REPORT

Early-morning temperatures at the base of the resort are now regularly dipping below 10°C, and frost on the HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR terrace (pictured) has become a common sight. As of today, 11/4 (Wed.), Iwatake is the only ski resort in HAKUBA VALLEY still operating a gondola for the green season. Perhaps because of that, a long line had formed at the gondola base station despite it being a weekday.
[HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR]

I met a family visiting with their dog at HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR, who told me, “We were really happy to have our photo taken by the photography service amongst such beautiful scenery. It’s incredibly busy here, though! Next time, we’d like to come back when the mountains are completely covered in snow.” The sight of snow-covered Mt. Hakuba (2,932 m), the highest peak in the Ushiro-Tateyama Range, rising above the golden larches still coloring the lower slopes (pictured) was so impressive that I found myself standing there for some time simply taking it all in.
[IWATAKE GREEN PARK]

CHAVATY HAKUBA was bustling as well, with terrace seats filling almost as soon as they became available. A couple from Saitama Prefecture (pictured, foreground) told me, “We often come to Iwatake to ski in winter, but this is our first visit during the green season. The scenery is absolutely beautiful!”
[CHAVATY HAKUBA]

With the fall foliage now in its final stages overall, one of the most memorable views was the autumn scenery along Karamatsu-zawa, visible from the 5-Sen South Lift (pictured). In related news, the 5-Sen South Lift will only operate during the green season for another four days. The lift will be out of service from April to December 2027 while it is replaced, meaning the next opportunity to enjoy it during the green season will come in April 2028. (※The new lift will begin operating from the 2027–28 winter season).
[5-Sen South]

　　　
[Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort – Opening Details]
＊Period … Apr 23 – Nov 15, 2026
＊Hours … 8:30–17:00
＊Fees … Admission (includes gondola and No. 5 South round-trip rides) / Adults ¥2,900, elementary school children ¥1,600, pets ¥800
＊MTB PARK fees … 1-day pass (includes gondola and No. 5 South) Adults ¥6,000, elementary school children ¥4,000
　
＊Hakuba Iwatake will be reported 1－2times a week.
＊Request for the original data of our photographs.

reported by Snownavi