Exploring Oze in Summer 2025

We left home at 4:30 AM and arrived at Oze First Parking Lot at 7:30 AM. From here, you can take a bus or a shared taxi to reach Oze.

Price	1,300 yen per adult
Payment	Cash only at the ticket machine
Duration	About 25 minutes
Schedule	Buses run once an hour. Large shared taxis are always waiting and depart when full (9 passengers).
Return	Make sure to plan your trip so you can catch the last bus from Hatomachi Touge at 4:30 PM.

Upon arriving at Hatomachi Touge, I noticed a new Hoshino Resort shop and café called Hatomachi Base, which had just opened on August 1, 2025. They offer souvenirs, a café, a restaurant, coin lockers, and vending machines (including ones selling return bus tickets). The shop closes at 4:00 PM. I decided to visit on the way back and set off for the hike.

The trail began with a rocky staircase, which soon changed to wooden steps, making it much easier to walk. Walking in the shade felt slightly cool, and the breeze was incredibly refreshing. Red ropes marked older or unstable steps, and stacks of replacement wood were placed along the path.

Further along, the trail became a wooden walkway with a gentle descent. We walked slowly, chatting and taking photos of small flowers along the way. Several small bridges crossed clear streams, and the sound of flowing water was soothing. While Tokyo was sweltering at 35°C, it felt like a completely different world here.

After about an hour, we arrived at the Yama-no-Hana area. The mostly downhill path made the walk feel easy and quick. We rested on a shaded bench, snacking and drinking to recharge, while soaking in the fresh mountain air and peaceful atmosphere.

As soon as I left Yama-no-Hana, the scenery changed dramatically. A vast grassland stretched out before me! It was such a striking change that I couldn’t help but exclaim, “Wow!” It felt more like a grassland than a marsh, and a straight wooden walkway cutting through it looked picture-perfect. The whole area already showed signs of early autumn, even though it was still hot.

There were no trees near the walkway, so the path was fully exposed to the sun. The temperature was rising, making it a bit uncomfortably hot. The wooden walkway is elevated, so you need to watch your step carefully. Off the walkway is off-limits. There were also bear bells installed along the trail, but honestly, if a bear appeared, it wasn’t clear where it would go!

The marshland is nestled between Mt. Hiuchi and Mt. Shibutsu. Today’s clear weather meant both mountains were beautifully visible. Along the way, there’s a small pond called Sakasahiuchi, where Mt. Hiuchi is reflected on the water. While that view was stunning, what truly caught my eye were the clouds reflected in the water—it felt like a scene straight out of Howl’s Moving Castle.

Because of the high altitude, the sunlight was strong. A hat is essential, and sunglasses or a parasol make a big difference. As I continued walking, I started seeing small ponds typical of a marshland. Floating on the water were sheep grass plants. At first, I thought the name came from the leaves resembling sheep’s footprints, but apparently it’s because the flowers bloom in the “hour of the sheep.” Tiny, charming flowers also bloomed, and this is one of my favorite plants.

I had planned to walk all the way to Miharashi, where many mountain huts are, but the strong sun and heat quickly tired me out. So I decided to turn back at Ryugu Hut.

I rested on a bench in the shade in front of Ryugu Hut. Miharashi is only a 30-minute walk away, but a round trip would take about an hour. Considering the bus schedule and the time I spent at the shop in the morning, I decided to take it easy and walk back slowly.

On the way back, I stopped to take photos, watched a family of ducks by a small stream, and was surprised by the number of fish in the ponds. The wooden path had no shade, so it was hot, but I enjoyed the walk. At Yama-no-Hana, I took a short break and then climbed back up the wooden steps and paths I had gone down in the morning. The uphill was tougher than I expected, and I was huffing and puffing with my trekking poles. It was really hard!

When I got back to Hatomachi Base, I treated myself to flower bean soft-serve ice cream. It was so cold and refreshing after walking in the heat. It was my first time trying it, and it was so delicious that I would come back just for this. After buying some souvenirs, I took the shared taxi back to the parking lot from the bus stop where I got off in the morning.

On August 23, 2025, Oze already hinted at the beginning of autumn, but it was still midsummer. A hat, sunglasses, and sun/heat protection are essential.

I parked at Oze First Parking Lot. The fee is 1,000 yen (cash only). If the first lot is full, cars are guided to the second parking lot. Both the bus and shared taxi stop at either parking lot, so it’s easy to get to Hatomachi Pass.

I walked about 15 km in total, and it took around 6 hours. The first downhill and the last uphill were honestly tough, but overall, the walk was enjoyable, and the scenery made it worth it.

Recently, bears have been spotted in many parts of Japan, which can be worrying, but on this trip, the only wildlife I saw was a family of ducks. A bear bell on the backpack is a must, and if walking alone, having a radio on could also help with safety.

I went with a friend who enjoys hiking. Normally I travel alone, so it was fun to chat while walking. Next time, I want to visit Ozenuma, stay at a mountain hut, and maybe even try climbing Hiuchi-dake and Shibutsu-san, which were visible during this trip.

Thank you for reading until the end!