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Joshin’etsukogen NP, Nagano
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On Asama’s high grasslands—not at the center itself—serow break their “solitary” stereotype: a 7-year study found females group in meadows, and some males pair with as many as 5 females.
A 2024 wildlife project turned the center gallery into a detective board: trail cameras confirmed bears around Takamine, while visitors mapped sightings—and unexpectedly reported many stoats (okojo) alongside serow.
In June 2026, the center café served “Otsukare curry,” with rice molded to resemble Mount Asama—a playful way to turn the volcano you’ve just hiked into a meal.
The center opened at Kurumazaka Pass in April 2008 as a base for park stewardship. Its operator had become the park’s 4th designated management body nationwide that March—and the first NPO to hold that role.
At 2,000m, Takamine has flowers usually found above 2,500m. Guides credit Asama’s volcanic terrain and the meeting of Pacific- and Japan Sea-side climates; around 200 alpine-plant species can be seen.
In winter 2024–25, the center café gave local wildlife a dessert tribute: limited-time Kamoshika Soft used chocolate toppings to turn soft-serve into an adorable serow face.
At Asama’s 2025 mountain-opening event, a safety-prayer ceremony and commemorative climb marked the start of the season; an interpreter from the nature school based at this visitor center guided the outing.
Around the center, naturally grown larches turn gold early in autumn. A local guide points out their distinctive branching, which looks different from the uniform shape of planted larch stands.
