Summer Info
The Japan Meteorological Agency announced the end of the rainy season in the Kanto-Koshin region on 7/20 (Mon., public holiday), and the clear, blue, midsummer sky this morning said it all. At the junction of the Ridge Trail and Boardwalk Course, I met a father from Gunma Prefecture (pictured, center) with his four-year-old son (pictured, right). “This will be our first time climbing Mt. Karamatsu,” he told me. “He climbed Mt. Tanigawa recently, so I think he’ll be fine.”
[Happo-One Nature Trails・No. 2 Cairn to Happo Cairn]
With summer vacation underway, there were plenty of other children on the mountain as well. “Hi Snownavi, I always read your reports. We’re all heading up to Mt. Karamatsu today,” said a teacher leading a group from Omachi Gakuyo High School. The junior high and high school students on school climbing trips greeted me with a steady stream of cheerful, energetic hellos.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Happo Pond]
The beautiful summer sky tempted me to continue beyond Happo Pond toward Kami-no-Kanba. A man from Aichi Prefecture whom I passed on the trail told me, “I always look forward to your updates. After checking the forecast, I moved my stay at Karamatsu Summit Lodge forward by a day and stayed there last night. As it turned out, everything was completely white with fog this morning,” he added with a laugh.
[Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・No. 3 Cairn to Shita-no-Kanba]
I spoke with a man from Tokyo (pictured, left) who commented, “I always read your reports. I’m on a hiking date with my grandson today (pictured, right), and we’re heading up to Mt. Karamatsu. The blue sky really is beautiful.” Perhaps the strong winds aloft had swept away the haze and humidity, or perhaps it was simply the cool, dry air at elevation, but the mountains appeared especially crisp and clear.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Shita-no-Kanba to Kami-no-Kanba]
＊From 7/11 (Sat.) to 8/30 (Sun.), the Kurobishi 3 Pair Lift will begin operating at 4:30 a.m. for sunrise viewing on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, 8/10 (Mon.), and 8/12 (Wed.) to 8/13 (Thu.).
[Happo-One Nature Trail Opening Information]
*Period … 2026/5/30 (Sat.) & 5/31 (Sun.), 6/6 (Sat.) – 11/3 (Tue.)
*Hours … Happo Alpen Line: July 13–17 from 7:30 a.m.; weekends & holidays July 18 – Aug 2 and Aug 8–14 from 6:30 a.m.; weekdays July 21 – Aug 7 and Aug 17–21 from 7:00 a.m. Kurobishi Line: July 13–17 from 7:45 a.m.; weekends & holidays July 18 – Aug 2 and Aug 8–16 from 6:45 a.m.; weekdays July 21 – Aug 7 and Aug 17–21 from 7:15 a.m.
*Fees … Happo Alpen Line round trip / Adults ¥3,500 · Elementary school children ¥2,300 →Adults ¥3,200, children ¥2,000 with early-discount tickets! (No need to exchange at the ticket counter—bring it directly to the gondola gate!)
