Film Director Yasujiro Ozu
immersed himself in his creative ideas
at Tateshina, the birthplace of masterpieces
Renowned master of Japanese cinema, Yasujiro Ozu, collaborated with screenwriter Kogo Noda to create numerous masterpieces, including Tokyo Story, Late Spring, and An Autumn Afternoon.
Ozu first visited Noda’s mountain villa in Tateshina in the summer of 1954. He was so taken with the place—remarking, “The water is delicious. The sake is delicious. The air is delicious”—that in his later years, he relocated his scriptwriting to Tateshina.
In Tateshina, Ozu is said to have taken walks with Noda as they developed ideas for their films. As you stroll along the scenic paths, lined with lush foliage, solitary cherry trees, and landmarks like Tateshina Suwa Shrine, you too will come to understand why Ozu held such deep affection for this place.
Yasujiro Ozu and Kogo Noda
The Ozu Walkway
Tateshina Lake Area Sightseeing Map
Mugeisou
This thatched-roof mountain cottage was used by master filmmaker Yasujiro Ozu as both his workplace and a place to entertain guests in his later years. After finishing the film Tokyo Story, Ozu visited Unkosou, the villa of screenwriter Kogo Noda in Tateshina. From then on, he began working in Tateshina year-round, in both summer and winter. It was here that he wrote the final seven screenplays prior to his passing.
Shin-Unkosou
A small mountain villa opened by screenwriter, Kogo Noda, on the Tateshina highlands out of his desire for “the mountains to summon the clouds, and for the clouds to summon people,” instilled with a twist of humor. As intended, Unkosou—the “Cloud-Summoning Cottage”—drew a number of visitors, becoming a lively gathering place for Director Yasujiro Ozu, actors like Keiji Sada and Chishu Ryu, and many other figures from Japan’s golden age of cinema, including those who worked on Ozu’s postwar films. There, they drank, debated, and created together.
Ozu’s Single Cherry Tree
Along the Ozu Walkway—a trail where Showa-era Director Yasujiro Ozu would stroll while developing his screenplays—stands a single cherry tree, and this became one of his favorite spots. Alongside his close friend, Kogo Noda, he likely gazed out at the majestic view, with Mt. Tateshina to the left, Mt. Kitayokodake in the center, and Mt. Shimagare to the right. Although the cherry tree has grown significantly since those days, it still stands quietly, with the same timeless presence.
Tateshina Moss Forest
Tateshina’s moss forest is a tranquil woodland, filled with crisp, clear air and blanketed in a lush, velvety carpet of green moss. Under the dense canopy of trees, you can enjoy a rich tapestry of moss spreading beneath your feet. Strolling through the forest with rays of sunlight streaming through will rejuvenate you, as you savor the seasonal beauty.
Tateshina Great Falls
This waterfall, known for its abundant water flow, lies beyond a moss-covered primeval forest. It stands 25 meters high, spans 10 meters, and is enveloped in crisp mountain air to refresh you both mentally and physically. In summer, you can soak in the lush greenery and abundant negative ions, and in autumn, the vibrant foliage offers a different kind of charm. It is located a short 15-min walk from the hotel.
Tateshina Lake
A highland lake nestled along the Venus Line. It is surrounded by a forest of Japanese larch and white birch. The area offers inns, hotels, restaurants, shops, and a relaxing resort atmosphere with activities like boating and fishing. In autumn, the lake is tinted red by the vibrant colors of the fall foliage reflecting on its surface.
Mt. Tateshina Shokoji Temple
A temple for praying for traffic safety, holding memorials for victims of traffic accidents, and praying for the early recovery of the injured. It was established in July 1970, thanks largely to Toyota Motor Corporation. At an elevation of approximately 1,200 meters in the cool climate of Tateshina, it is also renowned as a cherry blossom viewing spot featuring the “latest-blooming Somei Yoshino cherry blossoms in Honshu.”
