REPORT

The summer season at Tsugaike was originally scheduled to start on 6/10 (Sat.), but due to the rapidly progressing seasonal snowmelt inside the Nature Park, the spring bloom of Mizubasho (Asian Skunk Cabbage) has reached its peak early. As a result, the Tsugaike Ropeway has kicked off with a special pre-open operation period this weekend on 6/3 (Sat.) and 6/4 (Sun.). Indeed, when I arrived at the Mizubasho Marsh (pictured) this morning via a combination of gondola and ropeway, I was impressed by the sight of the flowering white Mizubasho spreading out before me.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Mizubasho Marsh]

The approach from the ropeway summit station to the Nature Park Visitor Center as well as the wooden boardwalk on the west side of the Mizubasho Marsh were completely free of snow. Conversely, there was still a fair amount of snow on the route leading from the entrance of the Nature Park to the Watasuge Marsh via the boardwalk on the east side of the Mizubasho Marsh (3rd photo), particularly around the Fuketsu (wind cave) area.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Mizubasho Marsh]

Along the trail I was greeted by Paul (pictured), a resident of the Hakuba Valley’s Otari Village, who told me that he came up to the Nature Park today because his son wanted to play in the snow. Paul is a friend of Snownavi, who has been helping us with English translation for some time, and we’re trusting him to do a good job with this report as well. Lol.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Mizubasho Marsh]

I also ran into Mr. Inomata (pictured), one of the Visitor Center’s senior staff members who was patrolling the park. After exchanging pleasantries, he told me that the snowmelt is around 20 days earlier than usual this year, and that the staff wasn’t able to put up the bridge over the Kusu River in time for this weekend’s special early operation, but that they will have it erected by next weekend’s full opening. By the way, as you can see, the first half of the wooden boardwalk (pictured) running along the eastern side of the Watasuge Marsh, which was under construction last year, has been completed, making it easier and more pleasant to walk.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Watasuge Marsh]
　
*Mr. Inomata also informed me, “There are a lot of new watasuge (cottongrass) shoots, so this year’s cottongrass will be worth seeing when the peak season arrives.” Additionally, he advised me to be careful when walking on the snow since it is thin in spots and easy to sink through.

[Tsugaike Nature Park Opening Information]
＊Business Period … 6/3 (Sat.) 6/4（San.）to 10/22/2023 (Sun.)
＊Business Hours … Tsugaike Ropeway 8:00－16:40
＊Fees … Round trip use of the Panorama Way (gondola & ropeway) + Nature Park entrance / Adults JPY3,700, Children JPY2,100 → Adult Advance Discount Tickets JPY3,300, Children JPY1,850! (Advance Discount Tickets are usable as-is! Proceed directly to the gondola for immediate boarding.)

[Hakuba Tsugaike WOW! Opening Information]
＊Business Period … 6/10 (Sat.) to 10/22/2023 (Sun.)
＊Business Hours …9:00－16:00 (Last entrance 15:00, open daily during August, irregular schedule during September)
＊Fees … Amidasu (60 min.) JPY1,600 / Tobidasu (One Time) JPY1,000 / Fumidasu (One Time) JPY800 / Kabedasu (One Time) JPY500 / Kogidasu (One Time) JPY2,000 / Pochadas (90 min.) JPY2,800 Children JPY2,500 / Tent sauna (90 min.) JPY1,200

[TSUGAIKE Outdoor Village]
＊Business Period … 6/10 (Sat.)－10/22/2023(Sun.)
＊Facilities … GLAMPING FIELD TSUGAIKE, LANTERN CAMPING FIELD TSUGAIKE, Hakuba Tsugaike WOW!, Tsugaike Ropeway, Dog Run, Tsugaike Golf Center

*To Visitors Requesting Original Data of Our Photographs

*Tsugaike Nature Park & WOW! will be reported 1－2 times a week

*Click here to purchase photos found in this report
　
reported by Snownavi