Blaze your own trail

What better way to connect with nature than walking through it at your own pace? Get acquainted with your surroundings by strolling leisurely along footpaths that lead from the hotel toward Lake Okutadami, pack lunch for a few hours’ walk through the shade of an old-growth beech forest, or spend an entire day exploring the vegetation of the mountainous terrain, once virtually isolated from the modern world.

Oze National Park with its vast network of trails is also accessible from the hotel and recommended for adventurers ready to commit to an entire day of hiking. From Ten Stories Oze, you can take a sightseeing ship across Lake Okutadami and then ride a bus up to the Numayama Pass. From there, the Uonuma-Oze route up along the headwaters of the Tadami River leads to the marshes of Oze. If your feet are your preferred means of transport, you’ll be sure to enjoy the freedom of choice and variety of challenges that await at Ten Stories Oze.Note that the ships and buses run toward Oze only once in the morning and back once in the evening. Tickets must be reserved at least three days in advance.

How to make a reservation

See majestic nature on two wheels

Cycling through the Ginzandaira valley is an active and convenient way to experience the untamed, unfiltered natural beauty of this wild landscape. Several trails are accessible directly from Ten Stories Oze, ranging from beginner-friendly paths that allow you to explore the hotel’s surroundings to steep roads that will challenge even experienced hill-climbers. Riding with the wind in your hair, you’ll be crossing little streams, diving into primeval forest, and spotting snow-covered peaks in the distance. Stop to take in the views, and you’ll hear nature itself. Our staff are happy to assist you with route suggestions and directions.

How to make a reservation

Electric-assist bicycle rental: ¥1,650/1.5 hours (helmet included)
Note that rentals do not include accident insurance or compensation for eventual damages. Please acquire your own travel insurance.

Scale pristine peaks

As you step through the morning mist high above rugged, forest-covered hillsides, not a soul in sight except for the occasional bird and buzzing insect, dreamlike scenery extends all around you. This is Japan’s last true wilderness, and Ten Stories Oze is the ideal base for adventurers hoping to capture views of the majestic landscape from above. Tucked away in the secluded Ginzandaira valley, our hotel is surrounded by mountains that, with proper preparation, can be scaled in a single day. Among these are several 2,000-meter peaks all but untouched by human hands, where rare alpine plants thrive in rolling marshlands punctuated by tiny lakes.

Mt. Echigo-Komagatake (2,003m) and Mt. Arasawadake (1,969m) can be summited in one day from the hotel. Guests are also offered the exclusive opportunity to climb the 2,141-meter Mt. Hiragatake via a special route closed to the public. This trail allows for a trek to the peak and back in less than eight hours. Special tours from Ten Stories Oze to Mt. Hiragatake are organized several times a year; keep an eye on our website and social media feeds for details.

Note: Climbing any of the aforementioned mountains requires proper mountaineering equipment. The trail to Mt. Arasawadake is especially challenging and should not be attempted by inexperienced hikers.

How to make a reservation

Glide across a tranquil lake

The tranquil and sheltered Lake Okutadami provides a welcoming setting for water activities that allow you to immerse yourself in nature. Against a stunning backdrop of forested mountainsides, guests can paddle canoes or kayaks or step on a stand-up paddleboard (SUP), circling the lake while birds fly by, fish swim past, and small boats traverse the water in the distance.

Water activities are offered in summer and fall. Note that as the lake is deep and its water relatively cold, wearing a wetsuit and life jacket is essential. Going out on the lake without a certified instructor is not recommended.

How to make a reservation

UP rental ¥7,700/2 hours (sup, paddle, life jacket, waterproof mobile phone case and spectacle band included)
Wetsuit rental ¥1,100/2hours
Marin shoes ¥500/2hours
Note that rentals do not include accident insurance or compensation for eventual damages. Please acquire your own travel insurance.