Adventure into the depths of Joshin'etsukogen National Park to visit the famed Onioshien, a park that celebrates natural phenomena and volcanic rock formations.
As you step into this park located in the foothills of Mt. Asama, you will soon understand why it was named “onioshidashi” in Japanese (meaning “to push out a demon”). The actual origins of the name are unclear, though it was traditionally believed that demons lived on Mt. Asama. An active volcano, Mt. Asama has seen many volcanic eruptions that have shaken the earth and filled the sky with ash, it may not be so difficult to see why locals also named the area Onioshidashi park.
Today, the only demons here are the colorful statues that you can take pictures with!

Follow the walking paths around the park to see a delightful range of alpine plants and seasonal flowers, grab a bite to eat at the restaurant or coffee shop, or stop in for a look at Asamayama Kannondo Temple, a temple dedicated to the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy. There are several paths varying in length, making it accessible to people of various ages and levels of fitness.
The somewhat desolate landscape surrounding Mt. Asama is framed with lush alpine greenery and stunning flowers in the spring and summer. A visit during autumn promises fall foliage, and a winter visit offers a variety of outdoor activities, such as skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking.

Mt. Asama Magma Stone Park can be easily accessed from Tokyo Station via the Joetsu Shinkansen, which stops at Takasaki Station. Here, transfer to the local Manza-Kazawaguchi train on the Agatsuma Line to Manza-Kazawaguchi Station. From there, the park is 25 minutes by bus. Another option is to take the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Karuizawa Station then take a bus for around 40 minutes to the park.