Twisted beeches and moss balls
June to October when the trail is free of snow; autumn leaves in mid to late October.
Tourism source ↗A spring-fed wetland and beech forest at the foot of Mount Chokai, a national natural monument. Strangely twisted old beeches such as “Agariko Daio” and rare moss balls known as Chokai marimo grow here. A loop trail takes about 2 to 2.5 hours. Bears live in the area.
Shishigahana WetlandReference photo · selected conditions are not photographed yet
Recorded capture month: Sep · Historical photo, not a live view
AUTUMN · Oct
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Weather for your date
Today shows live hourly weather. Future dates show the best available report.
18°C
Clear sky
💧 0% rain chance · wind 12 km/h
Hourly forecast
18°💧 0%
18°💧 0%
19°💧 0%
19°💧 0%
20°💧 10%
16°💧 74%
16°💧 100%
16°💧 100%
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Packing checklist
No tips added for this spot yet.
Parking
Nakajimadai Recreation Forest parking
AVAILABLE
SUV / high-roof friendly
Parking at the Nakajimadai trailhead.
Parking source ↗
Directions to Shishigahana Wetland
Leave the start blank to choose your current location in Google Maps. The pin is an approximate landmark; check the entrance and live services in Maps.
A DIFFERENT JAPAN, EVERY MONTH
When to see this place
Typical viewing windows. Weather and bloom dates vary each year; these are not live forecasts.
Suitability
Stroller: Not recommended
Nursing room: Not available
Noise level: quiet
Kids: Long trail; carry a bear bell.
Rules
Fire: no fire
Water access: none
Drones: permit required
Nearby places
Within 30 km, closest first.
AkitaHokodate (Mount Chokai Trailhead)
The main trailhead for Mount Chokai on the Chokai Blue Line, with a mountain lodge and a viewpoint into a deep valley.
5 km away
AkitaRyugahara Wetland
A wetland at the Haraikawa trailhead on the Akita side of Mount Chokai in Yurihonjo, with a short boardwalk among alpine flowers and the mountain behind.
5 km away
YamagataOhira Observatory (Chokai Blue Line)
A lookout on the Yamagata side of the Chokai Blue Line near Ohira Sanso, with views over the Shonai Plain and the Sea of Japan, popular at sunset.
7 km away
AkitaMount Shogadake
A 1,635-metre peak on the western flank of Mount Chokai, reached on the trail from Hokodate, with views over the Sea of Japan.
7 km away
YamagataMount Chokai
A 2,236-metre volcano on the Akita–Yamagata border, often called 'Dewa Fuji' for its symmetrical shape rising from the coast.
7 km away
AkitaHottai Falls
A three-tiered waterfall in Yurihonjo in the foothills of Mount Chokai, listed among Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls.
14 km away
AkitaHerb World Akita
A herb garden and shop in Yurihonjo with lavender and herb fields in summer.
22 km away
Sources, photo credits and verification
Place information: Official tourism source · Reviewed 2026-10-13
- 1. Shishigahana Wetland · 8-Forest · Source ↗ · CC BY-SA 4.0