REPORT

It took me about four hours to reach the Karamatsu summit hut (pictured) from Happo-ike Sanso. The mountain hut here has toilets available for use by day hikers (JPY300 per use), as well as bottled drinking water for sale (JPY500 per 500ml bottle, no purchase limit). The campsite that spreads out on the slope just below the hut costs JPY2,000 per tent plus JPY2,000 per person. (Those without a reservation will be charged an additional JPY1,000 per tent.)
[Climbing Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・Karamatsu Summit Hut to Mt. Karamatsu]

I reached the summit of Mt. Karamatsu (elevation 2,696m) in an additional 20 minutes from the Karamatsu summit hut. The trail was scattered with loose rocks, so I did my best to stay focused as I made my way up, arriving at the summit at 11:50 a.m. The peak was lively, with a line of hikers waiting to take photos with the summit marker, and many others enjoying lunch while taking in the spectacular views.
[Climbing Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・Karamatsu Summit Hut to Mt. Karamatsu]

“We love both summer mountain hiking and winter snowboarding, so we come to Hakuba often. Climbing Mt. Karamatsu has been such a fun experience!” was the comment from a group of three ladies from Tokyo (pictured). The woman on the far left shared, “The tenugui I have wrapped around my head is from a brand called Deisui Club that a friend of mine runs.” To which the woman on the far right added, “In that case, let me mention mine, too—I’ve launched an outdoor brand for mountain-loving women called Baa Ram Ewe!”
[Mt. Karamatsu Summit]

As for the remaining snow along the trail, I’ll start by saying that the contrast between where snow remains and where it has melted is quite stark. One area where snow is still present, the Ougi-no-Setsuden snowfield (pictured), had very few dry spots to sit and rest without getting your backside wet. On the other hand, areas along the ridgeline and other spots where the snow tends to melt early had flowers blooming right on schedule, just like in a typical year.
[Climbing Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・Ougi-no-Setsuden Snowfield]

　
*Due to a water supply issue, the restroom at Café Pilar remains unavailable for use.

[Happo-One Nature Trail Opening Information]
*Period … 2025/5/31 (Sat.) – 6/1 (Sun.), 6/7 (Sat.) – 11/3 (Mon.)
*Hours … Happo Alpen Line: 7/12 – 7/13 and Weekdays from 7/22 open at 7:00am, 7/14 – 7/18 open at 7:30am, 7/19 – 7/21, 7/26, 7/27 open at 6:30am.
Kurobishi Line: 7/12, 7/13, 7/19, 7/20, 7/21, 7/26, 7/27 open at 4:30 am, 7/14 – 7/18 open 7:45am, Weekdays from 7/22 open at 7:15am.
*Fees … Happo Alpen Line Roundtrip / Adults JPY3,400, Elementary School Students JPY2,200 → Advance Discount Tickets: Adults JPY3,000, Children JPY1,850! (No need to exchange at the ticket window! You can proceed straight to the gondola.) Kurobishi Line Roundtrip / Adults JPY2,300, Elementary School Students JPY1,400.
(*One preschooler free with each paid adult. The second preschooler will be charged at the normal children’s rate.)

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

reported by Snownavi