2026-07-04 A Stroll in Oide Park: Relaxing Moments in Hakuba Village#

Oide Park#

After taking the bus from Hakuba Village back to Hakuba Station, we had over an hour to spare before our scheduled train to Matsumoto, so we decided to walk to Oide Park.

The walk from the station to the park took about fifteen to twenty minutes. Although time was tight, the streets and buildings along the way were quite unique, making the stroll itself highly enjoyable; sometimes the joy of traveling is not entirely about the destination.

Upon arriving at Oide Park, the first thing that caught our eyes was the highly representative “Oide Suspension Bridge” spanning across the “Himekawa” River.

At the other end of the suspension bridge is a cafe converted from a century-old traditional Japanese house; unfortunately, our tight schedule didn’t allow us the time to sit down and savor the experience.

The waters of the Himekawa River beneath the bridge are crystal clear, with rubber rafts occasionally passing by. This is undoubtedly a fantastic water sport, but for the two of us older folks, we naturally had to pass on experiencing it firsthand.

The scenery at Oide Park is picturesque, especially the breathtaking view of the majestic Northern Alps from here, which truly refreshes the mind and soul.