REPORT

Following a recommendation from the Tsugaike Nature Park Visitor Center staff, I decided to stay overnight at Tsugaike Sanso (pictured) this time and begin my report early the next morning. The lodge has a bath filled with heated snowmelt water, and every room is a private room, making it a comfortable option even for first-time mountain hut guests. Dinner was plentiful and satisfying, featuring grilled salt-cured iwana (char), tempura, beef stew, and more.
[Tsugaike Sanso]

I laid out my futon in the Japanese-style room and went to bed at 9:00 p.m.
The following morning, 7/18 (Fri.), I woke up at 3:00 a.m. and stepped outside at 3:30. Around 4:00, the eastern sky began to brighten, and soon the blue hour arrived (pictured). At 4:38, the summit of Mt. Shirouma began to glow red, and within about six minutes, the entire ridge was bathed in a reddish hue. Please note that during the night and early morning hours when the gate next to the Visitor Center is open, only overnight guests of Tsugaike Sanso and Tsugaike Hütte are allowed to enter Tsugaike Nature Park for stargazing or early morning walks.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Mizubasho Marsh]

The greatest advantage of staying at Tsugaike Sanso or Tsugaike Hütte is being able to start your hike early in the morning. I set off toward Hakuba Oike at 6:30 a.m. from the trailhead next to the Visitor Center and, as I hiked, exchanged greetings with other climbers who had also stayed overnight and were starting out early. After about 90 minutes, I reached Tenguhara (pictured), where I found blooming flowers such as Oyama-rindou, Hakusan shakunage, and Chinguruma.
[Climbing Trail to Hakuba Oike・Tenguhara]

There was one remaining snow patch just before Tenguhara, and four more along the steep eastern slope of Mt. Hakuba Norikura. On the steep eastern face, where rocky sections alternated with lingering snow (pictured), I considered putting on crampons. But since I was able to kick in solid footholds, I decided to proceed without them on the way up, using my trekking poles for support. (*To be continued in Hakuba Oike, Pt. 2)
[Climbing Trail to Hakuba Oike・Mt. Hakuba Norikura Eastern Face]

*At the Tsugaike Gondola’s mid-station, the “DEWALT Meetup” will be held from 7/17 (Thu.) to 7/23 (Wed.), and at the Tsugaike Nature Park, the popular summer holiday event “MIKKETA” will take place from 7/19 (Sat.) to 8/31 (Sun.).

　
[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 is open Every day from 7/19 to 8/17 and Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 9/27 to 10/13 from 7:00 a.m.; Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from 8/23 to 9/23 and 9/22 from 7:30 a.m.
＊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