Ushibuseyama Nature Park is a nature-rich park extending across the Ushibuseyama area of Yoshii Town in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture. Rising to an elevation of 491 meters, Mount Ushibuseyama is named for its distinctive shape, which is said to resemble a cow lying down. The mountain has long been a familiar symbol of the Yoshii area.
Several hiking trails run through the mountain, allowing visitors to enjoy the surrounding forests and seasonal scenery. In spring, the slopes are covered with cherry blossoms, while hydrangeas come into bloom in early summer, giving the mountain a different appearance with each season.
Mount Ushibuseyama is located approximately 3 km south of central Yoshii Town in southwestern Gunma Prefecture and has an elevation of 491 meters. It is known locally as Ushibuseyama, and is also referred to in some areas as Ichigoyama or Mount Konpira.
According to local tradition, the mountain was named Ushibuseyama because its distinctive profile resembles a cow lying down in a field. Geologically, the mountain was formed as the Kaburagawa River eroded the Idozawa Formation, which consists of sandstone, conglomerate, and mudstone dating from the Tertiary period. The remaining Ushibuse Sandstone Formation helped create the mountain’s present shape.
Ushibuseyama is also associated with “Tagomine,” a place name mentioned in the ancient Japanese poetry anthology Man’yoshu. The mountain has therefore been familiar to local people throughout a long history. Around the summit are the ruins of Ichigoyama Castle and Kotohira Shrine, which enshrines Konpira Daigongen, offering opportunities to experience both nature and local history.
One of the highlights of Mount Ushibuseyama is the expansive view from its summit. From the observation area, visitors can look across the Jomo Three Mountains, the mountains along the Joetsu border, and the Kanto Plain. On clear days, it is even possible to see as far as Mount Tsukuba.
The summit area also features an observation deck, a stone statue depicting a resting cow, a monument commemorating the song “Aoi Sanmyaku” (Blue Mountain Range), and a bell tower built as a symbol of peace. Visitors can enjoy the scenery while also discovering elements of the region’s history and culture.
Ushibuseyama is also associated with composer Ryoichi Hattori. When he visited the area to compose the school song for Irino Elementary School in Yoshii, Hattori is said to have found the landscape viewed from Mount Ushibuseyama particularly suited to the imagery of “Aoi Sanmyaku”.
A stone statue of a cow stands in the park, reflecting the mountain’s name and distinctive shape. Created in 1986, the statue is approximately 2.5 meters long. Seeing the statue together with the mountain’s cow-like profile helps visitors understand the origin of the name Ushibuseyama.
In 1987, a bell tower was built as a symbol of peace. The bronze bell suspended inside weighs approximately 0.8 tons, while the first floor of the tower serves as a rest area for visitors.
The rich forests of Mount Ushibuseyama have been developed as a “Forest Where Birds Sing,” providing a pleasant setting for birdwatching. Visitors hiking through the forest can listen to the songs and calls of various wild birds while enjoying the peaceful natural surroundings.
Birds commonly found in the area include the Japanese white-eye, Japanese tit, Japanese pygmy woodpecker, and Black-faced bunting. The forest is also an inviting place for anyone who wants to enjoy a relaxing walk or forest bathing.
Mount Ushibuseyama is home to a variety of plants and flowers, including cherry blossoms and hydrangeas. From spring through summer and into autumn, the mountain changes its appearance with the seasons, making the flowers a major attraction for hikers.
Other flowers that can be seen around the mountain include azaleas, thistles, and gentians. Visiting during the flowering seasons allows travelers to enjoy colorful wildflowers while walking through the lush natural landscape.
Development of Mount Ushibuseyama as a park began in 1983. At the time, the former Yoshii Town in Tano District planned to develop the mountain not only as a place for local residents to relax, but also as a setting for outdoor and cultural activities.
Today, the summit area includes a parking lot of approximately 1,000 square meters, rest areas, an observation deck, the cow statue, the monument to “Aoi Sanmyaku,” Dokutsu Kannon, and a communications tower. The Gunma Exhibition Hall was also established around the eighth station of the mountain.
Several hiking routes lead from the foothills to the summit, allowing visitors to explore the mountain on foot. The route running from Kamihino in Fujioka through Mount Ushibuseyama to Maba in Yoshii Town is recognized as part of the “Road from Konashi Pass to Mount Ushibuseyama,” one of the designated routes of the Kanto Fureai Trail.
Ushibuseyama Observation Deck is a distinctive three-story structure designed to resemble a traditional castle keep. The building has a total floor area of approximately 221 square meters. The third floor serves as an observation deck, while the first and second floors contain exhibits featuring local history and cultural materials.
From the observation deck, visitors can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the surrounding landscape, including the Jomo Three Mountains and the Kanto Plain. It is an excellent place to stop while exploring the summit area.
Along the mountain roads from the forested slopes toward the summit is an area known as “Senbonzakura,” meaning “One Thousand Cherry Trees.” Approximately 1,000 cherry trees, including Somei Yoshino, mountain cherry, and double-flowered varieties, have been planted here. In spring, the mountain is transformed by soft pink blossoms.
The cherry blossoms generally reach their peak from March to April, with particularly beautiful displays around early April. Nighttime illuminations are also held during the flowering season, creating a more atmospheric view after dark. Visitors can enjoy the illuminated cherry blossoms together with the nighttime scenery spreading below the mountain.
After the cherry blossom season, hydrangeas become one of the main attractions at Ushibuseyama. From around mid-June to mid-July, approximately 1,400 hydrangea plants bloom along the mountain roads, adding vivid colors to the lush green surroundings.
The combination of dense greenery and colorful hydrangeas offers a distinctly early-summer atmosphere. Compared with the lively cherry blossom season, this period provides a calmer setting for enjoying a leisurely walk through nature.
Ushibuseyama Nature Park brings together a distinctive mountain landscape, rich forests, panoramic summit views, historical sites, and seasonal flowers in one destination.
In spring, visitors can enjoy the Senbonzakura cherry blossoms, while early summer brings approximately 1,400 hydrangeas. Azaleas, thistles, gentians, and other flowers add further seasonal color. Hiking, birdwatching, scenic viewing from the observation deck, and exploring the area’s history and culture are all ways to experience this peaceful corner of Gunma.
Gate: 9:00-17:00 (16:00 in winter)
No holidays
Free of charge
15 minutes drive from Yoshii Station
10 minutes drive from Yoshii IC