Summer Info
Three hours after setting out from Happo-ike Sanso, I reached the Maruyama Cairn (pictured, 2,430 m) at 11:30 a.m. The surrounding mountains were completely hidden by cloud, but patches of blue sky were beginning to appear overhead. With no other hikers stopping at the usually busy cairn on this rainy-season morning, I quickly ate an energy snack, drank some water, and continued on my way.
[Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・Maruyama Cairn]
About an hour later, I arrived at the Karamatsu Summit Lodge (pictured). Clouds rising from the eastern side of the ridge (the Hakuba Village side) were being pushed back by a steady wind blowing from the west, and at last I was rewarded with blue skies and beautiful ridgeline views. The wind remained refreshingly cool, but the sunshine finally carried some warmth.
[Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・Karamatsu Summit Lodge]
The summit of Mt. Karamatsu (pictured, 2,696 m) stood out clearly ahead, but the dramatic ridgeline beyond—including Kaerazu-no-Ken (2,614 m), Mt. Hakuba-Yarigatake (2,903 m), Mt. Shakushi (2,812 m), and Mt. Shirouma (2,932 m)—was often swallowed by passing clouds. I met a woman from Nagano City (pictured) who told me, “I came up today just hoping it wouldn’t rain. I never expected to be treated to blue skies—what a wonderful surprise!”
[Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・Karamatsu Summit Lodge to Mt. Karamatsu]
Along the Happo-One Nature Trail, summer alpine flowers such as Nikko-kisuge, iwa-shimotsuke, takane-bara, and Ibuki-jakoso were becoming increasingly abundant. Meanwhile, the last remaining snow around Happo Pond had finally disappeared. Sunshine reached the valley below while the upper mountain remained wrapped in clouds—a pattern that has become typical of recent mornings on Happo-One.
[Distant View of Happo-One]
*The “Trekking Together at Happo-One” event will be held on 6/27 (Sat.).
*The Kurobishi Forest Road and the Kurobishi Line are scheduled to open on 7/1 (Wed.).
[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! (Skip the ticket window! Go straight to the gondola gate.)
