REPORT

For the second consecutive week, Japan leads the world in the number of new COVID-19 infections. Yet despite the surging numbers, the government is currently seeking to change the way they classify the illness, moving it away from the category it currently shares with ailments such as SARS and Tuberculosis, and putting it alongside the flu. The forecast called for cloudy skies over Happo this morning, but in reality the sky was clear above and lined below with an impressive sea of clouds.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Wooden Boardwalk]

I spoke with a married couple from Fukui Prefecture (pictured, center) who told me, “We stayed at an auto campground at the base of the mountain last night. The rain overnight was quite strong and we were worried about the weather today, but we are so glad we got up early!” I heard a number of people exclaiming how happy they were to experience the rare and beautiful scenery reflected in the windless Happo-ike pond.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Happo-ike]

As I was taking a break around 7:30, I noticed that the clouds rising up in the southern sky began to block out the intense summer sun. Soon afterwards, customers arriving via the Happo Gondola began to reach Happo-ike in numbers. Among them, I observed quite a few hikers taking a short break before continuing on in the direction of Mt. Karamatsu.
[Mountaineering Route to Mt. Karamatsu・Happo-ike〜Shita no Kanba]

In other news, the Kurobishi No. 3 Pair’s early morning operation, which kicks off at 4:30 a.m., is taking place on Saturdays and Sundays during the month of August, as well as the Obon holiday period (8/11 〜 14). On this weekday, I parked my car and left from the parking lot (200 spaces, free) in front of the Cafeteria Kurobishi at 5:10, and hiked up while enjoying the sunrise and sea of clouds.
[Kurobishi Area]

[Happo-One Nature Trail Opening Information]
＊Business Period … Daily from 6/18 (Sat.) 〜 11/6/2022 (Sun.)
＊Business Hours …Happo Alpen Line 8/6・8/7, 8/11〜8/14 6:30〜 / 8/1〜8/5, 8/8～8/10 7:00〜. Kurobishi No. 3 Pair 8/6・8/7, 8/11〜8/14 4:30～ / Weekdays from 8/1〜8/10 7:15〜
＊Fees … Round trip use of the Happo Alpen Line / Adults ¥3,200, Children ¥1,800 → Advance Discount Tickets Adults ¥2,800, Children ¥1,700! (Advance Discount Tickets are usable as-is! Proceed directly to the gondola for immediate boarding.)

[Kitaone Kogen Opening Information]
＊Business is currently suspended for the 2022 summer season.

＊To Visitors Requesting Original Data of Our Photographs

reported by Snownavi