REPORT

The long autumn foliage season in Goryu has begun! The brilliant bands of autumn colors have started theirl gradual descent along the Mt. Kotomi Trekking Course, the Alps-Daira Nature Trail, the Hakuba Goryu Alpine Botanical Garden, and the Goryu Telecabin lift line. However, since the last day of summer season operation is 10/20 (Sun.), you only have less than 10 days to enjoy it.
[Mt. Kotomi Trekking Course・Mikaeri-zaka to Ichinose-kami]

The autumn leaves had changed color significantly since my last visit on 10/2 (Wed.), and currently the leaves are 80% of peak on the Mt. Kotomi Trekking Course and 50% on the Alps-Daira Nature Trail. The vegetation in Goryu is slightly different from that of Happo and Tsugaike, and this morning the red of the yamaurushi (mountain lacquer tree, pictured) and tsutsuji azaleas was particularly noticeable.
[Mt. Kotomi Trekking Course・Mikaeri-zaka to Ichinose-kami]

When I reached Ichinose-kami, the air was noticeably cooler, and by Ninose-kami I was able to see some beautiful orange-colored kaede maple trees. I overheard people several people commenting on how beautiful the colores were. Also, the scenery of Mt. Goryu and the red leaves along the ridgei, combined with the fog that was rising up (pictured) from the valley, was wonderful.
[Mt. Kotomoi Trekking Course・Ninose-kami]

A hiker from Chiba Prefecture told me, “I got up at 2:00 a.m. and took the first Telecabin of the morning to come up to the mountain. It’s so beautiful. It was worth getting up so early.” Another climber I met at Ninose-kami said, “Today I’m going to climb up to Goryu-sanso mountain hut. Before that, I think I’ll take a break at the top of Mt. Kotomi, where there are some nice views.” Even though it was a weekday, there were many climbers around Ninose-kami (pictured) and the summit of Mt. Kotomi.
[Mt. Kotomoi Trekking Course・Ninose-kami]
　　
＊A “Moss Terrarium Workshop” will be held on 10/12 (Sat.), 10/13 (Sun.), and 10/14 (Mon.), while an “Autumn Leaves Flower Arrangement Workshop” will take place on 10/20 (Sun.)

 
[Hakuba Goryu Alpine Botanical Garden 2024 Opening Information]
*Period … Sat. & Sun. from 6/1 (Sat.) to 6/16 (Sun.), Daily from 6/22 (Sat.) to 10/20 (Sun.)
*Hours … Goryu Telecabin: Starts at 8:15am, Weekends and holidays 9/14 – 10/14 start at 7:30am
*Fees … Goryu Telecabin round-trip: Adults JPY2,100, Elementary School Students JPY1,050 (from 9/1 to 10/20: Adults JPY2,200, Elementary School Students JPY1,100)

*Click here to purchase photos found in this report.
*This season’s Goryu Report will be updated once or twice a week.

reported by Snownavi