Tsugaike Kōgen, Mountain highland in Otari, Japan.
Tsugaike Kōgen is a highland situated between 800 and 2000 meters in elevation in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture. The terrain includes alpine meadows, natural wetlands, and varied landscape types that characterize the entire area.
The area was once shared farmland between the villages of Kawauchi and Matsuzawa before being developed into a winter sports region during the 1960s. This shift represented a major change in how the land was used and valued.
The region has long served as a settlement for mountain communities who depended on the land for their survival, and visitors today can sense this heritage in the local way of life. The villages nearby still reflect this close connection to the terrain and its resources.
The highland is accessible year-round via gondolas and cable cars, with winter operations running from December through May. Visitors should prepare for changing mountain weather conditions and bring appropriate clothing for the season.
An elevated boardwalk system stretching about 5.5 kilometers allows visitors to explore the high-altitude wetlands without damaging fragile plant life. This pathway was specifically designed to protect the rare alpine plant species found here.
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