REPORT

After confirming clear blue skies via the Happo Pond live camera (2,060m above sea level), which began operation this summer season, I boarded the gondola and made my way up. At the top I overheard a number of people talking about the slippery wet boardwalks and rocks underfoot from the rain the night before. I hurried upwards to the No. 3 Cairn, hoping to break through the clouds.
[Happo-One Nature Trail・Wooden Boardwalk Course]

Unfortunately, Happo Pond was shrouded in thick fog. There I spoke with a couple (pictured) from Nagano’s Suwa City, who told me, “We love your site. We came to check out the terrain of a backcountry area we’re planning to ski this winter. Oh, and the autumn leaves are so beautiful, aren’t they?” As the fog thinned out near the entrance to the Shita-no-Kanba lower birch forest, and the ridgeline and the vivid autumn leaves began to come into view, the hikers who happened to be there let out cries of excitement and hurriedly reached for their cameras.
[Hiking Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・No. 3 Cairn to Shita-no-Kanba]

The tunnel of yellow, orange and red maple leaves throughout the Shita-no-Kanba birch forest really rose my spirits. The foliage along the Happo-One Nature Trail is currently 50 to 60% of peak color. The deep green of the low-lying pinebrush was dotted with red, yellow and orange autumn leaves.
[Hiking Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・No. 3 Cairn to Shita-no-Kanba]

The autumn leaves on the Happo-One Nature Trail are expected to reach their peak over the three-day weekend starting on 10/12 (Sat.). In other news, the “Yama Chill Picnic” picnic plan will kick off tomorrow, 10/7 (Mon). After picking up your picnic set at the Kurobishi 3 Pair ticket booth, you can enjoy a picnic at a spot of your choosing with homemade sweets and hot water from Cafe & Restaurant Pilar. (The set includes an original blend of coffee beans from Coffee Senju!)
[Hiking Trail to Mt. Karamatsu・No. 3 Cairn to Shita-no-Kanba]

　　
* Due to dredging work at Happo Pond on 10/11 (Fri.), the south deck of Happo Pond will be closed to the public.

　
[Happo-One Nature Trail 2024 Opening Information]
Period … 2024/6/1 (Sat.) & 6/2 (Sun.), 6/8 (Sat.) – 11/4 (Mon.)
Hours … Happo Alpine Line:10/12・10/13 open at 7:00am～、10/5・10/6・10/14・10/19・10/20 open at 7:30am～、Otherwise open at 8:00am～. Kurobishi Line: 10/5・10/6・10/12～10/14・10/19・10/20・10/26・10/27 open at 5:00am～、Otherwise open at 8:15am～
Fees … Happo Alpine Line Roundtrip / Adults JPY3,300, Elementary School Students JPY2,100, Preschoolers Free → Advance Discount Tickets: Adults JPY2,950, Children JPY1,800! (No need to exchange at the ticket window! You can proceed straight to the gondola.) Kurobishi Line Roundtrip / Adults JPY2,000, Elementary School Students JPY1,300, Preschoolers Free.
(*One preschooler free with each paid adult. The second preschooler will be charged at the normal children’s rate.)

*Hakuba Happo-one will be reported 1－2times a week
*To Visitors Requesting Original Data of Our Photographs.

reported by Snownavi