REPORT

On 7/18 (Thurs.), the Japan Meteorological Agency announced the official end of the rainy season in the Kanto-Koshin region, which includes Tsugaike Kogen. On this day, the clouds that had occupied a majority of the sky early in the morning melted away, and when I arrived at the summit station of the Tsugaike ropeway at 8:30 a.m., the sky was predominantly blue. The ropeway was almost completely full for the first and second departures, mainly with wearing and carrying serious mountaineering gear since the Hakuba Daisekkei approach to Mt. Shirouma is still closed to traffic.
[Ropeway Summit Station]

It has been two weeks since the date of my last report, and the watasuge (cotton grass) throughout the Nature Park continues to be in full bloom. In addition, nikkokisuge day lillies are increasing in number, and this morning the area looked very summer-like. In other news, due to repair work of the wooden boardwalk on the early part of the Northern Alps side route along the Watasuge Marsh, the route will be closed for about 2 months as of 7/16 (Tue.). Helicopters carrying lumber were actively shuttling back and forth between the material storage depot near the Tsugaike Hutte and the construction site.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Watasuge Marsh]

Many flowers were blooming throughout the Nature Park, including kuruma-yuri lilies (pictured), hiogi ayame (iris setosa), tateyama rindo (Gentiana thunbergii), iwa-icho (deer cabbage), obasenkyu (kneeling angelica), miyama kinpoge (meadow buttercup), and nanakamado (Japanese rowan). In the Ukishima Marsh area, ibuki toranoo (bistorta officinalis) and otakarako (ligularia fischeri) were beginning to bloom. Sankayo skeleton flowers and okame-no-ki (viburnum furcatum), which had finished blooming, were starting to bear fruit.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Watasuge Marsh]

Two people I met at the Ukishima Marsh (pictured) told me, “There are so many flowers this year. It was the right decision to come here today.” At the Watasuge Marsh after 10:30 a.m., an official guide for the MIKKETA! Guide Program was giving a detailed explanation of the ecology of alpine plants to the participants.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Ukishima Marsh]
　　
*“Pochadas” a summer-only attraction, will open at Hakuba Tsugaike WOW! Starting on 7/20 (Sat.)!

　
[Tsugaike Nature Park 2024 Opening Information]
＊Period … 2024/6/1 (Sat.) – 10/27 (Sun.), 11/2 (Sat.) – 11/4 (Mon.)
＊Hours … Tsugaike Ropeway is open from 6:30 a.m. until 8/18, from 7:00 a.m. on 8/24, 8/25, and 8/31, and from 8:00 a.m. on 8/19 – 8/23 and 8/26 – 8/30.
＊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