Duration Approx. 3-4 hrs
Utsukushigahara Panoramic Course
Course heading for the radio tower viewable from Yamamoto-goya Furusato-kan,
and the Ougatou and Ougahana that are beyond the tower.
Walk following the course to the radio tower that can be seen far from Yamamoto-goya Furusato-kan, and the Ougatou and Ougahana that are beyond the tower.
In this course, you will embark on a peaceful trekking, perfect to appreciate the endless expanse of sky and the wind blowing through the highlands.
Once reaching to your destination, Ougato and Ougahana, you will find a superb panoramic view of Matsumoto Valley from your destination, Ougato and Ougahana. The walk takes about 1.5 to 2 hours one way.
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- On arriving at the parking lot of Yamamoto-goya Furusato-kan, you will get a glimpse of the Panoramic Course. At Furusato-kan, you can taste sweets such as the famous Kokemomo (Lingonberry) soft-serve and cheesecake, which are also popular souvenirs.
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“Utsukushi no Tou (tower)”, which is in the middle of the course, is the symbol of Utsukushigahara Heights. Utsukushigahara Heights are often foggy, and in the past many mountaineers used to get lost. This beautiful tower was built to protect these trekkers.
The tower is equipped with a fog bell, and when you ring it, its beautiful sound echoes throughout the plateau.
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This trekking course is a path built inside Utsukushigahara Farm, where herds of cows relaxing and lazing around can be often seen along the way.
The sky, the farm, and the road seem to be stretching on forever. The word “idyllic” is a perfect adjective for this course.
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Ougato, the highest peak in Utsukushigahara Heights
Ougato can be reached after a short walk from the Ougato Hotel.
There is nothing obstructing the view from the top, and you can have a 360-degrees view of many well-known mountains such as the Northern Alps, the Central Alps, the Southern Alps, Mt. Norikura, Mt. Ontake, and Mt. Asama. On a fine day, even Mt. Fuji can be seen far away.
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The second superb viewpoint on the route is Ougahana (which literally means “nose of the king”). It takes about 20 minutes from Ougato to Ougahana. The path to Ougahana is a little bit more demanding.
As the name suggests, Ougahana is a pointy bulge that sticks out like a nose from a rocky area, and you can see about 30% of Japan’s 100 top mountains from here.
From Matsumoto City, at the foot of the mountain, Ougato (which means “head of the king”) looks like the head of king wearing a crown, and Ougahana looks like his nose, and that’s how they were named.In this course, you will walk along a peaceful promenade heading to Ougato and Ougahana where you can observe superb views. Enjoy an easy and fun trek that feature lots of quintessential elements of Utsukushigahara, such as the wide sky, the plateau, spectacular sceneries and animals.
Since most of the path is made of fine gravel roads with no steep parts, it is suitable for beginners too. Yet, as the distance is quite long, we advise to bring extra drinks with you. In addition, on a sunny day the UV rays are strong and there is nothing to block the sunlight, so make sure you apply sunscreen and wear a hat.
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Try Kokemomo (Lingonberry) soft-serve at the end of your journey
With a refreshing taste and a slight sour aftertaste, it is perfect for the body weary from walking. Recommended for children too.
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The most popular souvenir: special cheesecake from Yamamoto-goya Furusato-kan
Fluffy cheesecake with the right amount of sweetness. Frozen, it is perfect as a souvenir.