If Everyone Keeps Saying It’s That Beautiful, Fine. I’ll Go.
“You really should go at least once. Seriously, it’s beautiful.”
Mr. Kodama, the managing director — or was it executive director? — of Shiga Ichii Hotel, where I’ve been based for my reporting, kept saying this to me over and over. So eventually, I decided to take a walk — or maybe a trek? — through the wetlands of Ichinose.
I’m not sure if this is the right way to start my first column, but hey, it’s a column, so I’m going to say it counts. And with that, my casual stroll trek through the wetlands of the Ichinose area began. My partner for the day was Hiroya, a talented surfer and all-around capable guy — pictured below. He said, “We don’t need bear bells, do we?” I ignored that completely, borrowed a bear bell from the front desk at Ichii Hotel, and set off on our tiny adventure. People who underestimate the mountains, like him, are probably going to learn the hard way someday.
A Quick Introduction
I should probably introduce myself. My name is Mizutani — Taku — from the Ichinose Navi editorial team. I’m not originally from Shiga Kogen. Through a strange and lucky series of connections, I’ve been given the chance to write this column. My hope is to share Shiga Kogen from a perspective close to that of you, the reader — someone discovering the place with fresh eyes. Later, I’ll also introduce Mr. Kodama of Shiga Ichii Hotel, the managing director — or maybe executive director? — who talked me into this trek.
And Off We Go: The Seseragi Course
Now then, this time, our route is the “Seseragi Course.” If I were reading this, I’d immediately be thinking, “Where is that?” So I’ve added a link below where you can see the detailed route.
Link → About the Seseragi Course
From the Shiga Kogen Visitor Center website — or, as I have apparently decided to call it, the “bijitaa sentaa” site.
According to the Shiga Kogen Visitor Center website, the Seseragi Course is listed as follows: “Difficulty: Beginner / Distance: 1.8 km / Elevation gain: 60 m / Estimated time: 1 hour / Course type: Certified Forest Therapy Course.”
In other words, it sounded like an indoor-person-friendly course that even I — a man fully soaked in the comforts of civilization, who does not train his body, and has absolutely zero intention of challenging nature, though my hair is still impressively full — could probably handle. So I immediately looked up how to get there.
The Shiga Kogen Visitor Center website seems to want people to start from the Takamagahara bus stop. The Ichinose area where I was staying is near the “place where you go under the bridge.”
Some of you may be wondering, “What is Takamagahara?” For that, please see this page — the Takama site. In terms of location, it’s next to the Ichinose area, but still a bit of a walk. Also, based on the route, it would mean going out only to come back again. So, naturally, we immediately took a shortcut and entered from the “place before the place where you go under the bridge.”
→ Takamagahara Hotel
I didn’t know this at the time, but according to the Shiga Kogen Visitor Center website, the route is listed as “open with restrictions: the section between Takamagahara Wetland and Ichinose Wetland cannot be used due to partial deterioration and flooding of the boardwalk.” Apparently. If you want to walk that section, please petition the important people to fix the boardwalk.
Starting Somewhere Around Here
There was a helpful sign marking Entrance A, so in we went. I love wetlands, but it had been a very long time since I actually walked through one, so I was genuinely excited. I often look at Instagram accounts filled with wetland photos. → This one — Nippon Wetland Project
Also, if this entrance is A, what letter was the entrance before this one? S, maybe?
We continued steadily along the boardwalk. All kinds of plants were mixed together, and you could really feel the richness of the natural environment. At first, you can’t see the river from the boardwalk, but you can hear the sound of flowing water. So that’s why it’s called the “Seseragi Course” — the babbling stream course!
I’d like to write about the native char another time in a separate column.
The greenery welcomed us so enthusiastically that it looked ready to swallow the boardwalk whole. To be clear, this was just unlucky timing on my part; the trail is normally maintained properly. There’s a photo of the mowing work below.
Very Few Ups and Downs, So You Can Move Along Smoothly
People sometimes tell me I could use more emotional ups and downs, but when it comes to boardwalks, fewer ups and downs are definitely better. We moved smoothly from A to B to C. It wasn’t quite the season when flowers were blooming everywhere, but according to Mr. Kodama of Shiga Ichii Hotel — managing director, or was it executive director? — during the best season, alpine flowers bloom and the contrast between the green and brilliant colors shines like a golden folding screen. I may be remembering that wrong. I still haven’t seen it for myself.
Because the boardwalk was so easy to walk, I got carried away taking photos — and then promptly fell off the path. It was a powerful reminder of both my lack of exercise and the surprising strength of plant branches. A pattern like a rising dragon tattoo was carved into my calf. I had sworn never to put scratches on the body my parents gave me, but here we are.
And this is the photo I took at the cost of damaging the body my parents gave me. A beautiful flower stood quietly beside the boardwalk, somewhere between purple and blue.
Onward to Diamond Wetland
From here, we head through the center of Ichinose toward Diamond Wetland, located at the foot of Ichinose Diamond Ski Area.
Unfortunately, it’s now time for the supermarket discount sale, so the rest will have to wait until Part 2.
Earlier, I said I would introduce Mr. Kodama of Shiga Ichii Hotel — the managing director, or maybe executive director? — who talked me into this trek. But I’m out of time, so I’ll do that next time.