Summer Info
After about an hour of climbing the Daisekkei, I met a guide from the Hakuba Mountain Guides Association, who told me, “This area is called Sunayama, and from here you’ll follow the autumn trail. Up ahead, you can just make out a large reddish-brown rock—that’s Nebukappira. The weather was pretty bad yesterday and the day before, so you’ll likely encounter very few hikers coming down today.”
[Sunayama]
As I gained elevation, the trail grew shrouded in mist and the sunlight weakened, bringing a chill to the air. About 20 minutes above Sunayama, the route turned into a steep rocky climb. My heart raced at a spot where I had to cross a fast-flowing stream (pictured), but I continued on, relying on the painted arrows and circles, and carefully following the trail upward.
[Sunayama to Nebukappira]
Incidentally, the section or trail from Sunayama up to the steep rocky climb shown in the second photo was a stunning meadow full of alpine flowers. miyama kinpoge (pictured), Shinano kinbai, yotsuba shiogama, miyama odamaki, Happo takane senburi, Hakusan ominaeshi, kuruma-yuri, and Hakusan furo were all in bloom, and I even spotted uruppu-so.
[Sunayama to Nebukappira]
About an hour from Sunayama, and 3 hours 45 minutes from Sarukura, I reached Nebukappira. In the area, the special local species Shirouma-asatsuki, from which the place gets its name, was also in bloom. I decided to make this my turnaround point and begin descending, but with another two hours of climbing, I could have reached the Hakuba-dake Summit Lodge. By the way, the lodging vouchers provided as Furusato Nozei return gifts can be used at the Hakuba-dake Summit Lodge!
[Nebukappira]
*If you’d like to receive an experience ticket as a return gift through the Furusato Nozei program, please apply via “Furusato Choice.”
*Furusato Nozei is a program that allows you to make a donation to your hometown or to a municipality you wish to support. In return, you can receive gifts worth about 30% of your donation, and for any portion exceeding JPY2,000, you can receive a reduction in your resident tax (deduction) and a refund on your income tax. For example, with a JPY50,000 Furusato Nozei donation, JPY48,000 yen will be deducted from your resident and income tax the following year, and you’ll receive a return gift worth JPY15,000—resulting in a net benefit of JPY13,000.
*Furusato Nozei Report Series 2025 (*Most recent reports listed first) → Hakuba Daisekkei Pt. 2, Hakuba Daisekkei Pt.1, Hakuba Experience Ticket, Hakuba Hill Climb, Hakuba Mountains, Hakuba Rice Pt. 4, Shionomichi Matsuri
