Shitara Town is located in a lush, mountainous terrain making for stunning views throughout the four seasons, particularly prized for its cherry blossoms in spring, fireflies in early summer, and autumn shades in fall. You also have your choice of different activities like nature walks and mountain hiking, stargazing, camping, fishing, and more.
01 Trekking through nature
Spark your five senses while observing Japanese plant and animal life
One of Aichi Prefecture’s largest old-growth beech forests spreads across Kirara no Mori Forest and Mennoki Park and is home to an array of precious animal and plant life waiting to be encountered. Pathways are available for the perfect birdwatching or forest bathing trek. Shitara Town is also a destination for mountaineering enthusiasts. At the base of just one of the area’s well-known mountains, Mt. Kurakake in neighboring Shinshiro City, is one spot of particular interest: the Thousand Rice Paddies of Yotsuya. As the name suggests, the Thousand Rice Paddies of Yotsuya are a collection of almost innumerable terraced rice paddies offering a pristine, virgin landscape characteristic of Japan.
02 Mountainscapes throughout the four seasons
Cherry blossoms announcing spring and vibrant fall colors at autumn’s arrival
A road lined with Kohigan Cherry Blossoms near Aguri Station Nagura Rest Stop bathe the entire area in pastel pinks once spring comes around. Charming weeping cherry blossoms, old plum trees, and other trees with stories behind them too are plentiful, making this a sought-out spot by flower lovers and photographers alike. Fireflies dance around the night sky, flying to and fro in a surreal scene during early summer while in fall, seasonal colors climb up the area’s mountain faces. Mennoki Park and Dando Lake—steeped in the lore of mythical Tengu spirits—are particularly known for their fall colors. And in winter, you may be lucky enough to see the rare phenomenon of ice trees in Mennoki Park.
03 Fishing
Commune with nature at a grand lake and clear streams
Dando Lake neighbors the old-growth Kirara no Mori Forest and is a favorite spot among lure fishermen. The approximate two-hectare lake offers stunning scenery with the old-growth forest making for a beautiful background as you try your luck with lure or fly. The clear, streaming waters of Shitara Town’s Kansa River are a great spot to fish for ayu, or sweetfish, during the summer season.
04 Camping and glamping
Experiences you’ll never get in the city and never-ending starry night skies
The Shitara Town highland offers a cool escape from the summer heat with outdoor activities which simply do not exist in an urban environment. The community and its surrounding Okumikawa region are even known in the area as a “Stargazing Mecca”. The Tsugu Kogen Green Park Rest Stop has campgrounds attached for breathtaking views of the starry cosmos. If glamping is what you’re after, stay at SHITARA VILLAGE, where all rooms enjoy private saunas.
