Tsugaike Nature Park / Cloudy2022.Jun.11
Today marked the start of the Tsugaike Ropeway which means that all Hakuba Valley resorts, with the exception of Hakuba47, have now commenced operation for the summer season. There has been a recent increase in wet weather along with the announcement that the rainy season has begun for the Kanto-Koshin region, but there’s one special alpine flower that can only be experienced during this season.
[Tsugaike Ropeway・Gondola]
That flower is known as sankayo (pictured) in Japanese, and often referred to as the “skeleton flower” in English. The name comes from the fact that the white petals turn transparent like glass when wet from morning dew or rain! Currently, the flowers are blooming along the walking trail in the Tsuga-no-mori area, and should peak at higher elevation inside the Tsugaike Nature Park between the end of June and beginning of July. According to staff of the Visitor’s Center, the best time to observe the phenomenon is towards the tail end of the flowering period.
[Tsuga-no-mori Walking Trail]
As a result of the copious snow falling during the 2021-22 winter season, around 90% of the Tsugaike Nature Park is still covered in 1 to 1.5 meters of snow. With the exception of a few spots where the wooden boardwalk is exposed (pictured), the trekking course is marked with pink tape as far as the Tenbo Shitsugen marsh area. Mizubasho, or Asian Skunk Cabbage were just beginning to bloom within the 5 snow-free holes inside the Mizubasho Shitsugen marsh, as well as the singular snow-free hole within the Watasuge Shitsugen marsh.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Watsuge Shitsugen]
To celebrate opening day, a special “Gondola Roulette” event was held, where certain gondola cabins contained a small prize pack (pictured). Furthermore an opening ceremony and musical performances, including an Alphorn performance, were held at the Visitor’s Center and in front of the old Tsugaike mountain hut.
[Tsugaike Ropeway・Gondola]
* Hakuba Tsugaike WOW! Also opened today. (The facilities are only open on Saturdays and Sundays during June, with only Tobidasu and Kabedasu operational.)
[Tsugaike Nature Park Availability Information]
*Summer Season … June. 11 (Sat)－Oct. 23 (Sun), 2022
*Opening Hours … 8:00 a.m.－4:40 p. m. (Early morning operation will commence on July. 9)
*Fees … Tsugaike Ropeway Round-trip + Nature Park / Adult: JPY3,700, Children JPY2,100 →Adult Advance Discount Tickets JPY3,300! (Please go to the gondola station directly without exchanging the ticket)
[Hakuba Tsugaike WOW! Availability Information]
*Summer Season … June. 11 (Sat)－Oct. 23 (Sun), 2022
*Opening Hours … 9:00 a.m.－4:00 p.m. (Last entry 3:00 p.m.)
*Fees … Tobidas: Adult & 6–12 y/o JPY1,000, Fumidas: Adult & 6–12 y/o JPY800, Kabedas: Adult & 6–12 y/o JPY500, Kogidas: Adult & 6–12 y/o JPY2,000, Pochadasu: Adult JPY2,800, 6–12 y/o JPY2,500
*To Visitors Requesting Original Data of Our Photographs
*Tsugaike Nature Park & WOW! will be reported 1－2 times a week
