Roadside Station Utsukushigahara Highlands

Michi-no-Eki Utsukushigahara Kogen (Michi-no-Eki: Utsukushigahara Plateau) is located 2000 meters above sea level, making it the highest roadside station in Japan.

It offers a wonderful view toward the Northern Alps and Mt. Sakuhira Asama, and sometimes you may even experience a sea of clouds.

It is adjacent to the Utsukushi-ga-hara Open-Air Museum and has an entrance to the museum. After enjoying the art, visitors can relax in the restaurant with a view or in the spacious store.

The shopping mall offers a wide selection of freshly picked fruit and other Shinshu specialties (wine, local beer, nozawana, oyaki, cheese), sweets, and art goods.

Because it is adjacent to an art museum, the store offers a wide selection of art goods, and in particular, it features a large variety of postcards, including postcards of world-famous art works.

Recommended is the original rare cheese cake (Camembert flavor), which can be carried around at room temperature. You will be surprised by its rich, rich, and authentic taste! It is also popular as a souvenir.

Also on the second floor are the “Japanese Restaurant Asanoha” with a view of Mt. Asama Sakudaira and the “Restaurant Compote” with a view of the Northern Alps.

The maitake soba gozen and leaf wasabi soba are highly recommended. Desserts include apple ciboust cake. You can enjoy your meal while admiring the beautiful scenery. On a clear day, you can enjoy the scenery of the mountains and highlands in the distance.

There is also a store on the observation terrace where you can enjoy light meals such as Shinshu miso ramen, oyaki, blueberry soft-serve ice cream, and other snacks and coffee, allowing you to relax and enjoy your tea time while taking in the view. The soft-serve ice cream made from fresh milk is a must-try.

There is also a direct sales shop where you can buy freshly picked vegetables and fruits for a limited time only.

Utsukushi-ga-hara Highlands Art Museum

Located at an elevation of more than 2,000 meters above sea level in a high-cool climate, the Utsukushi-ga-hara Open-Air Sculpture Museum is an outdoor sculpture museum with contemporary sculptures laid out outdoors in a vast expanse of grasslands.

Approximately 350 contemporary sculptures created by renowned artists from Japan and abroad are constantly on display on the plateau, which offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the four seasons.

In summer, alpine plants native to the Utsukushi-ga-hara Plateau bloom throughout the exhibition area, making it a great place to enjoy an art walk in a hiking atmosphere.

In addition, there is a gallery and a children’s museum in the indoor exhibition area, where visitors can enjoy a variety of contemporary art.

Utsukushigahara

Utsukushigahara is located in the northeastern part of Yatsugatake Chushin Kogen National Park, and the view from there is one of the most spectacular in Japan.

On a fine day, you can enjoy a 360-degree panorama. Utsukushigahara itself is one of the 100 most famous mountains in Japan, and from this location you can also see 42 other famous peaks.

It is also known as a treasure trove of alpine flora, with more than 200 varieties of flowers blooming from spring to fall.

Temperatures in Utsukushigahara Plateau

vary with the seasons, but tend to be cooler (colder) due to the high altitude.

During the summer season (July to August), it is relatively cool even during the daytime, with daytime temperatures generally around 20°C (68°F). At night, temperatures drop and can be as low as 10°C (50°F).
Spring (March to June) and fall (September to November) days are often relatively warm and pleasant, but temperatures are low in the low teens. Nighttime temperatures are cooler.
During the winter season (December to February), temperatures can drop below freezing even during the daytime. Especially near the summit (Ougatou), temperatures often drop below freezing even during the daytime. At night, it gets even colder, with temperatures ranging from -10°C to -30°C.

Visitors to the Utsukushi-ga-hara Plateau should be aware of the temperature and weather conditions. Wearing long sleeves is also recommended, even in summer.