Summer Info
With the rainy season drawing to an end unusually early in the Chugoku and Kansai regions, on 7/8 (Wed.), I have recently found myself wondering, “Could Tsugaike be in for an early end to the rainy season too?”—and have been feeling more eager than ever to get out reporting. As soon as I stepped off the first Tsugaike Ropeway service of the morning today, I made a beeline for the Tenbo Marsh, hoping to photograph the Hakuba Daisekkei from afar.
[Watasuge Marsh]
しかし、今朝は雲の湧き上がりが早かった！9時50分に展望湿原に着いた時には既に後立山連峰の稜線は雲の中で、白馬大雪渓もほぼ見えなくなっていました。「いつもお世話になっています！プロモーションビデオの撮影で上がって来ました。山に掛かった雲はこの後とれて来ますかね？」とは つがいけマウンテンリゾート のスタッフさん（写真、※始発便の前に上って来られました）。尚、一般の方のドローン飛行及び撮影は禁止されています。
[展望湿原]
Unfortunately, the clouds built up quickly this morning, and by the time I reached the Tenbo Marsh at 9:50 a.m., the ridgeline of the Ushiro-Tateyama Range was already hidden, and the Hakuba Daisekkei had almost entirely disappeared from view. There I was greeted by members of the Tsugaike Mountain Resort staff (pictured), who had come up before the official opening. They told me, “We came up to film a promotional video. Do you think the clouds over the mountains will clear up later?” Please note that drone use by members of the public are prohibited within the Nature Park.
[Tenbo Marsh]
Later on, I headed to the Yase-One ridge to cool down after working up a sweat. The breeze rising from the southern slopes felt wonderful, and I couldn’t help but murmur, “This is perfect.” Sarasa-dodan and gunnai-furo flowers were at their best nearby, while the forest trail leading to the Ukishima Marsh was lined with an abundance of gozen-tachibana, maizuru-so, tsumatori-so, and akamono.
[Yase-One Ridge]
Although the Nikkokisuge were also eye-catching, it was the kobaikei-so that stood out the most across the marshes. The Tsugaike Ropeway is set to offer early-morning service on 7/11 (Sat.) and 7/12 (Sun.), daily from 7/18 (Sat.) to 8/16 (Sun.), and on weekends and public holidays from 8/22 (Sat.) to 9/23 (Wed., public holiday). On those days, the gondola will begin operating at 7 a.m., followed by the ropeway at 7:30 a.m.!
[Ukishima Marsh]
[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.)
