REPORT

Although Obon has ended, Happo remains a bustling destination, with long lines forming at the gondola base station ticket counter and lift gate at 7:30 a.m. Around 8:00 a.m., the Boardwalk Course (pictured) was bathed in strong sunlight, but with temperatures around 20°C and a constant updraft of wind, the climb felt pleasantly cool without feeling too hot.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Boardwalk Course]

High clouds drifting from west to east caused the sky to alternate between sun and shade. Whenever the sun was blocked, the air felt even cooler, prompting comments from fellow hikers like, “It feels like a different world up here!” and “It’s a little chilly…” Along the final stretch of the Boardwalk Course (pictured), where snow had lingered late into the summer, miyama azumagiku, kinkoka, Tateyama utsubogusa, and yotsuba shiogama were still blooming in abundance.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Boardwalk Course]

On the eastern side of Happo Pond, where the snow lingered the longest, the white flowers of chinguruma were still in bloom, while on the western side, the early autumn blooms of oyama rindo were beginning to appear. Many hikers paused briefly along the shore before continuing their ascent toward Mt. Karamatsu. The rippling surface of Happo Pond reflected the surrounding scenery like a mosaic.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Happo-ike Pond]

Since July of last year, pets have been allowed on the gondola. I met a family from Aichi (pictured) who were relaxing on the open terrace at Usagi-daira with their dogs, Kohaku and Roko. They told me, “Since we got these little ones, our travel plans have become ‘dog-first.’ Happo has so many places where we can enjoy time with our pets, so we come every year. Today we played in the Hirakawa River before coming up to Happo. It’s cool and comfortable up here in the mountains!”
[Usagi-daira]

　　
[Happo-One Nature Trail Opening Information]
*Period … 2025/5/31 (Sat.) – 6/1 (Sun.), 6/7 (Sat.) – 11/3 (Mon.)
*Hours … Happo Alpen Line: 8/18 – 8/22 open at 7:30am, 8/23 – 8/24 open at 7:00am, Weekdays from 8/25 open at 8:00am, Kurobishi Line: 8/18 – 8/22 open at 7:45am, Weekend from 8/23 – 8/31 open at 4:30, Weekdays from 8/25 open at 8:15am.
*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