REPORT

Maple leaves look more photogenic under strong sunlight. However, this year’s Tsugaike Nature Park, which even prompted a long-serving staff member at the Tsugaike Visitor Center to say, “This is the most beautiful autumn foliage in decades,” exhibited a beauty that overcame the handicap of weak sunlight. About five minutes up the trail to Hakuba Oike (photo), a dramatic autumn foliage scene unfolded on the slope beyond the Mizubasho Wetland, with light and shadow shifting in tandem with the movement of the clouds.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Mizubasho Marsh]

The boardwalk improvement work has been completed, and the eastern route of the Watasuge Marsh (photo) opened on 10/6 (Mon). “Yesterday, when it was shrouded in mist, it was fantastically beautiful in its own way,” said a female photographer from Kanagawa Prefecture staying at Tsugaike Sanso. I pleasantly walked along the neat boardwalk stretching through the autumn foliage of black crowberry and alpine avens, like a red carpet.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Watasuge Marsh]

The rowan (photo) and Japanese lacquer tree that had changed color earlier showed vibrant reds with almost no leaf damage. Overall, Tsugaike Nature Park is at about “90% coloration.” From a nearby hiker taking photos, I overheard a murmur: “How beautiful… I’m so glad I came…”
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Ukishima Marsh to Mousenike]

Since even the maple leaves that still retained some green showed little damage, I thought autumn foliage viewing could easily be enjoyed throughout the three-day weekend (until October 13). As a staff member at the Tsugaike Ropeway valley station said that morning, “You’ve come at a great time. The autumn foliage is exceptionally beautiful, and the sea of clouds is stunning too,” the sea of clouds spreading to the east was also a sight to behold.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Yase One]

　　
[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