Onuma Park is located in Nanae Town in southern Hokkaido. Despite its name, "Onuma," it's actually a lake.

It has a long history, and in 1915 it was selected as one of Japan's New Three Views, becoming known as a scenic spot in southern Hokkaido. In 1958 it was designated as a national park.

Onuma Park has become even more widely known as the birthplace of the famous song "A Thousand Winds," and as a wetland registered under the Ramsar Convention in 2012.

Onuma Park is a place where you can enjoy the magnificent nature of each season, but it is also famous as a spot for beautiful autumn foliage, and in 2010 it was selected as one of the "100 Best Autumn Foliage Spots in Japan"!

This time, we'll introduce some spots in and around Onuma Park where you can enjoy the autumn foliage!

Table of contents
1. A Thousand Winds Monument
2. Kogetsu Bridge
3. Yatsuhashi
4. Enjoy the autumn foliage from a sightseeing boat.
5. Enjoy the autumn foliage by the lake by cycling.
6. Enjoy the view of Lake Onuma from the Higurashiyama Observatory.
Summary

 

Located within Onuma Park, which has become known as the birthplace of the famous song "A Thousand Winds," is the "A Thousand Winds" monument, which was erected in 2008.

While monuments are generally tall structures, this monument is designed in a way that does not detract from the landscape of Lake Onuma.

With its panoramic view of the countless small islands floating in Lake Onuma, the vividly colored trees, and Mount Komagatake, this spot is constantly visited by tourists who come to take memorable photos.

Lake Onuma has countless small islands, but bridges connect some of them to the shore, so you can walk around and visit them.

Among the many bridges connecting the small islands, the view from Kogetsubashi Bridge offers the most magnificent scenery characteristic of Lake Onuma.

 

The "Island Hopping Trail" is a walking course that takes about 50 minutes to visit seven islands. Along the way, from the Kogetsu Bridge, you can enjoy views of Mount Komagatake along with the small islands floating in Lake Onuma and the autumn foliage.

However, it's recommended to also enjoy the surrounding scenery, such as the gently curving Kogetsubashi Bridge and the boats moored on the lakeshore!

The Yatsuhashi Bridge, located along the "Forest Path," a 20-minute walking course that allows you to enjoy the nature within Onuma Park, is smaller than the Kogetsu Bridge I mentioned earlier, but the autumn foliage viewed from here is also wonderful!

The path to Yatsuhashi is narrow and a little difficult to walk on due to tree roots and stones, so if you're planning to visit Yatsuhashi, be sure to wear comfortable shoes like sneakers!

 

Yatsuhashi is a very steep bridge. Because of its height, you can see the autumn foliage of the trees right in front of you as you cross it.

On a clear day, you can see the autumn leaves reflected on the lake's surface from the Yatsuhashi Bridge.

This spot within the park is less crowded with tourists, making it ideal for those who want to enjoy the autumn foliage away from the hustle and bustle of the park.

<Onuma Quasi-National Park>

• Address: 1023-1 Onuma, Nanae-cho, Kameda-gun

 

If you'd like to enjoy the autumn foliage on the countless small islands floating in Lake Onuma up close, why not take a sightseeing boat and cruise around the lake?

A 30-minute sightseeing boat cruise offers a different perspective of the autumn foliage around Lake Onuma and Kojima Island compared to what you see on foot.

In addition to sightseeing boats, we also have motorboats, rowboats, and pedal boats, so why not enjoy the autumn foliage from the water in your preferred mode of transport?

<Onuma Joint Pleasure Boat Co., Ltd.>

• Address: 1023-1 Onuma, Nanae-cho, Kameda-gun
• Telephone number: 0138-67-2229
• Sightseeing boat fare: Adults 1,100 yen, Children 550 yen (group discounts available)
• Operating hours: Operating hours vary depending on the season, so please check the website.
• Operating period: Early April to early December
• Official website: http://www.onuma-park.com/cruise.html

 

If walking around the vast Onuma Park is a bit tiring, we recommend exploring by bicycle. You can bring your own bike or rent one! However, please note that there are areas in the park where bicycles are prohibited.

However, the cycling course I'd like to recommend this time is not within Onuma Park, but along Prefectural Road 338, which circles Lake Onuma!

Why not discover some of the autumn foliage spots around Lake Onuma that you might miss while driving by, by cycling?

From the Higurashiyama Observatory, located about 10 minutes by car from Onuma Park, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Mount Komagatake, Onuma Park, and the surrounding area. After driving up a narrow road that is barely wide enough for one car, you'll see a parking lot. Park your car there, and then walk about 80 meters uphill to be greeted by a magnificent panoramic view of nature!

From the observation deck on Mt. Higurashi, at an altitude of 303 meters, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Onuma Park, which spreads out at the foot of Mt. Komagatake, and the surrounding natural beauty.

It is said that the mountain got its name, "Higurashi-yama" (Sunset Mountain), because people would become so captivated by the beautiful scenery that they wouldn't notice the sun setting until it was already dusk.

Why not enjoy a breathtaking view from Higurashiyama Observatory that will make you forget the passage of time?

Image provided by: Southern Hokkaido Tourism Promotion Council

<Higurashiyama Observation Deck>

• Address: Nishi-Onuma, Nanae-cho, Kameda-gun
• Telephone number: 0138-67-3020 (Nanae-Onuma International Tourism Convention Association)
• Parking: Free *Mountain climbing by car is not permitted during winter.

 

We've introduced some spots in and around Onuma Park, a popular resort area in southern Hokkaido since ancient times, where you can enjoy the autumn foliage!

In addition to the spots we've introduced, Onuma Park has plenty to offer, including a fishing pond and numerous monuments.

Southern Hokkaido's scenic spots offer different ways to enjoy them throughout the seasons, but in autumn, why not take a stroll through the landscape woven by the colorful autumn leaves with your camera in hand and search for your own breathtaking view?

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