Former Shiobara Imperial Forest
This forest is one of many that were transferred to the Imperial Household in 1890 with the enactment of the Meiji constitution. After World War II, imperial forests became national forests, and today they are open to the public. Paths in this area run along the Hoki River and connect with several hiking trails. The area is an excellent place for birdwatching, and information about local birds can be found in the Shiobara Visitor Center and on signs along the paths.
Shiobara was a summer resort for members of the Japanese imperial family from the late nineteenth to the early twentieth centuries. An imperial villa was located nearby in this 46-hectare forest, but in 1946 it was turned into a vocational training center for the visually impaired. In 1954, part of the imperial family’s private quarters was moved to its present location and can be toured as part of Emperor’s Room Memorial Park.