REPORT

Because the snow melted unusually quickly this year, the Happo Alpen Line continued operating for sightseeing and hiking from 4/20 (Mon.) through 5/6 (Wed., holiday) even after the ski season ended on 4/19 (Sun.). Following a brief shutdown period from 5/7 (Thu.) to 5/29 (Fri.), it pre-opened for the summer season on 5/30 (Sat.) and 5/31 (Sun.), will pause again from 6/1 (Mon.) to 6/5 (Fri.), and then begin daily operations from 6/6 (Sat.). The opening day today kicked off under clear blue skies.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Happo Cairn to No. 3 Cairn]

What stood out most as I started hiking was just how little snow remained. The first half of the boardwalk route (from Happo-ike Sanso to the wooden stairway) was already clear, and spring alpine flowers such as Miyama-azumagiku (pictured), Yukiwari-so, and Kijimushiro were blooming along the Ridge Route. Despite the high elevation, the air remained cool and comfortable throughout the morning thanks to a northwest wind that came and went.
[Ridge Route]

The only snow-covered sections were a few steps between the No. 2 Cairn and the Happo Cairn, and about 30 meters between the lower wooden stairs below Happo Pond and the pond itself. I met wo visitors from Ibaraki (pictured) who told me, “This is our first time visiting Happo Pond. We’re surprised there’s still so much snow. Wait… this is actually considered a small amount?” Both the progress of the alpine flowers and the thawing of Happo Pond were closer to what is normally seen in late June.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Happo Pond]

That said, the viewing deck on the south side of Happo Pond was still buried under snow, so the classic view of the Hakuba Sanzan reflected across the pond will have to wait a little longer. The father (pictured, left) of a boy from Aichi (pictured, right), who had hiked all the way up using only his left leg, called out, “Oh, Snownavi! We always read your reports. My son started at Hakuba High School this spring. He competes in para-skiing during the winter, so please cheer him on!” Hakuba High School is home to an International Tourism Department, a program that accepts students from across Japan.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Happo Cairn to No. 3 Cairn]

　 　　
[Happo-One Nature Trail Opening Information]
*Period … 2026/5/30 (Sat.) & 5/31 (Sun.), 6/6 (Sat.) – 11/3 (Tue.)
*Hours … Gondola (8:00～), Alpen Quad, Grat Quad
*Fees … Happo Alpine Line Roundtrip / Adults JPY3,500, Elementary School Students JPY2,300 → Advance Discount Tickets: Adults JPY3,200, Elementary School Students JPY2,000! (No need to exchange at the ticket window! You can proceed straight to the gondola.)

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

reported by Snownavi