Discover Kasugai: Hiking, parks and culture

Kasugai can be explored in many different ways: along a long hiking trail, in spacious parks, or through insights into kofun burial mounds and calligraphy. Cacti and succulents are also among the city’s special features. When looking for a holiday rental in Kasugai, it may help to start by asking which experiences you want to shape your stay.

Hiking the Tokai Nature Trail

The Kasugai section of the Tokai Nature Trail is 14.4 kilometres long and is used for hiking year-round. The route begins at Jōreikyō Bridge in the Tamano River Gorge. From there, it passes through Tamano-enchi and over Mount Dōju to Mount Miroku. At 437 metres, it is the highest mountain in Kasugai. The route continues via Utsutsu Pass to Nishio Pass.

If you would like to include a longer hike in your itinerary, this is a clearly described route with several named points along the way. The distance of 14.4 kilometres is a useful guide for planning your day, although on its own it does not indicate the walking time or difficulty. When looking for a holiday rental, first consider whether hiking will be a focus of your stay or whether you would rather prioritise parks and cultural discoveries.

Parkland and time by the water

Ochiai Park, covering approximately 24.9 hectares, was selected as one of Japan’s 100 best urban parks in July 1989. Its pond is the centrepiece of a range of activities: you can walk around the water on the footpath, watch waterbirds by the pond, or fish for crucian carp and carp. The park combines exercise with nature watching and fishing, though each offers a different experience.

Ochiai Park also has a large playground with play equipment and the Folly Water Tower, which is about 21 metres tall. If you are travelling with children, you can plan a visit to the playground as a separate activity; if you are looking for something quieter, there are opportunities to watch wildlife or fish by the pond. The park’s different features give families and other travellers several reasons to visit, while its approximate size gives an idea of its extent.

Discover kofun and calligraphy

Futagoyama Park is a historic park surrounded by three kofun burial mounds. One of them, Ajiyoshi Futagoyama Kofun, is designated a National Historic Site. At the centre of the park stands the Haniwa House. Its fan-shaped multipurpose hall offers a view of a kofun through a glass panel; there is also an exhibition area with haniwa figures. For a culturally themed outing, the park brings together burial mounds, exhibits and a distinctive view from inside the building.

Another way to explore Kasugai’s cultural history is the Michikaze Memorial Museum in the Matsukawado neighbourhood. The city opened it on 1 November 1981 at the site traditionally identified as the birthplace of Ono Michikaze. The museum specialises in calligraphy and also serves as a research institution dedicated to the history of this art. If you are interested in calligraphy, you can include it in your itinerary alongside the archaeological features of Futagoyama Park.

Cacti and succulents in Kasugai

The plant life offers another reason to explore the city. Goto Cactus sells home-grown cacti directly to the public at its nursery in the Momoyama neighbourhood. Goto Cactus also offers cactus-arranging workshops for 1,000 yen. This means a visit can involve more than simply looking at the plants: the workshop is for anyone interested in arranging cacti.

At SABO BASE in Greenpia Kasugai, there is a lounge area with displays of succulents grown from seeds cultivated in Kasugai, as well as information panels about Kasugai succulents. There is also a vending machine and a capsule toy machine with cactus designs. Goto Cactus and SABO BASE offer different experiences: the former has sales of home-grown plants and workshops, while the latter features displays and machines with cactus designs.

Which experiences would you like to shape your stay?

If hiking is your priority, the route of the Tokai Nature Trail is an important point to consider. If you would rather choose between a walk, time by the pond and the playground, consider visiting Ochiai Park. Kofun, haniwa and calligraphy will appeal to travellers interested in history and culture; cacti and succulents add a distinctive plant theme to the mix. Guide your search for a holiday rental by which of these experiences you would like to discover during your stay in Kasugai.

More destination pages: Toyoyama, Toyone, Toei, Tōkai, Tahara, Chiryū, Ichinomiya and Nagoya.

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