REPORT

The yellow hues of fall have begun to deepen at the Ukishima (pictured) and Watasuge marshes. Within the Tsugaike Nature Park, the grassy ground cover continues to change color through mid-October (*see our report from 10/12 last year for reference). The trees follow a slightly later schedule, typically beginning to turn color in mid-September and reaching their peak from late September to early October.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Ukishima Marsh]

Heading from the far end of the Ukishima Marsh along the shady eastern route (*see MAP) up to the Yase-One Ridge, the deep green of the dakekanba (Erman’s birch) and other trees made it feel as if I was back in the heart of summer. Taking a short break, I was soothed by the cool breeze flowing up from the valley to the south. Few flowers were in bloom here, though the red berries of akamono dotted the landscape.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Yase-One Ridge]

When I arrived at the scenic deck of the Tenbo Marsh (pictured, 2,010m) around 10:05 a.m., it was completely empty. I spoke with a local man from Otari Village, who told me, “The weather is so nice today that I kept stopping to take photos and couldn’t get very far very fast.”. Not much later, more visitors began to arrive—one group, then two—and by 10:30 a.m., the deck looked as you see it in the photo.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Tenbo Marsh]

At the Watasuge Marsh (pictured), boardwalk renovation work is currently underway from 8/26 (Tue.) to 9/30 (Tue., estimated). The west-side route around the marsh remains open, while the east-side route is currently closed. This morning, a helicopter repeatedly shuttled back and forth, dropping bundles of new lumber at intervals along the path.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Kusukawa River to Ukishima Mash]

　
＊Late-summer to early-autumn flowers are in bloom inside the park, including iwashobu, yachi-torikabuto, oyama-rindo, and oni-shiogama. I also spotted the berries of kuromame-no-ki and oba-takeshima ran.
　　
[Tsugaike Nature Park 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 … 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (last admission at 3:00 p.m.)
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