REPORT

In comparison to summer, the chances of seeing the surrounding high peaks improve in autumn. After checking the live camera feed (*link found at the bottom of the page) and seeing Happo-ike Pond under clear skies, I boarded the first departure of the Happo Alpen Line at 8:00 a.m. and began climbing via the ridge route from in front of Happo-ike Sanso. After passing the Shakujii Cairn, I briefly broke above the clouds before being enveloped in them once again, but just before reaching the Happo-ike Pond (pictured), the blue sky and the ridgeline of the Hakuba Sanzan began to come into view.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Happo Cairn to Happo-ike Pond]

Around me I heard hikers exclaiming things like, “Wow, amazing!” and “I’m so glad we came!” With the summer holidays coming to an end yesterday, 8/31 (Sun.), families were far fewer in number, but groups of students and middle-aged to senior tour groups filled the areas around Happo Pond and the cairns with activity. Thanks to the cool, comfortable conditions, I was able to climb all the way up to Shita-no-Kanba without needing to take a real break.
[Climbing Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・No. 3 Cairn to Shita-no-Kanba]

Along the Happo-One Nature Trail and ridge route, many late-summer to early-autumn alpine flowers were blooming, including umebachi-so, Hakusan shajin, tamura-so, and Shinano-otogiri. While the Shimo-no-Kanba area was still lush and green, the leaves of shrubs along the ridge route, like rhododendrons, Hakusan taigeki, iwa-icho, and oyama soba had already begun to show their autumn colors.
[Climbing Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・No. 3 Cairn to Shita-no-Kanba]

The south-side deck at Happo Pond was crowded with people aiming to capture the mountains reflected on the water’s surface. In other news, a trekking event called “Parent-Child Trekking Debut in Hakuba Happo-One” will be held for elementary school students in grades 3 to 6 and their guardians on 9/13 (Sat.) and 10/13 (Mon., holiday). The participation fee includes round-trip tickets for the Happo Alpen Line, guiding fees, lunch, snacks (oyaki, Powbar, and Enemoti), a discount ticket for Happo Onsen, and a stamp rally–style “Route Guide,” making it a great-value package*.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Happo-ike Pond]

　　
*The participation fee for is JPY4,200 for children in grades 3 to 6 of elementary school (JPY3,200 for NSD Kids members) and JPY6,500 for guardians.
　　
[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 open at 8:00am, Weekend from 9/13 – 9/21 open at 6:30am, 9/15 and 9/22 – 9/23 open at 7:00am, Weekend from 9/27 – 10/5 open at 7:30am,Kurobishi Line: Weekdays open at 8:15am, 8/30 – 8/31 open at 4:30am, Weekend and holydays 9/5 – 10/5 and 9/22 open at 5:00am.
*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