Sozo-no-Mori Yokoyama
Sozo-no-Mori Yokoyama is a place for creative, hands-on participation in activities within the natural environment of Ise-Shima National Park. “Sozo-no-Mori” literally means “Forest of Creation,” and staff, volunteers, and local residents use this area for everything from flower viewing to ecological surveys.
The shelter by the parking lot functions as a base camp for projects in Sozo-no-Mori. Its large windows also make it popular among birdwatchers, particularly in the colder months, when trees shed their leaves and birds are easier to see among the branches. In spring, the shelter offers fine views of the nearby Cherry Blossom Garden.
Sozo-no-Mori also contains ponds and wetland areas. For example, the Biotope is a shallow pond specifically created for ecological research and activities. Brown frogs arrive there in spring to lay clutches of eggs, which volunteers count to monitor the frog population. A few months later, the pond fills with fringed water lilies (asaza). In summer, the nearby Hydrangea Walk comes into bloom.
The trails in Sozo-no-Mori are connected to the network of walking trails that lead up to Yokoyama View Point and its observation decks. One particular route up the mountain is used for Kurort health walks, a form of exercise that combines relaxed walking with pulse checks and breathing exercises.
