Jizo-numa and Nature hiking　　地蔵沼、山形県立自然博物園

Oct. 24th. 2025

Michi no eki Nishikawa　　道の駅西川

A cold night, 10 degrees this morning apparently. Michi no eki Nishikawa is busy as groups of school children are accosting everyone with a questionnaire about how to revitalize their nearby town. Rubbish bins would be my suggestion as there are none at this michi no eki, but the town is different.

Bins for cans and pet bottles are tantalizingly visible inside the building. They are taken inside at night. (maybe a precaution due to bears)

Iwanesawa-sanzan Shrine　　岩根沢三山神社

We set off for the nearby Iwanesawa-sanzan shrine. This we find is huge but in the late stages of disintegration. This shrine has burnt down a few times. The current structure dates from 1841.

It was an important temple until the Meiji era and served as a dormitory (I think) for pilgrims climbing the Gassan troika. Three mountains representing past, present and future.

Times change and it is no longer in demand. But the shrine was designated an important cultural property in 2000 and still playing Kagura   (a shrine dance ceremony) every September.

A notice stated that it is open sometimes but was completely deserted on our brief visit.

Jizo-numa　　地蔵沼

Leaving this rather depressing place, we make for Jizo-numa, a place somewhat famous for Kouyo viewing but, on the way, make a quick stop to see the highest fountain spurt in Japan at dam lake Gassan-ko.

The spurt occurs at intervals and we were early for the 11a.m. spurt. Not willing to wait for 20 minutes we move on to the picturesque pond.

This spot was pretty enough with a smattering of serious photographers to prove it. Sadly, the sun remained stubbornly hidden so the colours didn’t reach their full potential. We wait in vain for a break in the cloud cover, even though it is fast moving with the odd patches of blue. Giving up, we move up the hill a little to the prefectural nature centre.

Yamagata Prefectural Nature Park　　山形県立自然博物園

This facility offers free nature walks with a guide at 9.30 a.m. or 1.30 p.m. Clearly, we are never going to make a 9.30 start so here we are ready for the afternoon hike. The distance is a little over 3 kilometres and takes about 2 and a half hours.

We do not do this kind of thing as a rule, but with the heightened bear warnings everywhere we are uncomfortable wandering in the woods alone and thought this would provide safety in numbers. In the event, there were 4 of us including the guide.

The walk was enjoyable. We learned a little, saw a variety of fungi, drank clear, cold water from one of the top freshwater springs in Japan, and saw the claw marks where a bear had climbed a tree. This was obviously some time ago.

Our guide assured us that as food, this year, is very scarce at this altitude the bears had moved to lower areas, hence the large number of sightings and serious encounters in suburban locations.

Michi no eki Nishikawa

After our walk, we return to michi no eki Nishikawa expecting it to be more busy, it being a Friday night, but, surprisingly, it is much quieter. 

In the onsen, I am momentarily, completely disoriented as the layout is totally different from the night before. Luckily, before I lose my sanity, I recall that bathhouses routinely swap the sides of ladies and men’s baths on a daily basis.

Having relaxed my mind and body, I return to our vehicle for, I hope, a quiet and not too cold a night.

＊Mizusawa onsenkan ; 350 yen / adult