The Oze area extends over four prefectures: Fukushima, Tochigi, Gunma, and Niigata. It was my first visit to Oze.

We went to Oshimizu in Gunma Prefecture. It took about four hours by bus to get there from Shinjuku.

As soon as we left Oshimizu, we were not able to use our mobile phones. We walked on a gravel road to the Ichinose rest area. I heard that only cars for business use could use the road.

We walked on a mountain trail from Ichinose. There were some wooden causeways. They made me feel that I had reached Oze at last, and the alpines were refreshing.

After we went over the next pass, Sanpei-toge, we sometimes looked down at Lake Ozenuma, where we were going to stay the night, which was a great help for us as we were tired.