The park is officially recognized as the specific spot where the watershed divide occurs at the lowest elevation on the main island of Honshu.
The Sho River flows north into the Toyama Bay, while the Nagara River flows south into Ise Bay.
A statue of the Buddhist monk Taicho, who is said to have discovered this divide, stands within the park grounds.
The divide is located within the Chubu-Sangaku National Park region, renowned for its diverse mountain ecosystems.
Hirugano Watershed Park serves as the unique geographical divide between two major river systems in Japan. The park marks the point where water flowing north eventually reaches the Sea of Japan via the Sho River, while water flowing south travels to the Pacific Ocean via the Nagara River. It features a natural spring and a memorial monument signifying this hydrological separation. The site is situated on a plateau at an elevation of approximately 900 meters above sea level. Visitors can observe the subtle slope that dictates the path of the water flow. The area is maintained as a public park with walking paths and informative markers detailing the local watershed geography.
The central watershed monument plaque with the flowing stream in the foreground.
Bring a bottle to collect fresh spring water from the designated spigot on-site.
Wear comfortable walking shoes, as the park features unpaved dirt paths around the watershed area.
Check local weather forecasts, as the high plateau elevation can lead to significantly cooler temperatures than in the surrounding valleys.
Do not mistake the nearby roadside station (Michi-no-Eki) for the park itself, as they are separate locations nearby.
Accessible year-round, though paths may be limited or buried under heavy snow during peak winter months.
