REPORT

The Tsugaike Nature Park is located inside the Chubu-Sangaku National Park at an elevation of 1,900 meters above sea level, and is just now entering the season for new spring foliage. From the break spot on the way to the Ukishima Marsh, I was able to see the Watasuge Marsh (pictured) surrounded by varying shades of spring green; the light green of deciduous trees such as dakekanba (Erman’s birch) and the dark green of coniferous trees such as oshirabiso firs. This morning, clouds drifting in from the west repeatedly rolled in and out across the sun.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Watasuge Marsh to Ukishima Marsh]

The muted brown tones of pre-spring vegetation still dominate the majority of the Watasuge Marsh area (pictured), but the green leaves of the iwa-icho (deer-cabbage) can now be seen. Along the route connecting the marshlands a variety of flowers including okame-no-ki (viburnum furcatum) and murasaki yashio-tsutsuji (Albrecht’s azalea) were in bloom. In other news, the restrooms located just across the Kusu River are now open as of 6/10 (Mon.).
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Watasuge Marsh]

I spoke with two visitors (pictured) from Shizuoka Prefecture and Nagano City, who told me they were fans of Snownavi, and added “We’ve been in this area several times for backcountry snowboarding, but this is our first time here in summer. It’s even more beautiful than we were expecting.” People with cameras and smartphones in hand on the Tenbo Marsh deck could be overheard alerting each other when the clouds pulled away to reveal the mountains, or when the sun broke through to provide good lighting.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Tenbo Marsh]

It has been a great year for mizubasho (Asian skunk cabbage), and they are expected to be in full bloom until the end of this week. The snow has melted considerably in the week since our last visit on 6/5 (Wed.), and only about 30% of the park trails have any remaining snow. I was able to walk to the Tenbo Marsh and back without using crampons or chain spikes, but I had to be careful not to post-hole or slip on the steep slopes.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Mizubasho Marsh]

*Sankayo (skeleton flowers) are expected to start blooming inside the Tsugaike Nature Park in the next week or so.

　
[Tsugaike Nature Park 2024 Opening Information]
＊Period … 2024/6/1 (Sat.) – 10/27 (Sun.), 11/2 (Sat.) – 11/4 (Mon.)
＊Hours … Tsugaike Ropeway (8 am –) *Early morning operation starts from 7/13
＊Fees … Tsugaike Ropeway Roundtrip + Entrance Fee / Adults JPY3,700, Elementary School Students JPY2,100, Preschoolers Free → Advance Discount Tickets: Adults JPY3,300, Children JPY1,850! (No need to exchange at the ticket window! You can proceed straight to the gondola.)
(*One preschooler free with each paid adult. The second preschooler will be charged at the normal children’s rate.)

[Hakuba Tsugaike WOW! Opening Information]
*Period … 2024/6/18 (Sat) – 10/27 (Sun) *Closed on weekdays from 6/10 – 7/12 and 9/2 – 10/25.
Opening hours … 10 am – 4 pm (last admission at 3 pm)
Charges … Tobidas (1 time) JPY1,000 Fumidas (1 time) JPY800 Kabedas (1 time) JPY500 Amidas (60 min) JPY1,600 for adults, JPY1,000 for primary schools students Kogidas (1 time) JPY2,000 Pochadas (90 min) JPY2,800 for adults, JPY2,500 for primary schools students Tent sauna ( (90 min) JPY1,200 Baggy Cruise (1 time) Adults JPY2,000, 4 years to primary schools students JPY1,500 Trampolines (5 min) JPY500

*This season’s Tsugaike Report will be updated once or twice a week.
*To Visitors Requesting Original Data of Our Photographs

reported by Snownavi