REPORT

The landscape today featured elements of both summer and autumn. The marsh area at Tenguhara (pictured, foreground) had taken on a yellowish tint with the low-lying shrubbery having begun its transition to fall colors, while the eastern slope of Mt. Hakuba Norikura (background) remained lush and green, with snow still clinging to its upper reaches that gave it a touch of early summer. With clear skies on a weekend, many hikers were making their way up toward Hakuba Oike, and the benches at the entrance to Tenguhara were filled with people taking a short break.
[Hiking Trail to Hakuba Oike・Tenguhara]

The summit of Mt. Shirouma (2,932 m), the highest peak of the Ushiro-Tateyama Range and one of Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains, can be reached in nearly the same amount of time whether you hike via Sarukura and the Hakuba Daisekkei (about 425 minutes) or from the Tsugaike Visitor Center via Hakuba Oike (about 460 minutes). This year, with private cars restricted from entering Sarukura, the latter Tsugaike route is the more convenient option for those driving. On the eastern slope of Mt. Hakuba Norikura, many of the nanakamado (Japanese Rowan) leaves were already looking vibrant, raising expectations for the autumn foliage season that will begin in just over two weeks.
[Mt. Hakuba Norikura Eastern Slope]

On the mountain’s rocky eastern slope, the trail alternates between steep, narrow climbs and open stretches (pictured). A woman (pictured, back left in white) preparing an early lunch with her camping stove called out to me, “Oh, you’re from Snownavi, right? I didn’t realize you cover the summer season too. I’m heading up to Mt. Hakuba Norikura, and afterward I’ll tour the Tsugaike Nature Park as well.”
[Mt. Hakuba Norikura Eastern Slope]

On the upper portion of the eastern slope, the lone remaining snowfield was only about 20 meters long, and with the firm snow surface, it was passable without crampons. Partway up, I met a man from Aichi Prefecture who said, “I always follow your slope reports! From now on, I’ll be checking your summer reports as well.”
(*To be continued in Hakuba Oike, Vol. 2)
[Mt. Hakuba Norikura Eastern Slope]

　　
[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