Tade-hara Marsh (タデ原湿原)

Flow of the course

About this spot

A marsh spreading across a highland roughly 1,000 meters above sea level, at the foot of Mt. Mikoshi (三俣山) in the Kuju Mountain Range, registered under the Ramsar Convention together with Bogatsuru (坊ガツル) further up in the mountains. It's one of Japan's largest intermediate marshes, and walking the boardwalk that extends through it lets you fully experience the seasonal flowers, the wind crossing the grassland, and the Kuju peaks towering behind it. The boardwalk is maintained with routes ranging from a short 20-minute loop to about an hour, so you can choose according to your stamina. The grassland scenery, preserved through controlled burning, greets you with a different face each time you visit, from the fresh green of spring to the golden pampas grass of autumn.

Tips

Some parts of the boardwalk are narrow enough that passing requires yielding to others, so take it slow and give way. There are no shops or vending machines inside the marsh, so bring your own drinks. The weather on the highland can change quickly, so it's reassuring to have a light raincoat or jacket even if it's sunny. Stepping off the boardwalk into the marsh is strictly forbidden.

Best time to visit

About 1 hour 25 minutes. When the afternoon light illuminates the grassland, the shadows of the mountain range deepen, making it a great time for photos.

Access & map

〒879-4911 大分県玖珠郡九重町田野