Uwano Nature & Interaction Forest Course｜Hiking / Cycling｜Things to Do

The fresh green of spring, refreshing air of summer, autumn foliage, snowshoeing in winter; enjoy walking through the highland's nature all year round. This course has many attractions, such as the "Ki no Dendo (Museum for Wood Culture)" designed by architect Tadao Ando, and a giant Japanese Judas tree.

Uwano trail

Field athletic

Uwano giant Japanese Judas tree

Foot of the giant Japanese Judas tree

Museum for Wood Culture

Field in front of Museum for Wood Culture

Route map

Route directions and land marks

1) Uwano Highland Educational Center: Starting at "Uwano Highland Educational Center" parking lot, turn left immediately and continue onto the prefectural road.

2) Uwano giant Japanese Judas tree sign post: Walk straight for about 10 min., on the right you’ll see a sign post for "兎和野の大カツラ(Uwano giant Japanese Judas tree)". Turn right here and enter the trail.

3) Field Athletic: Walk up the trail, after about 15 minutes you will see a "Field Athletic". The circuit is about 500 meters and there are 20 different obstacle courses to entertain everyone from child to adult. The quiet forest with its songbirds makes this a great location.

4) Mori no Kosakukan: Go back to the entrance to the "Field Athletic" and turn left, go uphill a little and you will come to a grassy open space. Here is "Mori no Kosakukan (forest work center)" where you can take a bathroom break.

5) Museum for Wood Culture observation bldg.: From "Mori no Kosakukan", enter the trail along the charcoal kettle, and walk back around through the forest enjoying the fresh air, after about 20 minutes you will come across a concrete building "木の殿堂展望棟(Museum for Wood Culture observation bldg.)". From here you can overlook Muraoka's iconic mountain "Sobugadake." From the observation building cross the concrete bridge and you will see the "Museum for Wood Culture" a 'pudding' shaped wooden structure. The museum is 46 m in diameter, 18 m in height, one of Japan's largest cedar-consolidated architecture museums designed and built by architect Tadao Ando with the theme of forest, sea, and sun. When you leave the museum and go down to the parking lot, you will see the "交流の森 (Koryu no Mori)" a grass covered field. Here, there are plants hand-planted by Japan's Emperor and Empress at the National Tree Planting Festival, and wooden swings hanging from large aspen trees. Take a break here in the refreshing surroundings.

6) Giant Japanese Judas tree: After resting, enter the trail again and immediately go down to your right, after about 20 minutes you will come across "兎和野の大カツラ(giant Japanese Judas tree)". A giant tree over 600 years old, 32 m tall, root area about 12 m, cold (10°C fresh water streams from its roots, branch length east to west about 26 m and 28 m south to north. Along with the giant Japanese Judas tree of Wachino, it is a designated natural monument of Hyogo Prefecture.

7) End of course back at Uwano Highland Educational Center: From the tree, go down the trail along the waterway for about 5 minutes, it will return you to the "兎和野の大カツラ" sign post. From there follow the original route and you will reach the spot where you started and the end of the course.

Route: Uwano Highland Educational Center > Field Athletic⇒Museum for Wood Culture observation bldg > Museum for Wood Culture > Koryu no Mori > Uwano giant Japanese Judas tree > Uwano Highland Educational Center

Difficulty: ★☆☆

Route Category: Forest

Type of Activity

★☆☆　Flat course（Elevation gain less than 100m）or less than 5km.
★★☆　Slightly undulating course（Elevation gain less than 500m）or less than 10ｋｍ.
★★★　Rugged course（Elevation gain more than 500m）or 11ｋｍ.

Distance	About 5km
Required Time	Walking time of about 1 hour 30 minutes.
Starting Point	Start / End point: Uwano Highland Educational Center
Getting Here	By Train: JR Yoka Sta., Zentan Bus and get off at Moriwakibashi bus stop. By Car: Uwano Highland Educational Center
Road Conditions	Asphalt, dirt, & grass
Resting Place	Public restroom: Uwano Highland Educational Center, Mori no Kosakukan, Museum for Wood Culture Rest area: Mori no Kosakukan, Museum for Wood Culture
Signpost Presence	None
Guide Availability	Available Contact: Uwano Highland Educational Center Phone: 0796-94-0211 Fee: Free
Notes	-
Contact	Contact: Uwano Highland Educational Center Phone: 0796-94-0211

Things to Do

Uwano Nature & Interaction Forest Course うわの自然とふれあいの森コース

Uwano Nature & Interaction Forest Course

うわの自然とふれあいの森コース