Summer Info
The combination of brilliant red and yellow foliage, white dakekanba trunks, and green kumazasa creates a landscape that is unmistakably Tsugaike Nature Park. With that, let’s continue where we left off from the last report. Despite it being a weekday, the park was busy with couples, families, and other visitors, including plenty of photographers carrying large tripods.
[Ukishima Marsh to Ginmeisui Spring]
The Tenbo Marsh was packed this morning, so I headed instead to a lesser-known observation deck at Yase-One. A couple from Ibaraki Prefecture whom I met there told me, “We never imagined the fall colors would be this beautiful. We’re so glad we came today!” I also found several beautiful maples with surprisingly pristine leaves (pictured) that I had not noticed on 9/30 (Wed.), perhaps because they had changed color later in the season.
[Tenbo Marsh to Yase-One Ridge]
Looking down over the route between the Mosen Pond and Tenbo Marsh, the white trunks of dakekanba, now more visible as their leaves have fallen, added a striking contrast to the scenery (pictured). Compared with a photo taken from almost the same angle on 9/23 (Fri.), the red nanakamado had become even more vivid, giving the landscape a brighter, richer look. While I was absorbed in taking photos, a passerby remarked, “It’s beautiful, isn’t it? Every angle looks like a painting.”
[Yase-One]
After thoroughly enjoying the fall colors throughout the park, I spotted yet another beautiful scene from the ropeway on the way back down: bands of orange foliage that I had completely missed during the first ride up that morning. The beautiful color gradation had everyone else in the cabin staring out the windows as well. In other news, the “Tsugaike Mystery Solving Trekking Event,” featuring FM Nagano’s Kanako Honma, is set to take place on 10/24 (Sat.)!
[Tsugaike Ropeway]
[Tsugaike Nature Park – Opening Details]
*Period … June 6 – Oct 25, 2026
*Hours … Tsugaike Ropeway opens at 8:00 a.m.; 7:00 a.m. on October 10 – 12
*Fees … Tsugaike Ropeway round trip + park entrance / Adults ¥4,000, elementary school children ¥2,200, one preschool child free per accompanying adult → Adults ¥3,500, children ¥1,950 with early-discount tickets! (No need to exchange at the ticket counter—bring it directly to the gondola gate!)
