REPORT

Since my last visit, the number of early morning passengers on the Tsugaike Ropeway today had increased significantly. This is partly due to the ongoing snowmelt in the Tsugaike Nature Park revealing more and more mizubasho, but another major factor is the noticeable rise in hikers carrying large packs, presumably heading higher into the mountains. Both Tsugaike Hütte and the Hakuba Oike Mountain Hut will kick off their 2025 summer operations tomorrow, 6/21 (Sat.)!
[Tsugaike Ropeway・Summit Station]

Thanks to the unbroken stretch of sunny skies and high temperatures since 6/17 (Tue.), the remaining snow coverage in the Mizubasho Marsh has decreased to just 10–20% of the surface area, and most of the boardwalks can now be walked on without stepping on snow. With “Mizubasho Week” (6/21–6/29) just around the corner, the Asian skunk cabbage has reached its peak viewing season. This morning, the soothing sound of a clear stream and the panoramic view of Mt. Shirouma together made me reflexively exclaim out loud, “Wow!”
[Mizubasho Marsh]

In the adjacent Watasuge Marsh, the mizubasho had just begun to bloom here and there along the boardwalk, and many small, well-shaped blossoms were visible in the hollow just before the Kusukawa River (pictured). The bloom was just beginning over at the Ukishima Marsh as well, while vibrant yellow flowers such as ryukinka, shinano kinbai, and miyama kinpoge could be seen in abundance.
[Watasuge Marsh]

Between the Yase-One Ridge and the Tenbo Marsh I saw plenty of blooming gozen tachibana, maizuru-so, mitsuba oren, and tsumatori-so. Around 10 a.m., a helicopter transporting supplies to the mountain huts from the helipad near Sarukura flew overhead (pictured, top center). A staff member at the Visitor Center told me, “I hiked up to Mt. Hakuba Norikura yesterday. The Hakuba Oike pond was still completely covered in snow. On the way down, I skied the broad eastern slope of Mt. Hakuba Norikura—just three or four turns, though,” they added with a laugh.
[Tenbo Marsh]

　
[Tsugaike Nature Park 2025 Opening Information]
＊Period … 6/7 (Sat.) to 10/26 (Sun.), 11/1 (Sat.) to 11/3 (Mon., holiday)
＊Hours … Tsugaike Ropeway (8:00～) *Early morning operation starts on 7/12
＊Fees … Tsugaike Ropeway Roundtrip + Entrance Fee / Adults JPY4,000, Elementary School Students JPY2,200, Preschoolers Free → Advance Discount Tickets: Adults JPY3,500, Children JPY1,950! (No need to exchange at the ticket window! You can proceed straight to the gondola.)
(*One preschooler free with each paid adult. The second preschooler will be charged at the normal children’s rate.)

[Hakuba Tsugaike WOW! Opening Information]
*Period … 2025/7/19 (Sat) – 8/31 (Sun) *Closed on weekdays from 6/7 – 7/13 and 9/1 – 10/26.
Opening hours … 10 am – 4 pm (last admission at 3 pm)
Charges … Tobidas (1 time) JPY1,000 Kabedas (1 time) JPY500 Amidas (60 min) JPY1,600 for adults, JPY1,000 for primary schools students Kogidas (1 time) JPY2,000

*This season’s Tsugaike Report will be updated once or twice a week.
*To Visitors Requesting Original Data of Our Photographs

reported by Snownavi