Nagatoro Hodosan Roubai (wintersweet) Garden

Hodosan Mountain in Nagatoro Town. At the top of the mountain, pretty yellow flowers called "roubai" bloom from late December to late February. The flowers, which endure the harsh cold and bloom with dignity in the early spring sunshine, are very attractive. There are about 800 Roubai (about 3,000 plants) in full bloom in the vast 15,000 square meter parkland at the top of Hodosan Mountain, enveloping the area in a rich sweet fragrance.

Hodosan is 497 meters above sea level. From the summit of Hodosan, you can see the town of Chichibu, the Chichibu mountain range including the symbol of Chichibu, Mount Buko, and the Asama mountain range. This is one of the best locations in the Kanto area. In the early morning from late autumn to early spring, the Chichibu Basin is covered by a sea of clouds, a fantastic sight to behold.

There is a ropeway and a hiking trail to the top of the mountain, and it takes about three hours to go there and back from Nagatoro Station. When the leaves turn red, many people come to enjoy the view from the ropeway. There is Hodosan Shrine at the foot of the mountain and an inner shrine at the top of the mountain, making it a great place to visit as a power spot in Saitama.