NIKKO TOURIST ASSOCIATION

The Yukawa river

Akanuma

Sanbonmatsu

Odashirogahara plateau

Short stroll in winter
Koutoku cross-country-skiing course

Strawberry growing

Japanese/English matching list
From left-up to the right-down on the map

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
	Yutaki (Yudaki)	Yutaki Waterfall
	Yutaki-iriguchi	Entrance of Yutaki
	Koutoku-bokujou	Koutoku Pasture
	Koutoku-onsen	Koutoku Hot Spa
	koutoku-numa	Pond of Koutoku
	Izumiyado-ike	Pond of Izumiyado
	koutoku-iriguchi	Entrance of Koutoku
	Senjogahara	Senjogahara Plateau
	Odashirogahara-tenboudai	Observatory of Odashirogahara
	Odashirogahara	Odashirogahara Plateau
	Sanbonmatsu-tenboudai	Observatory of Sanbonmatsu
	Sanbonmatsu	Sanbonmatsu
	Senjogahara-kaiakunohi	Monument of reclamation of Senjogahara Plateau
	Akanuma	Akanuma marshland
	Shakunage-bashi	Bridge of rhododendron

The Senjogahara Plateau literally means battlefield. The name of the Senjogahara Plateau derives from a myth regarding the struggle.

Mt. Nantai (former Mt. Futara) of Shimotsuke (former Tochigi prefecture) and Mt. Akagi of Kouzuke (former Gunma prefecture) had a struggle for territorial possession of Lake Chuzenji. God of each side fought, but the God of Mt. Futara was inferior in the battle. The God of Mt. Futara consulted with God of Kashima Daimyojin for a solution. He introduced the expert of arrow shooting, who was called Sarumaru. He was a grand child of the God of Mt. Futara.

The God of Mt. Futara transformed himself to a white deer and appeared at Mt. Akkashisan. Sarumaru chased the white deer. The white deer lured Sarumaru out to Senjogahara Plateau. Sarumaru saw that the God of Mt. Akagi and the God of Mt. Futara fought in the Senjogahara Plateau. The God of Mt. Akagi transformed himself into the large herd of giant centipede, while the God of Mt. Futara transformed himself into the large herd of snake.

Leader of the centipedes was horned giant. Sarumaru aimed the leader's left eye and shot the arrow. The arrow hit the target and the enemy withdrew.
This battle ended with the victory of Mt. Futara.

Monument of reclamation of Senjogahara Plateau

Saws used to open up

The Senjogahara Plateau is the marshland of 400ha, which is located on the altitude of 1400m. It is surrounded by Mt. Nantai in the East, Mt. Tarou, Mt. Sannoh Boushi, and Mt. Mitsudake. Also, national route 120 runs through the Lake Chuzenji and Yumoto.

It is told that the Senjogahara Plateau was a lake 20000 years ago. However, it became dry, earth and sand flew in, pumice stone also flew in by the eruption of Mt. Nantai. That lake finally became today's marshland.

Low-Pollution Hybrid Bus runs from Akanuma to Senjugahama.

Ooazesuge (Carex thunbergii Steud. var. appendiculata (Trautv.) Ohwi), Tamagaya (Variable sedge) and Watasuge (Cottonsedge) grow in the marshland of Senjogahara. Also, Himemizugoke (Sphagnum fimbriatum Wils. in Hook. ) grows partially. In addition to that, Karamatsu (Japanese larch), Mizunara (Quercus cuspidata), Harunire (Japanese elm ), Zumi (Japanese Flowering Crab), Shirakamba (Birch) grow along with river of Yukawa and national route 120.

The Spring comes late to the Senjogahara, and you should wait for Alpine plant until June. You will be able to enjoy it from June to August there. It starts from Kuromino Uguisukagura (Lonicera caerulea). After that, Watasuge (Cottonsedge), Zumi (Japanese Flowering Crab), Renge Tsutsuji (Japanese azalea), Ibuki-torano-o (Meadow bistort), Karamatsusou (Thalictrum aquilegifolium var. intermedium), Nohana Shoubu (Japanese water iris), Hozaki Shimotsuke (Bridewort) follow in order.

Also, the Senjogahara is famous for many kinds of wild bird. If you walk on the "Road of Natural Study of Senjogahara Plateau, " you will see Kibitaki (Narcissus Flycatcher), Hoojiro (Meadow Bunting) in the forest of Japanese Flowering Crab. Also, you will see Nobitaki (Stonechat) and Hooaka (Grey-headed Bunting) in the marshland, and see Kisekirei (Grey Wagtail), Kawagarasu (Brown Dipper) along with the river of Yukawa. In addition to that, you will see Akagera (White-backed Woodpecker), Shijukara (Great Tit), Uguisu (Japanese Bush-Warbler) in the forest area. They multiply in the Senjogahara from May to July.

The Senjogahara has another aspect as a reclaimed land. 80ha was opened up in 1946, and seed growing of Japanese radish, plateau vegetables, strawberry and flower started. Also, temperature goes down to 20 Celsius degrees below the freezing point in a day of the Winter. However, it is not forgettable that people make a living there.