As someone who’s always on the lookout for easy yet scenic hiking trails, I’ve got a special place in my heart for Tsugaike Nature Park—so much so that I’ve hiked it twice! The park offers beginner-friendly trails that are mostly flat but the views are nothing short of breathtaking. Imagine being surrounded by the vibrant hues of autumn leaves as you walk through nature’s own masterpiece. Intrigued? Stick around to discover why this park is a dream come true for hikers in the fall season.
What is Tsugaike Nature Park?
Tsugaike Nature Park, also known as Tsugaike Shizen-en (栂池自然園) in Japanese, is a captivating highland sanctuary situated in Nagano Prefecture, with an average elevation of around 1,900 meters. Nestled within the bounds of the expansive Chubu Sangaku National Park, this treasure trove of biodiversity spans over 100 hectares and offers more than 5.5 kilometers of well-maintained wooden trails. Its position in the Northern Japan Alps provides a unique stage for a wide array of flora and fauna, including exotic alpine plants like mizubasho, or Asian skunk cabbage, that bloom in the late spring. You’ll find yourself immersed in a landscape that transforms dramatically with each season—from the sprawling snowfields of May to the resplendent autumn foliage that peaks in early October.
Why Visit Tsugaike Nature Park
- Diverse Ecosystem: Encounter a rich tapestry of flora and fauna, from unique alpine plants like mizubasho to a variety of indigenous wildlife.
- Seasonal Extravaganza: Revel in the visual spectacle of changing seasons—snow-capped expanses in winter, a riot of flowers in spring and summer, and vibrant foliage in autumn.
- Barrier-Free Paths: Recent developments have made parts of the park accessible for those with mobility issues, ensuring that the beauty of the area can be enjoyed by everyone.
Hiking Trails
There are four major hiking trails at Tsugaike Nature Park. All of them are loops that start from and end at the Visitor Center and are based on four marshes located within the park.
Trail #1: Mizubasho Marsh
- Distance: About 1km
- Estimated Time: About 1 hour
- Difficulty: Easy, barrier-free
- Highlights: Ideal for families and seniors. Walk around Mizubasho Marsh on a flat, barrier-free wooden boardwalk. Despite its short distance, the trail offers a sneak peek into alpine flora and scenic mountain views.
Trail #2: Watasuge Marsh
- Distance: About 2km
- Estimated Time: About 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Highlights: Extending from Mizubasho Marsh, this trail leads you to the open Watasuge Wetland. Along the way, enjoy patches of kinugasasou flowers.
Trail #3: Ukishima Marsh
- Distance: About 3km
- Estimated Time: About 2 hours and 30 minutes
- Difficulty: Moderate to challenging
- Highlights: This trail has more significant elevation changes and includes parts off the wooden boardwalk. Once you make the effort, you’ll be rewarded with Ukishima Marsh, home to vibrant summer flowers and autumn foliage.
Trail #4: Tenbo Marsh
- Distance: About 5.5km
- Estimated Time: About 3 hours and 30 minutes
- Difficulty: Challenging
- Highlights: The longest trail takes you around the park, passing through all marshes to Tenbo Wetland. Along the way, you can enjoy unique features like Ginmeisui Springs and the captivating Yaseone Ridge. The summit offers a close view of the Hakuba Range and its climbers.
Hiking Trail #4
Reaching Tsugaike Nature Park requires riding a gondola and then a ropeway to get to the trailhead. I was blessed with clear weather on the day of my hiking trip, so I got to see the fall foliage as I went up.
The gondola was a per-group ride, and since I was hiking solo for this trip, I had a whole car to myself. The ropeway was a different story, though. On a weekend, the car was full of hikers, but I still managed to catch a bit of the autumn colors from the windows.
From the ropeway, the visitor center is around a 7-minute walk. I still had my fleece jacket at this point, but the more I walked, the warmer it became, so I eventually took it off.
The first area was the Mizubasho Wetlands. Here, the boardwalks are wide since they were made to accommodate wheelchairs. This area can be completed in an hour round-trip, so it also gets the most traffic from visitors.
Entering into the Watasuge Marsh, the view opened up to reveal a sprawling marsh dyed in hues of orange and brown. The boardwalks also split into two paths, presumably one for those going to the end of the path, and one for coming back. In Japan, people walk and drive on the left side, so when in doubt, stay left.
After a while the path came to a rocky descent where at the bottom lay Kusu River. The clear, flowing water was beautiful, and I saw many people taking a break by the banks. The only toilets on the train are in this area, so it would be wise to use them.
Next came the Ukishima area, where the elevation was also becoming higher. In the summer, you can spot a lot of flowers here, but in autumn, it’s mostly the same marsh scenery you see in other areas.
Finally, the last part was the most challenging but also the most rewarding. At the end of the Tenbo Marsh is a viewing deck where you can see Hakuba Daisekkei on a clear day. There’s a wide area with benches here where you can sit and take in the view.
Continuing on the path, you will see a set of steep wooden stairs. This is the Yaseone Ridge. It’s a challenging climb and an even scarier descent for those who don’t like heights but the view is amazing. You get to see red and yellow fall foliage, as well as a bird’s eye view of the park.
From here, it’s a fairly straightforward loop back to this Visitor Center where you can congratulate yourself for completing the hike.
Prices
| Round-Trip Gondola & Ropeway + Tsugaike Nature Garden Admission |
Round-Trip Gondola & Ropeway | One-way Gondola & Ropeway | Tsugaike Nature Garden Admission |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult | JPY 3,700 | JPY 3,380 | JPY 2,000 | JPY 320 |
| Child | JPY 2,100 | JPY 1,840 | JPY 1,100 | JPY 260 |
Travel Tips for Tsugaike Nature Hiking Park
- Bring Something Warm: Because of its high altitude, the temperatures at Tsugaike Nature Park are cooler than in central Nagano.
- Start Early. Trails take different amounts of time to complete. The earlier you start, the more you can see.
- Ticket Savings: You can buy a set ticket that covers the gondola and ropeway rides and the entrance fee. Get it online in advance or from pamphlets at the Nagano Station for a small discount.
- Know Bus Times: If you came by bus, make sure to know when the last one leaves so you don’t get stuck.
Frequently Asked Questions
The elevation of Tsugaike Nature Park varies, but the park is generally at a high altitude. The park’s visitor center starts at an elevation of around 1,900 meters (about 6,233 feet), and some trails take you to higher elevations. This is why temperatures tend to be cooler here compared to central Nagano.
Yes, Tsugaike Nature Park offers barrier-free options for visitors. Specifically, the first trail that goes around Mizubasho Marsh is barrier-free, featuring wooden walkways without any steep inclines. This makes it accessible for people of all ages, including those with mobility challenges.
The time it takes to go around the park varies depending on which trail you choose and your walking speed. The shortest trail takes about 1 hour, while the longest can take up to 3.5 hours. All trails are loop trails that start and end at the visitor center.
The Tsugaike Gondola ride takes approximately 20 to 25 minutes from the base to the park’s visitor center. This is the initial leg of the journey if you are planning to explore the higher-altitude areas of the park.
he Tsugaike Ropeway ride typically takes around 5 to 10 minutes. The ropeway is another option to reach higher elevations within the park after taking the gondola.
How to Get to Tsugaike Nature Garden
Tsugaike Nature Garden (栂池自然園, Tsugaike Shizen-en)
08:00 to 16:30
Official Website
By Car
If you’re coming by car, the park is accessible via the Chuo Expressway and the Nagano Expressway. Once you get to Otari Village, just follow the local signs to reach the Tsugaike Kogen Ski Area, where parking is available.
By Train
The most convenient station is Nagano Station. From the East Exit, you can take an express bus that takes you to Tsugaike Gondola Lift in an hour and 40 minutes. From there, you’ll have to ride the gondola and then transfer to Tsugaike Ropeway. Tsugaike Nature Garden is a 7-minute walk from the ropeway.
A set ticket that includes the gondola, the ropeway, and entry to Tsugaike Nature Garden is available on the official website. Same-day tickets are also available on site.
By Bus
There are overnight highway buses that go from Shinjuku to Tsugaike Kogen. Reservations in Japanese are required.
