Senjogahara Plateau

Hiking the Senjogahara by myself, from Yunoko to Chuzenjiko was one of the most beautiful walks I did while in Japan (June 2008). The sound of insects was astounding, as were the number of school groups at Yutaki falls. A very popular walk to look at the wildflowers in early summer, with two stunning water falls and lakes, this is a very worthwhile hike!

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We did a hike at the Senjogahara nature preserve. Although it had been raining quite hard that morning, by the time we actually made it to the trailhead, the sun was peeking out. We then did a lovely hike for a few hours. The hike was either flat, over the swampy plateau, or downhill along stunning waterfalls.

We then found that it would take nearly an hour for the local bus to come and pick us up and take us back to our hotel. I then stuck out my thumb and attempted to flag down a car to take us back to Yumoto. A young man from Utsunomiya picked us up in a tiny car (like a Mini, only narrower), and we all piled in like clowns in a circus act.