Around 70 minutes drive from central Ueda or Matsumoto, Utsukushighara Kogen is a beautiful highland area known for its leisurely walking trails, panoramic views, star-filled night sky and the Utsukushigahara Open-Air Museum. There’s a small amount of accommodation to choose from in the area including a couple of hotels and campgrounds, but it is also possible to reserve accommodation at the bottom of the mountain and drive up for a day trip without much difficulty.

If you do make it up to Utsukushigahara Kogen, you will be in for a delightful experience. Seemingly endless green fields, pleasantly cool weather, and lots of cows await you here at an elevation of 2,000 meters. If you stay overnight, you will also be treated to a night sky full of stars, completely different than the big cities or even smaller towns! Generally a summer destination, the weather is cold to cool most of the year, and even in August highs are not often above 20 degrees. As you may imagine, this means that spring, fall, and winter are extremely cold and a jacket will be beneficial year round. Winter is a quiet season, but for those who do visit there are a few unique snow activities and amazing views of the Japanese Alps.

While it is up to you to determine whether you want to stay in Utsukushigahara or a nearby city, you cannot go wrong either way. One thing to note for those who do not have access to a car is that the main way to visit using public transport is by (summer-only) bus from Matsumoto, making that area a good choice for those lacking a license. If you are ready to start making your plans, please see the map below or click the “Booking.com” button for more information.