Summer Info
This is a special year for hikers, with the volcanic alert level for Mt. Asama (pictured, back right, 2,568 m) lowered to Level 1 for the first time in three years. A climb up to Mt. Maekake was certainly tempting, but first I decided to stop by Takamine Mountain Park, a convenient base for exploring the area. Summer operations began at Takamine on 7/18 (Sat.), the first day of the July three-day weekend.
[Takamine Mountain Par・Canady]
I had a chat with a staff member who recommended, “Take the first lift up at 9 a.m. and head to the Summit Observation Deck. It’s wonderfully cool up there!” And they were right, for good reason—the resort base itself sits at an elevation of 1,860 meters, making it one of the highest-elevation resorts in Japan. A couple who had ridden up on the lift (pictured) agreed, saying, “Hello! It’s so cool up here, the views are beautiful, and it just feels fantastic.”
[Takamine Mountain Park・No. 3 Lift]
From the Summit Observation Deck, I set out further for the summit of Mt. Takamine, around a 20-minute walk away. “It’s even cooler once you get into the forest,” remarked the same couple (pictured). But true to form for summer, clouds were already building quickly and spreading across the sky before our eyes.
[Summit Observation Dec・Mt. Takamine Summit]
Mt. Takamine (2,106 m) is also celebrated as one of Japan’s “100 Famous Flower Mountains.” Today, along the trail, Ibuki jako-so, usuyuki-so, kuruma-yuri, and noazami were blooming in abundance. Furthermore, Hakusan-ominaeshi (pictured) was flowering among the rocks at the summit, while vibrant displays of Akabana shimotsuke-so lined the Cherry Park Line.
[Mt. Takamine Summit]
[Takamine Mountain Park Information]
*Period … 7/118 (Sat.) to 9/23 (Sun.), 2026
*Hours … 9:00 a.m.－3:00 p.m.
*Price … Round‑trip on Lift No. 3: Adults JPY1,500, 6 to 12 y/o JPY1,200 / One‑way: Adults JPY1,000, 6 to 12 y/o JPY600 / Preschool children ride free (must be accompanied by an adult).
＊Dog Parke … JPY600 per dog
