I visited the Tsuta Forest behind the secret hot spring hotel “Tsuta Onsen” and the swamps scattered in it.
There is a promenade that goes around the beech forest and the swamp, I start to walk from the visitor center where next to the “Tsuta Onsen”.
The round trip goes around the six swamps and returns to the The round trip goes around the six swamps and returns to the “Tsuta Onsen” in about 3.5km and about an hour.
Tsuta Forest is mainly a beech forest, and I like to visit the fresh green in spring and autumn leaves in autumn.
Tsuta Forest: Take the JR Bus Tohoku “Mizuumi No. 6” departing at 10:10 in front of Shin-Aomori Station. On the way, get off the bus at “Kaya no Chaya” for a short break of about 10 minutes, If you drink three glasses Japanese tea, at here tea house you will “live until you die”?. The surrounding area is snow-covered, and as expected, Hakkoda, a land of heavy snowfall.
Tsuta Forest: Get off the bus at Tsuta Onsen Ryokan(hot spring hotel), take a lunch at the restaurant of Tsuta Onsen Ryokan at 12:30, and head to the entrance to the swamp tour.
Tsuta Forest: Swamp tour entrance and visitor center.
Tsuta Forest: The moss on the boardwalk is beautiful, and this area is already in late autumn season.
Tsuta Forest: Walk about 500m while looking at Yunumazawa river which flow from Tsuta-numa(Tsuta swamp) on my right-hand side, I found the Tsuta-numa over the beech forest.
Tsuta Forest: At the southeast of Tsutanuma, there is a wide wooden path where also an observatory deck, from here I can overlook the large Tsuta-numa(Tuta swamp).
Tsuta Forest: Mt. Akakura on the upper left are already winter scenery. During the morning sun, the slope in front is dyed in burning red, and I would like to see the scenery someday.
Tsuta Forest: Looking at Tsuta-numa(Tsuta-swamp) on the right and go into the beech forest.
Tsuta Forest: In late autumn, the leaves of the trees almost fall, and the bright sunlight illuminates the deep forest.
Tsuta Forest: About 15 minutes walk from the observation deck, I arrived at “Kagami-numa(Mirror-swamp)”.
Tsuta Forest: Trees are reflected on the clear water surface of Kagami-numa. According to the information board, it’s an artificial swamp.
Tsuta Forest: From Tsuta-numa to Kagami-numa and this “Tsuki-numa(Moon-swamp)”, the altitude gradually rises, and the flow of Tsuki-numa seems to be connected to Kagami-numa below. Fall leaves form the surrounding beech forest were deposited on the outflow side of the water. Compared to the open atmosphere of Kagami-numa, the atmosphere is quieter in the quiet forest.
Tsuta Forest: In late autumn, a long shadow was cast on the promenade, even though it was just before 2:00 pm. It is comfortable to see the bright forest while trampling on the fallen leaves. Almost haven’t met people, is it already off-season?
Tsuta Forest: Most of the leaves of the trees have fallen and it looks like winter.
Tsuta Forest: Walking for a while from Tsuki-numa, I will soon see “Naga-numa(Long-swamp)” through the trees on my lower-right.
Tsuta Forest: Naga-numa, 2:00 pm, the autumn sunshine was tilted and the most of water surface was already shaded. The swamp really dominated by silence was fantastic.
Tsuta Forest: Repeated small ups and downs, and eventually arrives at “Suga-numa(Suga-swamp)”.
Tsuta Forest: Here is Suga-numa, the water surface seems like Naga-numa.
Tsuta Forest: At the end of the swamp tour is “Hyoutan-numa(Gourd-Swamp)”, and will soon arrive at the starting point of Tsuta Onsen Ryokan. I take a hot spring here for about an hour relax, After that take a JR bus “Mizuumi 10” to the accommodation “Towadako Onsenkyo hot spring hotel”.
