REPORT

Days like today, with a refreshing southwesterly breeze sweeping across the summit, are a reminder of just how good Iwatake is in autumn. I met a family from Kanagawa Prefecture (pictured), who told me, “We arrived in Hakuba the day before yesterday, and we’re heading to Karuizawa after this. Iwatake is fantastic. The views up here are beautiful and it’s so cool! Our daughter just turned one, and she’s having a great time too.”
[IWATAKE GREEN PARK]

I also spoke with a woman visiting on a family trip from Kutchan, Hokkaido (pictured, front left), who commented, “Niseko gets incredibly busy in winter, especially with international visitors, but summer is much quieter. Iwatake, and Hakuba in general, seem lively during the green season too.” She later stretched out on the grass with her daughter and younger sister, all three lying flat on their backs and calling out to one another, “This feels so good!”
[IWATAKE GREEN PARK]

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency’s one-month forecast, intense late-summer heat is expected to continue across Japan through September, with temperatures reaching 35°C or higher in parts of eastern and western Japan. Here at Iwatake, the sunshine still feels hot, but the breeze blowing across the mountain keeps things pleasantly cool. In the terrace seating area at CHAVATY Hakuba (pictured), plenty of visitors were relaxing with drinks, scones, and soft-serve ice cream while enjoying the first hints of autumn in the air.
[CHAVATY Hakuba]

Meanwhile, the Nezuko Forest and the Dog Run are currently closed while tree-clearing work is carried out. Foundation work is also underway around the 5-Sen South lift station for a new six-person lift scheduled to open in December 2027. This weekend, on 9/5 (Sat.) and 9/6 (Sun.), the “MOUNTAIN DOG MARCHE Autumn 2026” event will be held in the summit area, featuring a mountaintop dog run and breed-specific meetups, a scenic stamp rally, a specialty market, and other activities.
[Hakuba Hitotoki-no-Mori]

　　　
[Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort Information]
*Season … Apr. 23 (Thu.)－Nov. 15 (Sun.), 2026
*Hours … 8:30 a.m.－5:00 p.m.
*Price … Entrance Fee (Gondola and 5-sen south line fee included) / Adult: JPY2,900, Child: JPY1,600, Pet: JPY800
*MTB PARK Entrance Fee 1 Day Pass (Gondola and 5-sen south line fee included) / Adult: JPY6,000, JPY4,000

*Hakuba Iwatake will be reported 1－2times a week
*Request for the original data of our photographs

reported by Snownavi