REPORT

“Hey, Snownavi! The fall colors are really starting to pop now,” was the comment from a man living in Otari Village (pictured, right). “I was chatting with this lady here who loves carnivorous plants.” The woman (pictured, left) introduced herself saying, “My name is Misaki Kiya. My passion for carnivorous plants led me to publish a picture book called Shokuchu Shokubutsu no Wana (The Traps of Carnivorous Plants), which has just gone into a second printing. Today I came to enjoy both the autumn leaves and the mosengoke (round-leaved sundew).”
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Ukishima Marsh]

Many visitors actually prefer this “early peak” stage of autumn foliage, when the remaining lush green of summer is dotted with vivid splashes of red and yellow—it feels fresh and full of life. Today there was high, thin cloud cover, so to better capture the atmosphere, I’m sharing photos taken yesterday under the bright sunshine. Right now, the Ukishima Marsh is exactly in that “early peak” phase of fall color, and from the classic viewing spot I observed a stunning scene highlighted by the deep crimson leaves of the nanakamado (pictured).
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Ukishima Marsh]

All around the Ukishima Marsh loop trail, people were pausing to aim their cameras at the eastern slope of Mt. Korenge (pictured). The scene was dominated by a beautiful gradation of green fading into yellow (beech and birch), with vibrant splashes of red scattered throughout.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Ukishima Marsh]

I ran into a photographer from the town of Ikeda whom I often see. They told me, “I hiked up to the Hakuba Oike alpine lake on 10/2 (Thurs.). The nanakamado around Hakuba Oike Hut and the colorful ground cover along Raichō-zaka were just stunning!” Meanwhile, the Tsugaike Nature Park’s ongoing Autumn Foliage Week is reaching its climax this weekend. On 10/4 (Sat.), there will be alpine horn performances, free servings of mushroom soup and Otari-grown herbal tea, as well as sales of Shinshu oyaki. On 10/5 (Sun.), visitors can enjoy free Shinshu apple slices, complimentary Polaroid photo souvenirs, and more oyaki for sale.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Ukishima Marsh]

　　
[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 weekdays from 8:00 a.m., weekends and holidays from 9/27 to 10/13 from 7:00 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