REPORT

The autumn colors around Happo Pond, at an elevation of 2,060m (pictured), are now around 50% of their expected peak. I spoke with a lift operator at the Grat Quad, who told me, “The cold temperatures over the past few days really made the leaves turn quickly.” It wasn’t just the mountains showing signs of autumn—the early morning hikers were also dressed for the season, with autumn attire such as knit caps, heavier shirts, and warm trousers.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Happo Cairn to No. 3 Cairn]

Naturally, I found myself growing curious about the autumn colors higher up. A man descending from the direction of Mt. Karamatsu told me, “It’s starting to fog up a little bit up higher. If you want good photos, you’d better hurry.” Taking his advice to heart, I skipped most of my breaks and pushed on toward the Maruyama Cairn. Along the way, the foliage in the Shita-no-Kanba area was about 50 to 60% of peak, while the trees in the Ue-no-Kanba forest had advanced to around 60 to 70%.
[Climbing Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・Ougi-no-Setsuden to Maruyama Cairn]

I had a conversation with a hiker from Saitama whom I met along the way, and was told, “I was able to come at exactly the right timing to see the type of autumn colors I had imagined—it was just perfect. Truly beautiful and moving.” Although the mist occasionally closed in, a glimpse of blue sky just before the Maruyama Cairn lifted my spirits, and without slowing down, I reached the cairn at 11:00 a.m.
[Climbing Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・Ougi-no-Setsuden to Maruyama Cairn]

One of my favorite photo spots lies about 5 to 6 minutes above the Maruyama Cairn. There, hugging the dramatic ridgelines of Mt. Karamatsu, the autumn foliage was at its peak. The rugged texture of the jagged rocks set against the vivid reds, oranges, and yellows created a perfect contrast, and with mist rising up from the southern slopes, the scene was even more breathtaking than I had imagined.
[Climbing Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・Maruyama Cairn to Mt. Karamatsu]

*The No. 3 parking lot located around the base area will be closed from 10/1 (Wed.) through 11/14 (Fri.) due to paving work.
　 　　　
[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, 10/4・10/5・10/13 and Weekend from 10/18 – 10/19 open at 7:00am,Kurobishi Line: Weekdays open at 8:15am, Weekend and holydays 10/4 – 10/19 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