Summer Info
Clear skies returned to the area for the third day in a row, bringing a beautiful start to the October three-day weekend. The temperature at the base dropped to 6°C at 6 a.m. after radiational cooling overnight, but by the time I reached Happo-ike Sanso it had already climbed to 12°C, making for ideal trekking conditions. At 7 a.m., the line at the gondola base station stretched about 50 meters from the ticket counter and roughly 100 meters from the entrance gates.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Boardwalk Course]
The fall colors are now in the latter stages of peak viewing. Hikers were out in force from early this morning, and both Happo Pond (pictured) and the area around the No. 3 Cairn were bustling. A line had even formed at the wooden deck on the south side of the pond, where visitors waited to take photos of the classic view of the Hakuba Sanzan peaks across the water.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・No. 3 Cairn]
The slope below the jagged Kaerazu-no-ken ridge (pictured, background) was a spectacular mix of yellow dakekanba and vivid red nanakamado. Farther along the trail from Happo Pond toward Mt. Karamatsu, I overheard some hikers saying things like, “It looks like the fall colors are flowing down toward the valley floor,” and, “The scenery is so beautiful I keep forgetting to watch my footing!”
[Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・Happo Pond to Shita-no-kanba]
In the week since my last visit, the advancing edge of the fall color has moved farther down the mountain, and the slopes along the Grat Quad Lift (pictured) are now putting on an impressive display. The Kurobishi 3 Pair Lift Sunrise Service and regular Kurobishi 3 Pair Lift operations will continue through next Sunday, 10/18 (Sun.), leaving just one more week to enjoy the fall colors from the lift.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Kurobishi-daira]https://www.snownavi.com/en/green/63227
＊To help ease congestion, the gondola will begin operating 30 minutes earlier than usual on 10/12 (Mon., public holiday), beginning at 7 a.m.
＊The Karamatsu-dake Chojo Sanso hut will remain open through 10/12 (Mon., public holiday).
[Happo-One Nature Trail Opening Information]
*Period … 2026/5/30 (Sat.) & 5/31 (Sun.), 6/6 (Sat.) – 11/3 (Tue.)
*Hours … Happo Alpen Line: 8:00 a.m., Oct 3 – 4, Oct 12, Oct 17 – Nov 1 (Weekends) from 7:30 a.m., Kurobishi Line: 8:15 a.m., Oct 3 – 4, Oct 12, Oct 17 – 18 from 7:45 a.m., Oct 10 – 11 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!)
