-> Wild animals eat garbage, which may expose them to disease and in the worst case, they may die.
Pets are not permitted.
-> The preference is not to take pets on the climbing routes or natural walkways in order to ensure a pleasant experience for all hikers and visitors. From the viewpoint of preserving the ecosystem, you are not allowed to release animals into the special protection areas within the national park such as the Senjogahara and Odashirogahara marshlands.
Do not feed wild animals.
-> This will make monkeys, bears, and other animals become more used to humans, causing them to lose their fear of humans, which then results in aggressive behavior.
Do not take or bring animals and plants.
-> In order to maintain the natural environment and vegetation, do not take any animals or plants. You are not allowed to bring animals and plants from other areas because of the potential for harm to the area's native species.
At the Senjogahara and Odashirogahara marshes, always walk on the boardwalks; do not enter the marshes.
-> Entering the marshes is not good for the soil and may damage or kill valuable plants.
When crowded, walk on the right side of the boardwalks in one line.
-> Please take care not to obstruct other visitors.
Avoid bear encounters.
-> Asian black bears live in Oku Nikko. Bears can be dangerous when surprised or disturbed, so be careful and try to avoid encounters with bears. Before visiting, check the latest bear sighting information on the website.
In case of bad weather (thunder, heavy rain), we recommend quitting earlier or returning.
-> There is a risk of lightning, especially in the marsh with its commanding view because there are no shielding materials.
Rules and etiquette in the field in winter
Do not walk outside the courses or go off the courses.
-> This will confuse people who walk after you, and you might damage the vegetation by walking on it. Ribbons are tied along the courses, so do not walk outside the ribbons.
Do not snowshoe on cross-country skiing courses (those around Sambonmatsu and Kotoku).
-> Walking with snowshoes on the courses for cross-county skiing ruins the courses, impeding those who enjoy the sport. To avoid this, enjoy your activity in different places.
Do not walk on the frozen lake.
-> The ice may be thin in places, and you might suddenly break through the ice. Iced-over lakes are very dangerous, so stay away from them.
