An oasis while you travel.
Driving up north from Nagano city, it’s easy to be mesmerized by the amazing landscape surrounding the area. I was on my way to Yamanouchi Area when I stumbled upon this beautiful stretch of luscious pink trees along the river.
The JOSHIN-ETSU Expressway runs along the Chikuma river in Obuse where you will find this beautiful park called Obuse Sougo Koen. There is a long line of cherry blossoms, more commonly referred to as sakura, and is a wonderful spot to do some “Hanami” flower viewing. It’s a common practice in Japan especially in springtime to enjoy the beautiful flowers of the season, mostly for sakuras but not limited to.
So, if ever you’re driving during springtime, you don’t need to get off the express way. You can make a quick stop at Obuse Highway Oasis PA, park your car for a bit and enjoy the view. The parking lot is made for the Obuse park so you don’t need to get off the expressway. You can explore the Roadside station and the community park. Also, if you are in the mood for a walk, make your way towards the riverside, which is a 5-minute walk from the parking lot, to find the beautiful row of sakura trees.
It runs through for a few kilometers and you can enjoy a nice 20 minute walk towards the Obuse Bridge under the shade of those delightful pink trees.
Sakuras are not the only star of the show here. There is also a large field of Nanohana, a Japanese yellow flower that is also used as a vegetable for food. In other places, it can be referred to as rapeseed. This charming plant grows in bunches and is often a sign of spring time for many areas in Japan. Around the Obuse Bridge, you can happily see these flowers painting the riverbanks a lovely shade of yellow. People in the community and also travelers often relax in this spot as it is quite accessible to have a picnic and bask in the sun. Although when I went there, it was still chilly because of the strong wind coming from the snow-covered mountains.
The community also holds some small events in the open area of the park. There are food trucks local to Nagano prefecture and other neighborhood farmers selling their produce and other crafts. We found some interesting long potatoes being sold, with seeds, saplings, small potatoes and up to when it is largely grown for consuption. I bought some to test out how well I can cook them. Some If you’re in the area, try to stop by for a bit in Obuse Oasis Park to take a break and breathe.