Tateshina Highland, Mountain tableland in Chino, Japan

Tateshina Highland is a tableland on the southwest foot of Mount Tateshina in Chino, Nagano Prefecture, rising from about 1,100 to 1,800 meters. It lies within the Yatsugatake-Chushin Kogen Quasi-National Park, with Mount Tateshina to the north and the Yatsugatake range to the east. The photograph shows rolling forested slopes in dark and mid-green, lighter grassy patches, and distant grey, faintly snow-streaked peaks above a band of pale blue haze.

The name Tateshina Highland was already used for the slopes of Mount Tateshina in the Taisho era. In 1928 the Ministry of Education designated the Tsuganokidaira area, with its hot springs and hotels, as a high-altitude health resort. Villa development began in 1930, and the 1952 creation of Tateshina Lake extended the name to surrounding areas.

The name Tateshina Highland was already used in the Taisho era for the slopes of Mount Tateshina, and in 1928 the Ministry of Education designated the Tsuganokidaira area around the Takinoyu, Shinyu and Kosai hot springs as a high-altitude health resort. From then on it was promoted as a highland at 4,400 shaku (about 1,330 m) with strong ultraviolet light, and the name spread with the hot-spring resorts and villa development that began in 1930.

National Route 152, National Route 299 and the Venus Line (the former Tateshina toll road) cross the highland in all directions, and the Venus Line is known as a drive course with wide views. The highland lies on the southwest foot of Mount Tateshina at 1,100 to 1,800 metres, with Lake Shirakaba on its border with Tate town. The Yatsugatake Chushin Kogen Quasi-National Park covers the area.

The highland was long managed as common grassland by local property districts; forest has spread since the 1960s as grazing declined and tourism grew. The Venus Line, formerly the paid Tateshina Toll Road, crosses it and is known for its views.