[Niigata Prefecture] Takayaike Marshland Selected as "The Most Beautiful Place in Japan"

Mount Hiuchi is a famous mountain with an elevation of 2,462m that rises above Myoko City, Niigata Prefecture. It is the highest peak in the Kubiki Alps in Myoko-Togakushi National Park, which straddles Itoigawa City and Myoko City, and is one of the "100 Famous Mountains of Japan." It has also been selected as one of the "100 Famous Flower Mountains" for its diverse alpine plants. At an elevation of about 2,100m on Mount Hiuchi, there is the high-altitude marshland "Koyaike." The fresh greenery is beautiful, but the colorful autumn scenery is like a painting. Koyaike was once featured by CNN in the United States as one of the "31 Most Beautiful Places in Japan." However, it takes about 5 hours to climb and 3.5 hours to descend to get there, so you need to be physically strong. I think it's a hidden spot that is surprisingly unknown to people other than mountain lovers. The season for hiking is from April to November, and the best time to see the autumn leaves is from late September to early October. You can stay at "Takayaike Hutte" in front of the marsh where Takayaike Pond is located. It gets very crowded during the season, so make your reservation early. The "Tengu Garden" that spreads out just past Takayaike Pond is an even more beautiful spot. The reflections on a clear, windless day are breathtaking. By the way, it is also known as the northernmost place in Japan where the endangered species "rock ptarmigan" lives, but I didn't see any this time. #tripdomestictravel #niigataprefecture #autumnleaves #spectacularview #mountainclimbing