How to get to Oze National Park Katashina-mura:
[Doko desu ka? – Transportation]
Car (Kuruma): if you come by car from Tokyo just follow Route 120 to Niigata. Nevertheless, I have heard that it is very difficult to get one’s driving license accepted here in Japan.
Bus (Basu): This is maybe the best option – money & time wise!
Take the Kanetsu Line bus from Shinjuku or Kawagoe Station. These stop in Numata city and at numerous spots in Katashina: Hanasaku (many guesthouses and hotels are here), Kamata (right in front of my office), Tokura (is where you can take a small bus that takes you to Oze National Park) and Oze Oshimizu (a different entrance to the Oze national Park). The price differs depending on the stations you get on and off the bus. However, a round journey from Shinjuku to Hanasaku Station, for example, may cost around 7,000 yen.
More information: http://kan-etsu.net/
Train (Ressha): If you have a Japan Rail Pass this may be the most convenient for you, as you can take a 3-hour train ride on the JR Takasaki Line from Ueno (1 way trip: 1940 yen) or on the JR Shonan-Shinjuku Line from Shinjuku (1 way trip: 1940 yen). In Takasaki change onto the Joetsu Line to take you to Numata (760 yen). In Numata take a bus to Kamata (1 way: 1,550 yen)
Shinkansen: You can also catch the super-fast Joetsu Shinkansen heading to Niigata from Tokyo, Omiya or Ueno Station. A round trip may cost you around 10,000 yen. Get out at Jomokogen Station and then take a bus to Katashina-mura (e.g. Kamata Station), the bus will cost an extra 4,000 yen (roundtrip).
Locating Katashina-mura:
Oze Travel Agency (Katashina Promotion Public Corporation) is our office – that is where I am sitting at my desk right now! I tried to highlight the 3 different zones of Katashina on the map: Oze, Marunuma & Hotaka.
14 Responses
Jen
Hi Inga.. can you please help me? I plan to go to Oshimizu from Kamata, but I couldn’t find any bus schedule for it. Do you know what time does the bus leave from Kamata coz I will be coming from Nikko around 1450pm. How far is Kamata to Oshimizu and how much is the fare? Thanks!
Oze Travel Blog
Hi Jen, this is Aya from Oze Katashina Tourist information.We’re now took over from Inga and operating Oze travel blog.
First of all, Thank you for considering to visit Oze national Park.Let me answer your question. There is a bus from Kamata to Hatomachitoge(switch a bus at Tokura), leave Kamata at 15:05pm, 15:53pm, 16:28pm…(Last bus from Kamata to Oshimizu is 14:21pm). From Kamata to Tokura takes 20min and costs 670yen and from Tokura to Hatomachitoge takes 30min and costs 930yen.
Here is bus timetable(JP)
http://kan-etsu.net/files/lib/1/323/20160308144503281.pdf
Do you stay in Oze that night? Otherwise maybe it’s bit late to go there.Because you cannot see the view from bus stop. You need to hike at least 1hour to see the view(if that is the reason to go..). or if you can come earlier or stay in Katashina one night and hike next day is better.
If you have any question please feel free to comment here.
Here is Oze Map (EN)
https://oze-katashina.info/funtashina/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Oze-National-Park-Route-Map.pdf
Thank you!
Kenneth Sin
Hi, I would like to drive to Hatomachi Toge, and park the car here for a day walk! We will leave about 5pm. According to the traffic restriction in the area, can I do this and park my car at the Hatomachi To be for a day??
Thanks,
Kenneth sin
Oze Travel Blog
Hello Kenneth! Thank you for considering to visit Oze national Park.
This is Aya from Oze Katashina Tourist information.
At hatomachitoge, there is vehicle traffic control until 10th October in this year. Until then it’s not able to drive up there. So you may drive to Tokura and park your car there (1000yen/24Hour) and take a bus(930yen) or taxi to Hatomachitoge.
Bus Time Table (14th Sep – 3th Nov, 2016)
From Tokura to Hatomachitoge:
4:40/6:30/7:50/8:55/9:40/10:20/11:10/11:50/13:00/13:50/14:45/15:55/16:30*
From Hatomachitoge to Tokura:
8:40/9:35/10:20/11:00/11:50/12:45/13:40/14:30/15:25/16:30/17:10*
*11th Oct to 3th Nov, Last bus from Tokura is 15:55 and From Hatomachitoge is 16:30.
After 10th October, you can drive to Hatomachitoge and park your car there. But the best season is until early October, the end of October already cold and finish autumn leaves. Please make sure to wear hiking cloth and bring warm cloth as well. From Hatomachitoge to Ozegahara takes one hour to hike.
Thanks & Enjoy!
Simon Ford
Hi,
On Monday 5th February I will be travelling from kitakami to katashima village. I can catch the train to either jomo-kogen or numata but can’t find the bus time table to get to katashima village. I will be staying at oze shinkousou and would like to catch the latest possible bus. Really looking forward to visiting and hope you can help. Thanks, simon ford.
Chris
Hi,
Awesome information.
Could i have your email to contact you as I am planning for a solo trip to Oze National Park in May.
Best Regards
Chris Goh
Doris Ng
Hello there,
We want to drive to Hatomachi Toge on 9 October 2018, park the car here overnight. Is it possible to leave our car overnight for one night only?
We will end our walk in Oshimizu. Is there a shuttle bus from Oshimizu to Hatomachi Toge so we can pick up our car?
Please advise!
Thank you!
Oze Travel Blog
Hi Dris, Sorry for late reply.This is Aya from Oze Katashina village tourist information. Thank you for considering to visit Oze national Park!
>We want to drive to Hatomachi Toge on 9 October 2018, park the car here overnight. Is it possible to leave our car overnight for one night only?
– Yes, possible. But they charge 2 days car park fee ¥5000. Hatomachi Toge is only able to park 50 cars. after parking place is full, you may park at Tokura First car parking and take Taxi/bus to Hatomachi Toge. Taxi/Bus costs 980yen/person/one way. you can use this ticket for both taxi and bus. Tokura First car parking is 1000yen/day.
>We will end our walk in Oshimizu. Is there a shuttle bus from Oshimizu to Hatomachi Toge so we can pick up our car?
– There is no shuttle bus from Oshimizu to Hatomachi Toge.
You may take public bus from Oshimizu to Tokura (Hatomachi Toge Bus Connect). You can walk here to Tokura First Car Parking.
Pls be reminded that there is not much bus from Oshimizu, only 3pm and 3:50pm.
Hope it helps! If anything not clear pls dont hesitate to contact me again.
Oze Travel Blog
Hi Dris,
Yes there is a bus from Oshimuzu at 13:00, 14:07, 15:00 and 15:50. Thank you!
HG
Hi- thank you for all the information on this site!
I am thinking of visiting Oze in late October (I know it is not the best time but it’s the only time I can travel to Japan!). Will buses still be running from Jomo-Kogen to Hatomachitoge on 29th and 30th October? I am hoping to find a place to stay overnight as well.
Arigato gozaimasu!
Doris Ng
Dear Aya,
Thank you for your response.
Okay, we will park in Tokura 1st Parking Lot.
From Oshimizu to Tokura, we have to go from Oshimizu to Hatomachitoge to connect a bus. Do you mean there are only 2 buses in a day from Oshimizu to Hatomachitoge?
Isn’t there a bus from Oshimizu to Jomo Kogen that passes Tokura at 13:00, 14:07, 15:00 and 15:50???
Appreciate your reply. Arigatou gozaimasu!!
Oze Travel Blog
Hi, Sorry for late reply.This is Aya from Oze Katashina village tourist information. Thank you for considering to visit Oze national Park!
The Bus only goes to Tokura (Hatomachi Toge Bus Connect) from Jomo-Kogen.
Here is the time table(JP).
https://kan-etsu.net/files/lib/5/644/201802211303189180.pdf
Jomo-Kogen in Japanese ‘上毛高原’
Tokura in Japanese ‘戸倉’ = Hatomachi Toge Bus Connect is ‘鳩待峠バス連絡所’
You may switch to bus or taxi at Tokura to Hatomachi Toge. The fee is 980yen/per way. It takes 35mins.
The bus runs following time from 9th Oct to 4th Nov.
Tokura to Hatomachi Toge : 7：50am ～3：45pm
Hatomachi Toge to Tokura: 8：40am ～ 4：30pm
Time table (JP)
https://kan-etsu.net/files/lib/5/695/201803261232209366.pdf
> I am hoping to find a place to stay overnight as well.
– There is a few lodge to stay inside Oze. Kindly check the link below. Please make a reservation in advance.
https://oze-katashina.info/funtashina/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Oze-National-Park-Route-Map.pdf
Here is in Japanese lodge information. You can check their website.
https://www.oze-hiking.com/lodge/select.html
Hope it helps! If anything not clear pls dont hesitate to contact me again.
Thank you!
Chris mccarty
I will be coming to Oze National Park from Minikami in a private vehicle. Is there parking available in Tokura to then catch the bus to Hamomachatoge trail head? We will be there in 1 week. Thank you.
Oze Travel Blog
Hi thank you for your interest!
>Is there parking available in Tokura to then catch the bus to Hamomachatoge trail head?
Yes, there is parking in Tokura and the bus to go Hatomachi-toge. The bus service will end on November 4th this year.
Now it’s starting Autumn leaves/Kouyou in Oze.