Protecting and communicating the nature of Inabe/Ugakei, and making it a place for outdoor learning.

What is Ugakei?

Ugakei is located on the border between Mie and Shiga prefectures and is designated as Suzuka Quasi-National Park.
The Suzuka Mountains that rise in the western part of the park have different geology, with the northern part being a karst topography made of eroded limestone, and the southeast part being granite, with a variety of topography, including steep and gentle areas.
Additionally, the area where Ugakei is located is close to the Sea of Japan and the Pacific Ocean, and has a mix of climate characteristics from both.
This may be the reason why you can encounter such a wide variety of plants and animals.

It has also been selected by the Ministry of the Environment as a ``Satochi-Satoyama area important for biodiversity conservation,'' which is considered a natural environment that should be preserved for future generations.

At Uga Gorge, you can observe a variety of plants that grow due to its diverse geology, topography, and climate, and we also recommend hiking, which takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to climb from the base of the mountain to the summit.
In the fall, you can enjoy the vivid colors of the autumn leaves due to the difference in temperature, and in the winter, you can enjoy the snowy scenery, there are plants and animals designated as natural monuments, and there are six waterfalls of various sizes.

People who protect Ugakei

Mr. Morooka of the NPO Ryu no Mori, which carries out forest conservation activities in the Uga Gorge.
Born and raised in InabeCity, where Uga Gorge is located, he says that mountains have been familiar to him since he was a child.
``When I was a child, we lit our baths with wood. That was my job. Now, I started mountain climbing as a hobby with my brother, who was in the mountaineering club.''

According to Morooka, up until then, Ugakei had not been maintained, such as by thinning, and was in a state of disrepair. In forests where trees were too thick, sunlight did not reach the ground of the mountain, and plants did not grow, there were fewer insects that visited the plants, fewer birds that fed on the insects, and circulation was not good.

``Dragon Forest'' was established in 2013 by members who came together to do something about the devastated mountain.
Since then, we have been engaged in various activities such as environmental conservation of Ugakei and utilization of forest resources.

Bringing the power of nature to the region and the people

One way is to use thinned wood to make charcoal and firewood.
Mr. Morooka and his team put the trees they harvested into a charcoal kiln to make charcoal, and then dry them to use as firewood. They are used locally, creating new utility value for waste materials.

"If you go into the mountains of Ugakei, you'll see hundreds of charcoal kilns all over the place. That's how traditional the industry was. When the fuel revolution occurred and gas became mainstream, that gradually declined."
It can be seen that the practice of reusing felled trees as fuel had spread throughout the region since then.

In addition, Mr. Morooka and his colleagues are also conducting spatial activities to help people enjoy the nature of Ugakei.
At a place called ``Mokuiku no Mori'' in the Uga Gorge, events are held where children can grill river fish on a barbecue, play with trees using their bodies, and experience spending time in nature. I am involved in a wide range of activities, including holding irregular nature observation sessions and providing guides.

``There was a time when a child who hated fish was able to eat the fish grilled here.I believe that nature has a power that you cannot normally get in the city, and being in nature makes me feel better.'' This is also the case.Humans receive many things from nature.That's why we're working to preserve nature-rich mountains that are full of flora and fauna.''

It is said that conveying to people the joy, comfort, and discovery of spending time in nature is an important effort to preserve the nature of Ugakei for future generations.

Nordisk Hygge Circles UGAKEI

Located in the great nature of Ugakei is Nordisk Hygge Circles UGAKEI, an outdoor field by Nordisk from Denmark.
Denmark is one of the most advanced SDGs initiatives in the world. Here at Nordisk Hygge Circles UGAKEI, such Danish sustainability is at work.

A luxurious space of nature that can be felt from the building

The first thing I would like to focus on is the building at the Nordisk Hygge Circles UGAKEI facility.
The facility was designed under the supervision of a Danish sustainability advisor, with environmentally friendly considerations such as reusing renewable materials and scrap materials from the original old building.

For example, the center house of Nordisk Hygge Circles UGAKEI is a community house shaped like a circle, where people connect and gather. There is also a circular courtyard in the center, allowing sunlight to shine through.
The asymmetrical slope of the roof was designed to allow natural light to enter the building at any time of day by calculating the angle of inclination of sunlight. By doing this, it is thought that you can spend your time without using electrical energy as much as possible.

The cabin, which is similar in shape to the center house, has a bright interior with many windows, and natural light pours in from the skylight, so you can even have the luxurious experience of falling asleep while looking at the stars at night.

Also, when walking through the forest at Nordisk Hygge Circles UGAKEI, there are parts where the path between buildings feels a little distorted.
In fact, this is because we create roads and build buildings while preserving nature in its natural state, based on Nordisk's theme of ``Nature is luxury.'' The building layout has been calculated to leave as many trees as possible.

Wild CIRCLES

At Nordisk Hygge Circles UGAKEI, the campsite where you can become one with nature the most is Wild CIRCLES, where you can bring your own tent and enjoy camping in your own style.
Wild CIRCLES is adjacent to the Uga River and Gosho Falls, and the sound of water, rustling trees, and chirping birds are natural background music. There are no divisions, so just pitch your tent, spread out your camping gear, and you'll be surrounded by nature and your own special space.

There are only a few places in Japan where you can camp, but this place is popular with campers because it allows you to have an open fire and gives you the feeling of camping.

(When lighting an open fire, take the remaining charcoal with you or dispose of it by burning it to ash.)

Hygge time you can spend in nature

"Hygge" is a Danish word that means "a rich way of spending time and a way of thinking," "a soothing and relaxing time and space, and a sense of happiness that can be gained through these." The name Nordisk Hygge Circles UGAKEI incorporates our desire for guests to spend a "hygge" time in the rich nature of Ugakei.

``I want people to experience success and a sense of accomplishment through camping as a ``happy way to spend time'' despite the inconvenience.''Even though it may be inconvenient and difficult, I want them to experience success and feel a sense of accomplishment through camping. I think camping is about how we can live comfortably in this environment, in harmony with nature, whether it's heat, cold, rain or wind."
The manager, Tezuka, who has been camping for over 30 years, showed us around Nordisk Hygge Circles UGAKEI.
It is said that InabeCity not only has a rich natural environment, but also food that can be delivered with confidence.

A meal that lets you fully enjoy the deliciousness of Inabe

For dinner, you can enjoy a locally produced course meal supervised by a Danish outdoor cooking expert, and in the morning you can enjoy a luxurious breakfast on the living deck or dining room where sunlight filters through the trees.
We are particular about local production for local consumption, such as wine purchased from wineries in Inabe and vegetables grown without pesticides from Happu Farm in InabeCity.

At Nordisk Hygge Circles UGAKEI, we will also focus on "Learning for Living" where you can experience and learn from an outdoor perspective how to make drinking water, how to start a fire, how to stay warm, etc., which can be used in the event of a disaster. He says he would like to add .
The nature here in Ugakei is a perfect field for thinking about better ways of living and spending your time.

shooting model

NOB
A camping YouTuber, video creator, and photographer with 1.1 million subscribers. We convey the beauty of nature and the joy of playing with nature through videos that introduce campgrounds and mountains that are easily accessible from Aichi Prefecture, as well as camping equipment.

YouTube video now available

NOB's Youtube channel is currently showing videos of Ugakei walking and camping at Wild CIRCLES. The video introduces many of the unique charms of Ugakei. Please take a look.

Nordisk Hygge Circles UGAKEI is also introduced in this article.
Please take a look.
Introducing "Nordisk Hygge Circles UGAKEI," an outdoor field produced by "Nordisk" that opened in InabeCity!