Summer Info
Large numbers of miyama-kinpoge buttercups (pictured) were blooming today between the Tsugaike Ropeway Summit Station and the Visitor Center. With the mizubasho (Asian skunk cabbage) season now winding down, summer alpine flowers are beginning to take over throughout the Tsugaike Nature Park. Surrounded by fresh greenery, colorful blooming flowers, and crisp mountain air, I found myself wanting to walk farther and farther into the park.
[Tsugaike Ropeway Summit Station to Visitor Center]
Near the Fuketsu wind cave area, both kinugasa-so and sankayo (skeleton flowers) had begun to flower. In particular, I noticed large numbers of sankayo buds between the Mizubasho Marsh and Ukishima Marsh, making the next week or two especially promising. (* Rainy days and the period immediately after rainfall are the best times to see them, as the petals turn transparent when saturated with water.) At the Watasuge Marsh (pictured), chinguruma and iwakagami had also started blooming.
[Watasuge Marsh]
Along the trail crossing the Kusukawa River toward the Ukishima Marsh, I found iwakagami, sankayo, Shirane-aoi, shojo-bakama, and murasaki yashio-tsutsuji in bloom. “The clouds are starting to move in. I wonder if it’ll be completely white by the time we reach the Tenbo Marsh,” remarked a man from Otari Village whom I met on the trail. Both at the Ukishima Marsh (pictured) and the Watasuge Marsh, the ponds were filled with clusters of frog eggs.
[Ukishima Marsh]
At the Ukishima Marsh, Shinano-kinbai, ryukinka, shojo-bakama, and chinguruma had also begun flowering. The flower season is progressing noticeably faster than usual this year (* at the same time last year, substantial amounts of snow still remained throughout the Tsugaike Nature Park), and the landscape along the Tsugaike Ropeway has already taken on the colors of summer. Meanwhile, the Footbath Stage & Lounge has been open free of charge since 6/12 (Fri.).
[Tsugaike Gondola]
[Tsugaike Nature Park Opening Information]
*Period … 6/6 (Sat.) to 10/25 (Sun.), 2026
*Hours … Tsugaike Ropeway: Open from 8:00 a.m. (*Early morning operation start from Jul.11)
*Fees … Tsugaike Ropeway Roundtrip + Entrance Fee / Adults JPY4,000, Elementary School Students JPY2,200, One preschooler free per paying adult → Advance Discount Tickets: Adults JPY3,500, Children JPY1,950! (Skip the ticket window! Go straight to the gondola gate.)
