Hotaka Ranch and Katashina Oguna Hotaka are scenic highland destinations located in Katashina Village, Tone District, Gunma Prefecture. Situated at an elevation of approximately 1,500 meters, the area is surrounded by majestic mountains and refreshing highland air, offering beautiful scenery throughout the year.
In summer, visitors can enjoy alpine flowers, camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities, while winter brings opportunities for skiing and snow sports. One of the area’s most spectacular seasonal attractions is the large colony of Rhododendron japonicum, known in Japanese as renge-tsutsuji. In early summer, its vivid red-orange flowers cover the highland meadows, attracting many visitors.
Hotaka Ranch is a vast highland pasture located at an elevation of approximately 1,500 meters, covering an area of more than 1 million square meters. It is known as one of Gunma Prefecture’s notable destinations for viewing renge-tsutsuji flowers, which are generally at their best from mid- to late June.
Around the Sangōdaira area of the ranch, approximately 10,000 renge-tsutsuji plants grow in dense colonies. When the flowers bloom in early summer, the highland landscape is transformed into a vivid display of red-orange blossoms.
Part of this flower colony was designated as a Gunma Prefectural Natural Monument in 1958 and is carefully protected as a valuable natural landscape. The contrast between the blue sky, green pastures, and brilliant flowers creates a spectacular highland scene.
In addition to renge-tsutsuji, visitors can observe a variety of alpine plants and wildflowers in the area. The surrounding environment is also suitable for nature observation, hiking, and trekking. A walk through the refreshing highland landscape offers a peaceful escape from the bustle of everyday life.
Near Hotaka Ranch, the Katashina Hotaka Ranch Campground offers visitors an opportunity to experience the area’s natural beauty at a leisurely pace. Located at an elevation of approximately 1,500 meters, the campground enjoys a cool and refreshing climate even during summer, making it a popular destination for escaping the heat.
The facilities include 31 log cabins, a spacious tent camping area, and powered sites for auto camping. The campground accommodates a wide range of visitors, from first-time campers to experienced outdoor enthusiasts.
Surrounded by forests of white birch and beech trees, the campground provides a relaxing setting where visitors can spend time immersed in the mountain environment.
In June, the blooming renge-tsutsuji flowers transform the surroundings into a striking red landscape. Visitors can also enjoy trekking, mountain climbing, nature walks, and other outdoor activities, making this an appealing destination for experiencing the natural environment throughout the seasons.
In recent years, OZE-HOSHISORA GLAMPING & CAMP RESORT has attracted attention as a new accommodation and outdoor destination in the Hotaka Ranch area. Located on a mountaintop in Katashina Village, which serves as one of the gateways to Oze National Park, the resort sits at an elevation of more than 1,500 meters.
The high-altitude location offers magnificent mountain scenery during the day and spectacular views of the night sky after sunset. The resort is designed for visitors who want to enjoy nature while staying in a comfortable outdoor setting.
The glamping area features charming dome-shaped tents, including transparent dome tents that provide panoramic views. Guests can enjoy the spectacular scenery of Oze and Katashina from inside their accommodations.
Private decks are located outside the tents, providing space for barbecues and campfires. Guests can relax outdoors while enjoying the peaceful surroundings.
At night, the unobstructed highland sky reveals a spectacular canopy of stars. Lying back in a hammock and looking up at the stars offers an experience that is difficult to find in an urban environment.
In the morning, sunlight rising beyond the mountains illuminates the highlands, creating another beautiful and atmospheric scene.
The resort also features a cozy BOOK Café, where visitors can relax in a warm wooden setting. The café offers books and comics related to Oze and Katashina’s natural environment, as well as coffee and locally produced craft beer.
A variety of hands-on activities are also available, including mountain bike rentals, tent sauna experiences, candle making, and woodcraft. Visitors can choose between active outdoor pursuits and creative experiences while enjoying the surrounding nature.
Hotaka Ranch and Katashina Oguna Hotaka are approximately 33 km from the Numata Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway. The journey from Tokyo takes approximately 2 hours by car, depending on traffic conditions.
From JR Numata Station on the Joetsu Line, the area can be reached by taxi in approximately 1 hour.
The main operating season is generally from mid-June to early October, when many visitors come to enjoy the cool highland environment. During winter, the area operates as a ski resort and attracts skiers and snowboarders.
Hotaka Ranch and Katashina Oguna Hotaka offer an appealing combination of spectacular renge-tsutsuji flowers, refreshing highland air, and magnificent star-filled skies.
Visitors can choose from many ways to enjoy the area, including camping, glamping, trekking, hiking, and nature observation. Surrounded by the rich natural environment of Oze and Mount Hotaka, this highland destination provides an opportunity to slow down, reconnect with nature, and enjoy a refreshing mountain getaway.