May 28, 2012 - 1 min read

Senjogahara Hiking Trail, Nikko

Impressions of the protected marshland in early spring

By Nicole Bauer

Community writer

Starting point Lake Yunoko in the early morning, just the fishermen and us

Wonderful and peaceful forest, crossing creeks and passing ponds; great area for bird watching

... and we finally reach the open marshland

Walking on the boardwalk paths makes this an easy stroll and gives time to enjoy the views.

In May, it is still too early for the flowers, however the scenery is simply amazing.

Picturesque waterfall on the way to Ryuzu Falls

The top of Ryuzu Falls with Lake Chuzenji in the background

Finishing our walk with a nice lunch overlooking Lake Chuzenji

When I go hiking it usually means climbing a mountain to be able to take in the beautiful scenery from a bird`s eye view. The trail through Nikko`s marshlands, however, is almost flat; nonetheless, it is definitely one of my favorite hikes in the area. It is an easy and relaxing walk; it takes only 2.5 to 3 hours to complete. You will be surprised how quickly and how often the landscape changes—simply amazing!

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By Nicole Bauer

Community writer

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Justin Velgus 9 years ago

Looks like an enjoyable walk! I must check it out my next time to Nikko!

FebiNU 9 years ago

hi nichole! i always adore your photos >,

Nicole Bauer Photographer 9 years ago

Thanks Febi. I am glad to hear that!

Victoria Vlisides 9 years ago

Beautiful photos. I went here when it was cloudy, so it is nice to see it in the sunshine!

Nicole Bauer Photographer 11 years ago

Hi Steph. I'm happy to see that you got inspired by this :-)
Yes, the starting points for the marshland hike can all be reached by bus: Take the Tobu Bus that leaves from Tobu Nikko Station towards Yumoto Onsen in upper Nikko. The following link is quite helpful I think: http://www.tobu.co.jp/foreign/sight/nikko_contents.html
We started in Yumoto Onsen and ended our walk at the Ryuzu Falls, but there are some shorter options too. I recommend to get a map with all the details and a bus schedule (both available in English) at the tourist information in Nikko. Enjoy!

Stephanie Marley 11 years ago

Lovely! It's easy to forget about the other worthwhile places around Nikko when her town's temples are so shiny; having been there before, I relish the idea of something new to see. Thank you very much. Could you tell me whether it's possible to reach the marshlands without a car?

Thanks!
Steph

6 comments in total