REPORT

Many people likely enjoyed a full nine-day Obon holiday from 8/9 (Sat.) to 8/17 (Sun.), bridging the three-day weekend (August 9–11) with the official Obon period (August 13–16). On the first day, 8/9 (Sat.), a long line of visitors formed at the base station of the gondola even before operations began, stretching all the way to Parking Area A at the Shirakaba Slope. Meanwhile, the parking lot in front of the Kurobishi No. 3 Pair Lift—where the special sunrise service was held—was nearly full by 6:30 a.m.
[Ridge Route]

When I set off at 7:10 a.m., the temperature was in the chilly 10°C range—cool enough to feel cold. Not only were there well-equipped mountaineers, but also families with young children and tourists, all making their way toward Happo-ike Pond. I received many friendly greetings along the way, including one from a family visiting from Kanagawa who said, “We always follow your updates! Since the weather looks unstable from tomorrow, we’re doing a day hike to Mt. Karamatsu today.”
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Wooden Boardwalk Course]

As the thin clouds cleared, the sun began to beat down with intense heat, but whenever mist rolled in (pictured), the temperature dropped noticeably, bringing a refreshing coolness. Flower-wise, Hakusan-shajin, oyama-soba, and takane-matsumushiso were at their peak. In the upper section of the boardwalk course—where snow had melted late—miyama-azumagiku, kinkoka, and ibuki-jakousou were blooming vibrantly.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Happo Cairn to No. 3 Cairn]

At Happo-ike Pond, the wind briefly calmed, creating a stunning mirror-like reflection of the Hakuba Sanzan peaks and the rugged Kaerazu-no-ken ridge (see photo). Around the area from Happo-ike Pond to No.3 Cairn, flowers such as Happo-waremoko, Happo-takanesenburi, miyama-kogomegusa, and Hakusan-ominaeshi were in full bloom. On the north side of the pond, where snow had lingered until just a few days ago, chinguruma and miyama-azumagiku were also flowering brightly.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Happo-ike Pond]

　　
[Happo-One Nature Trail Opening Information]
*Period … 2025/5/31 (Sat.) – 6/1 (Sun.), 6/7 (Sat.) – 11/3 (Mon.)
*Hours … Happo Alpen Line: Weekdays from 7/22 open at 7:00am, 8/2, 8/3, 8/19 – 8/17 open at 6:30am, Kurobishi Line: 8/2, 8/3, 8/9 – 8/17 open at 4:30 am, 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