REPORT

I headed back into the backcountry for the second time this season using the Tsugaike Ropeway, which operates on weekends. From the ropeway summit station, I followed the ridge toward Tenguhara and climbed for about 30 minutes. After passing through the trees, I reached an open, east-facing slope (pictured). Under a slightly hazy spring sky, I was already sweating heavily.
[Tsugaike Ropeway Summit Station to Tenguhara]

This direct route up the east face is only possible during the snow season. A father from Minamiminowa Village in Nagano Prefecture (pictured, second from the right) told me, “I always follow Snownavi! I often go to Mt. Norikura in Matsumoto, but this is my first time in Hakuba this season. Today we’re planning to hike up to Tenguhara and ski down.”
[Tsugaike Ropeway Summit Station to Tenguhara]

Along the gentler ridge sections, the snow had softened into granular conditions, but it was still supportive enough to walk without sinking deeply. On the steeper east-facing slope (pictured), the softened granular layer was much deeper, and with the added pitch and direct sun, climbing required skins, a splitboard, snowshoes, or crampons. Many people I passed called out things like, “I always follow Snownavi!” and “You come all the way out here to report too!”
[Tsugaike Ropeway Summit Station to Tenguhara]

Starting today, a special benefit allows holders of the Tsugaike Mountain Resort 2025–26 season pass to ride the ropeway unlimited times between now and the end of the season. This morning, due to a gondola tower issue, operations did not begin until around 9:45 a.m., and after the first ropeway departure at 10:15 a.m., extra runs were added for a while to compensate.
[Tsugaike Ropeway]

　
＊Tsuga No. 2 Pair Lift will be in operation from April 15 (Wed.), and the Tsuga-no-mori Slope is now open!
＊The increase in the officially reported snow depth compared to the 137 cm recorded on 4/9 (Thu.) is due to a change in the measurement location.

[Tsugaike Kogen Details on 4/12 (Sun.)]
*OPEN Courses … Han-no-ki
*Operating lifts … Gondola (from 8:00 a.m.), Han-no-ki High-speed Pair
*Fees … Spring Discount from 3/23: 1-Day Pass Adult JPY6,100, 6-12 y/o JPY3,800
　
*Printable Rental Discount Coupons!
Carving Ski・Snowboard 1-Day Rental Set JPY3,500 / Outerwear JPY2,500!
Carving Ski・Snowboard High Performance Model Rental JPY500 OFF!
Kid’s Ski・Snowboard 1-Day Rental Set JPY2,500 / Outerwear JPY1,500!

*Request for the original data of our photographs