Let’s face it. Winter is cold. It’s cold in Uenomura in the southwestern corner of Gunma too—but it’s often sunny and there’s not much snow. This itinerary is full of ways to embrace the cold, in fact take advantage of it, and enjoy the outdoors regardless of the weather. Note this course is not for the faint of heart!
The main part of this itinerary can be bought as a package deal of airsoft and overnight at Suribachi Villa, a family-run guesthouse with a natural hot spring and homemade Japanese food. See their website for details and reservations.
https://suribachisou.com/mortar2/
https://ueno-mortar.jimdofree.com/
Day 1
1. Airsoft at Mortar
2. Lunch at Suribachi Villa
3. Chushi Falls
4. Hot spring bath and overnight at Suribachi Villa
Day 2
5. Winter river fishing by Kawa no Eki Riverside Visitors Center
Day1
1. Airsoft
The first activity on our itinerary was a game of airsoft at Mortar, an airsoft field in a small stretch of forest outfitted with obstacles and cover built from recycled materials.
For those who have never played, airsoft is a mock battle game played with realistic-looking toy guns that shoot accurate but harmless plastic bullets. It’s similar to paintball, only without the paint.
We started out by picking up our rental airsoft guns and goggles at neighboring Suribachi Villa. This is also where we would be staying for the night. Standard guns are included with the price of participation. Alternatively, you can pay a little extra for a faster one with a longer range. The staff will walk you through how to use the equipment. I personally know absolutely nothing about guns, replica or real, but I found it wasn’t too hard to get the hang of it after a bit.
It was a short walk from Suribachi to the game field. Once we got there, there were tables and a rest/prep area. Once we had loaded our guns and gotten settled, we entered the gameplay field. Note that no one is allowed to shoot any guns outside of the field, which was separated off with fences and netting.
There were at least 20 participants the day we went, a mix from beginners to veterans—veteran players, that is. The organizers divided everyone into 2 teams, and explained each round what the rules and objectives were. The general idea is that you try to shoot members of the other team, and every time you hit someone, your team gets a point. If you’re shot, you’re out and have to go back to your team’s base at one side of the field. In most of the rounds, you’re allowed to come back to life and keep playing, so it’s not too much pressure.
Personally, it felt kind of like playing a first-person shooter, but with more fresh air and less gore. It was fun and interesting to play as a first timer, and I could tell it would get even more fun with a little bit of practice and mastery. I also liked the repurposed cover structures around the field: free-standing doors, old refrigerators, and other odds and ends.
We played for about two hours before it was time to head back to Suribachi for lunch. We had plans to explore another part of the village after lunch, but there’s also an afternoon airsoft session for anyone who wants to keep playing. There were several hardcore enthusiasts who I’m sure were in it for the whole day.
What to wear/bring
Wear clothes that are easy to move around in and sturdy footwear. Goggles are provided but make sure to bring your own face covering (a mask just like we’ve all been wearing for COVID works fine). It stings a bit when the pellets hit bare skin, so it can be a good idea to wear clothes that cover your whole body, including gloves, scarf and hat. If you’re dressed for winter this should be no problem.
Mortar
Location | Suribachi Villa |
| Address | 953 Oaza Nogurisawa Ko, Ueno, Tano District, Gunma 370-1612 |
| TEL | 0274-59-2161 |
| Website | https://ueno-mortar.jimdofree.com |
| Reservations by phone or through the contact form on their website. Make sure to book a game of airsoft at the same time for a package deal. |
2. Lunch at Suribachi Villa
We had all worked up an appetite, so the whole group headed back to Suribachi Villa for lunch. This was included in the price of our overnight plan.
The host of this cozy guesthouse served us homemade udon noodle soup at long, rustic wooden tables. The broth was nice and warm after running around in the cold, and the noodles were hearty and filling. There were chances to chat with the other participants.
Suribachi Villa
| Address | 953 Oaza Nogurisawa Ko, Ueno, Tano District, Gunma 370-1612 |
| TEL | 0274-59-2161 |
3. Chushi Falls
(NOTE Chushi Falls are currently inaccessible due to road construction.)
Our next stop was Chushi Falls, a magnificent waterfall that drops 35 meters straight down a sheer cliff. Locals all agree that it’s the most spectacular of all the falls along the Kannagawa River. It becomes a unique sight in winter, when it completely freezes over.
The start of the trail up to the waterfall is marked by a little red sign and a larger white one. The trail was steep and a bit slippery, so I’d recommend tackling it with hiking boots, or at the very least sturdy sneakers. It took about 15 minutes, including some clambering up and down ladders. Don’t forget to wear warm clothes for the short trek.
It was worth it when we got to the waterfall. Or maybe I should say the waterfreeze. The word chushi in Japanese means “suspend” or “stop” which was an apt name for the cascade of ice that looked like water suspended mid-fall.
Chushi Falls
4. Overnight at Suribachi Villa
We returned to Suribachi for dinner, a bath, and a good night’s sleep after an adventurous day.
Although there were still a few airsoft-ers milling around when we arrived back in the evening, they all went home before dinner time. My colleague and I ended up having the whole guesthouse to ourselves for the night.
Dinner
The owner of the establishment makes all the food himself, and he’s an excellent cook. The spread was relatively simple—compared to the elaborate meals sometimes served at Japanese inns—but still featured a whole range of dishes made from local produce. The main event was nabe hotpot full of inobuta pork, i.e. a cross between pig and wild boar meat.
Dinner is prepared specially for each guest so make sure to check what time it starts when you check in.
Hot Spring Bath
The all-natural hot spring water in the communal bath is filled with salt and minerals that are particularly good for dry skin and eczema.
There are showers to wash off first and then the bath itself is a large traditional Japanese wooden tub. It was a bit chilly in the bathroom, but of course nice and warm in the bath itself.
Guest Rooms
The rooms had tatami flooring and futon beds. They all had heated kotatsu tables as well as a heater that guests can control. Bathrooms were communal but very spacious. Overall a pretty simple setup, but the perfect place for a good night’s sleep after an eventful day.
Suribachi Villa
| Address | 953 Oaza Nogurisawa Ko, Ueno, Tano District, Gunma 370-1612 |
| TEL | 0274-59-2161 |
| Front desk/phone hours | 8:30 AM – 6:00 PM |
| Website | https://suribachisou.com/ |
| Reservations by phone or through the contact form on their website. |
Day 2
5. Winter river fishing
There is a section of the Kannagawa River specially designated for winter fishing.
After you buy your fishing ticket at the visitors center fishery association, head out from the back of the building down to the scenic stretch of river behind it.
There are lots of rainbow trout waiting for you. Note this fishing area is catch and release only. Please do not kill or take home the fish.
Winter Fishing Area @ Kawa no Eki Riverside Visitors Center
Operated by the Uenomura Fishery Association
| Address | 316-1 Narahara, Ueno, Tano District, Gunma 370-1617 |
| TEL | 0274-59-3155 |
| Front desk hours | 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Nov – Feb) Closed on Tuesdays |
| Fishing hours | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Nov: until 5:00 PM) Closed on Tuesdays |
| Prices | Fishing ticket Men: ￥2,000 Women: ￥1,500 Middle school: ￥300 Elementary school and under: Free |
| Make sure to buy a fishing ticket inside the visitors center (Fureai-kan building) before dropping your line. |
More Winter Itineraries
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