REPORT

For myself, whenever I visit the mountains in summer I think, “Overall it’s nice and cool—but the sun feels scorching.” However, the beech forest that spreads across the summit of Iwatake offers comfortable shade. Compared to other deciduous broadleaf trees, beech trees retain more moisture and release it through transpiration more quickly, helping to maintain higher humidity and lower the surrounding temperature.
[Hakuba Iwatake・Nezuko-no-Mori]

The Nezuko-no-Mori forest area features a gentle 1.2 km trekking loop with very little elevation change, nestled among beech, maple (pictured), and mizunara oak trees. It’s about a 500-meter round trip—roughly 20 minutes—to reach the giant nezuko (also known as kurobe) tree that gives the forest its name. This morning, the lush green canopy overhead created a beautiful gradient of colors, and I found myself stopping frequently to gaze upward in awe.
[Hakuba Iwatake・Nezuko-no-Mori]

I met a family from Kanagawa (pictured) who shared, “We asked the front desk at Courtyard by Marriott Hakuba, where we’re staying, if there was a mountain we could visit in just T-shirts—and they recommended Iwatake. Tomorrow we plan to bring jackets and try going up to Happo or Tsugaike.” The tree pictured behind the family is the giant nezuko tree that gives the Nezuko-no-Mori forest its name.
[Hakuba Iwatake・Nezuko-no-Mori]

Over at the west-facing HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR (pictured), the building provides welcome shade in the morning hours, and many visitors could be seen relaxing in the shaded seating area after enjoying the panoramic views and taking photos from various angles. Meanwhile, at THE CITY BAKERY, two new delicious cookie shakes—Choco Berry and Choco Mint—debuted on 7/1 (Tue.), with each priced at JPY840.
[Hakuba Iwatake・HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR]

　
*On 7/5 (Sat.) and 7/6 (Sun.), the lower half of the Kamikaze Downhill course will be closed due to the DOWNHILL SERIES #4 race being held at the Hakuba Iwatake MTB PARK.
　　
[Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort Information]
*Season … Apr. 24 (Thu)－Nov.16 (Sun), 2025
*Hours … 8:30 a.m.－5:00 p.m.
*Price … Entrance Fee (Gondola and 5-sen south line fee included) / Adult: JPY2,900, Child: JPY1,600, Pet: JPY800

*Hakuba Iwatake will be reported 1－2times a week
*To Visitors Requesting Original Data of Our Photographs

reported by Snownavi