REPORT

Stepping off the gondola at the summit station, I was greeted by the open, expansive atmosphere and crisp, clear air unique to solitary Mt. Iwatake (1,289 m). Today marked the second straight day of perfect autumn weather, and the buna (Japanese beech) trees glowing in the morning sun and set against the backdrop of the Northern Alps, were so beautiful that I stopped for a while just to take in the view.
[IWATAKE GREEN PARK]

Even though it was a weekday, the start of the peak autumn foliage season saw many visitors arriving early in the morning, and HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR (pictured) quickly filled up. Frost still lingered on the west-facing deck, which remains in shade later than elsewhere, even around 9:00 a.m. I was struck by the sight of people absorbed in the magnificent mountain view before them, taking care not to slip as they moved about.
[HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR]

I spoke with a family visiting from Tokyo (pictured), who told me, “A friend recommended Iwatake, saying it was amazing, so we decided to come out for the first time. Tonight we’re staying at Hotel Green Plaza Hakuba, and tomorrow we have more plans to embrace autumn in Hakuba!” The beech trees at the summit were at their peak yellow color, while those in the Nezuko-no-Mori forest, a little lower down, were only about halfway through their transition into fall colors.
[IWATAKE GREEN PARK]

At the entrance to the beech forest near the summit, fallen leaves had been arranged into a heart shape with the word “IWATAKE” spelled out beside it. A man visiting from Aichi Prefecture (pictured, left) told me, “My girlfriend came all the way from Kagoshima—we’re in a long-distance relationship. It’s still a bit early for the sandan koyo (“three-tiered autumn colors”), but the weather and scenery are both amazing. We couldn’t be happier!”
[IWATAKE GREEN PARK]

　　
[Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort Information]
*Season … Apr. 24 (Thu)－Nov.16 (Sun), 2025
*Hours … 8:30 a.m.－5:00 p.m.
*Price … Entrance Fee (Gondola and 5-sen south line fee included) / Adult: JPY2,900, Child: JPY1,600, Pet: JPY800

*Hakuba Iwatake will be reported 1－2times a week
*To Visitors Requesting Original Data of Our Photographs

reported by Snownavi