Oku-Nikko Family Land Shirane Gyoen is a nature-oriented recreational facility located along National Route 120 in Katashina Village, Tone District, Gunma Prefecture. Surrounded by forests and mountain scenery, the facility offers a variety of outdoor activities, including fishing and hands-on nature experiences.
The grounds are designed in the style of a traditional Japanese garden and include fish ponds fed by clear, flowing water. Rainbow trout, Japanese landlocked salmon, and iwana char, including oshorokoma, are raised here, with approximately one million fish kept throughout the facility.
Visitors can enjoy fishing in a relaxed natural setting, and fish they catch can be grilled over charcoal and seasoned with salt. The combination of outdoor recreation and freshly prepared river fish makes Shirane Gyoen a popular destination for families and other visitors.
One of the main attractions at Shirane Gyoen is its easy-to-enjoy fishing pond, which is suitable even for first-time anglers.
At the bait-fishing area, visitors can rent a fishing rod and bait and start fishing right away. The main catches include rainbow trout, yamame trout, and iwana char, which swim actively in ponds designed to recreate the conditions of a clear mountain stream.
Fish caught by visitors can be cooked on site. Freshly caught fish grilled over charcoal has a crisp, fragrant exterior and tender flesh, making it a particularly satisfying way to enjoy the fruits of your own outdoor experience.
For visitors looking for a more serious fishing experience, the grounds also feature a dedicated lure and fly-fishing pond.
The area is stocked with rainbow trout measuring approximately 20 to 40 centimeters. All fish caught here are subject to catch and release, making the pond suitable for anglers who want to practice their techniques in a peaceful natural environment.
Visitors may also use their own fishing rods, allowing them to enjoy a leisurely day of fishing surrounded by the mountains and forests of Katashina.
Shirane Gyoen also has a barbecue area where families and groups can enjoy an outdoor meal.
A clear stream flows beside the grassy area, creating a refreshing setting for a barbecue. Grills, tables, charcoal, and other equipment are available, making it possible to enjoy an outdoor meal without bringing all the necessary supplies from home.
Visitors can also enjoy playing in the nearby river. During the warmer months, the cool mountain water provides a refreshing way to escape the summer heat.
With surrounding forests and mountains, the area is also well suited to relaxed nature walks and photography.
Shirane Gyoen offers a variety of hands-on educational programs for groups, including school trips and educational excursions.
Activities include fishing and catching fish by hand, as well as various nature-based and traditional craft experiences.
Popular activities include Yakisu gi, in which cedar boards are burned and decorated to create original crafts; plant-dyeing, which uses natural dyes made from plants to color fabric; and hand-stretched udon making, where participants prepare noodles using traditional techniques.
These activities provide an opportunity to discover the enjoyment of making things by hand while learning about the natural materials and resources of the region.
The grounds are also home to Restaurant Makusui, which serves river fish and other regional dishes.
Popular choices include salt-grilled trout and yamame trout set meals. The menu also features soba, ramen, wild mountain vegetables, and other dishes reflecting the ingredients of this mountainous area.
Visitors can also try okkirikomi, a traditional Gunma noodle dish made with thick noodles and vegetables. The restaurant is a convenient place to enjoy a regional meal during a visit to the area.
The grounds are home to the historic Konseijin Shrine, which is traditionally associated with blessings for family prosperity and good relationships.
The shrine is said to have connections with Shodo Shonin, the Buddhist monk traditionally regarded as the founder of Nikko’s mountain worship. The present shrine building was relocated here approximately 350 years ago and is also of historical interest.
Inside the shrine, visitors can see the ceiling painting “Descending Dragon” by Japanese painter Nanfū Katayama.
The adjacent ema hall also displays valuable votive tablets featuring artwork by well-known figures, including manga artists Osamu Tezuka and Fujio Akatsuka. These unusual works add a distinctive cultural element to the natural attractions of Shirane Gyoen.
Shirane Gyoen is generally open from late April to mid-November and closes during the winter season.
Opening hours are generally 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., allowing visitors plenty of time to enjoy fishing, outdoor activities, meals, and the surrounding natural scenery.
By car, the facility is approximately 60 minutes from the Numata Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway via National Route 120.
From the Tochigi and Nikko side, it takes approximately 90 minutes from the Kiyotaki Interchange on the Nikko-Utsunomiya Road, via the Irohazaka road and Konse Pass.
Oku-Nikko Family Land Shirane Gyoen offers a wide range of ways to enjoy the outdoors, from fishing and riverside activities to barbecues and hands-on nature programs.
For families and groups, catching a fish and then enjoying it freshly grilled over charcoal can be a memorable part of the experience. Traditional crafts, food-making activities, and the historic shrine and ema hall add further opportunities to discover the culture of the region.
Surrounded by the mountains and forests of Katashina, Shirane Gyoen is a place where visitors can slow down, enjoy the natural environment, and experience the attractions of the Oku-Nikko area at a relaxed pace.