjoy autumn leaves.
It is not a hiking season, I can listen to the birds crying.

Heading northwest from here, I will go to Mitake Castle Ruins Park.
Oguri clan built this castle in about 1550 years in the Warring States Period.
A small hill can be seen in about 20 minutes from Mitake Forest.




On top of this hill there is Mitarashi Castle Ruins and an observatory at the mark of Honmaru.

From the observation deck you can see the whole town of Mitake.
Enjoy the scenery and take a break.
You can also see a wonderful night view at night.

From here you can go to Mitake station in about 20 minutes.
Mitake station area had a Mitake Inn of Nakasendo in the Edo period.

Now, the signboard of Nakasendo Inn and the name of the stadium in Nakasendo are engraved on the stone.

Please enjoy the scenery from hiking and Mitake castle ruins park.
That`s it.