Walking in Oku-Daisen (the inland side of Mt. Daisen), a place of mossy gorges and landscapes unblemished by modernity
Regain your zest for life with Oku-Daisen’s hidden scenic spots and nutritious offerings
In the foothills of Mt. Daisen, the Chugoku region’s tallest and most famous mountain, is Mitsukue district of Kofu town, also called Oku-Daisen. There are hotspots here where the wilderness of bare rockface and snow-capped ridge lines of Daisen’s south face can be captured very photogenically. It offers views of thatched roof huts amid rice paddies against the backdrop of the Daisen south face. It is an increasingly popular spot redolent of olden times and landscapes unblemished by modernity.
One more spot to visit in Oku-Daisen is the Kidanizawa mountain stream. Within a few minutes of entering the forest trail, another world unfolds of giant overgrown trees where the only sounds are the bubbling river and bird calls. Amid the rising spray from the clear-flowing stream, moss-covered rocks and the deep green of the forest, the power of nature at Oku-Daisen absolutely tangible.(This information is as of December 2017)
Traditional Japanese landscape of thatched roof huts
Another major attraction of Oku-Daisen is the food, blessed by pure waters and fecund soils. The Oku-Daisen roadside station sells natural water, fresh vegetables and specialty foods from Oku-Daisen as well as souvenirs. You can try the famous Daisen Okowa, a mixture of local produce ingredients steamed with sticky rice at the restaurant here.
Local specialties on sale at Oku-Daisen roadside station
Following a meal, it is time to visit the Shoji Ueda Museum of Photography, which has a collection of 12,000 prints from photographer Shoji Ueda. If the weather cooperates, you can also encounter “Upside down Mt. Daisen” reflected on the surface of a pond between the museum buildings.
Mitsukue thatched roof huts, Kidanizawa mountain stream
- Adress
- Mitsukue, Kofu-cho, Hino－gun, Tottori [Map]
- TEL
- +81-859-75-6007 (Kofu Tourism Association)
- Parking
- Use a parking bay off the road close to the Mitsukue thatched roof huts, 400 slots for Kidanizawa mountain stream (Oku-Daisen Ski Resort Parking)
- Acsess
- 20 minutes by car from Kofu interchange on the Yonago Expressway
MAP
Oku-Daisen roadside station
- Adress
- 908-3 Sagawa, Kofu-cho, Hino－gun, Tottori [Map]
- TEL
- +81-859-75-3648
- Open
- 8:00–19:00 *Winter: 8:30–17:30 *Food served 10:00–17:00 (lunch from 11:00 to 14:00)
- Closed
- None
- Parking
- 46
- Acsess
- 3 minutes by car from Kofu interchange on the Yonago Expressway
- Credit card
- accepted
MAP
Shoji Ueda Museum of Photography
- Adress
- Sumura 353-3, Saihaku－gun, Houki-cho, Tottori [Map]
- TEL
- +81-859-39-8000
- Open
- 9:00-17:00
- Closed
- Tuesdays (Wednesday if Tuesday is a public holiday) and exhibition changeovers *Museum is closed December to 28 February
- Parking
- 100
- Acsess
- 3 minutes by car from Daisen Kogen Smart interchange on the Yonago Expressway
- Remarks
- *Admission: General 900 yen, High school/university students 500 yen, Elementary/junior high school students 300 yen
- Credit card
- not accepted
MAP
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