Tsugaike Nature Park / Partly Cloudy2022.Oct.14
The colorful autumn climax continues for the Sarasadodan (Redvein enkianthus) trees adorning the Yase-one ridge, and the colors have grown even more intense in the last 3 days since my previous report on 10/11 (Tue.). I found myself stopping in the middle of the steep staircase that scales the ridge (pictured) and turned my camera towards the vibrant oranges and reds in search of the perfect photographic angle.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Yase-one Ridge]
The autumn leaves across the south-facing slope below the Yase-one ridge (pictured) and near the Karimata-ike and Tsugaike-ike ponds were spectacular. One minute further down the trail at the Nature Park’s highest lookout deck (2,020m), I was mesmerized by the beauty of the colorful maple leaves against the contrast of the bare white trunks and branches of the Dakekanba (Erman’s birch).
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Yase-one Ridge]
The leaves of the Dakekanba continued to fall throughout the Ukishima Shistugen, which had been the main stage for fall colors up until the beginning of October, but the beautiful autumn colors in the direction of the Yase-one ridge and the wave of orange, yellow and red crashing down across the mountainside from the tops of the Northern Alps was still worth seeing. Temperatures were warm this morning at 17℃, and on the trail that climbs continuously from the Watasuge Shitsugen to the Ukishima Shitsugen, stripping down to just a T-shirt was a perfectly comfortable choice.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Ukishima Shitsugen]
The fall colors this year are progressing noticeably more slowly than normal, and indeed it seemed to me that the leaves above the Mizubasho Shistugen were now even richer in color than before. The peak of the change is currently occurring at the altitude between the Tsugaike Ropeway and the top of the gondola, while the leaves are just starting to turn further down near the gondola mid-station.
[Tsugaike Nature Park・Ukishima Shitsugen]
*Currently, repair work is underway on a 120-meter section of wooden boardwalk on the eastern side of the Watasuge Shitsugen. As of 10/14, the project is scheduled to be completed in around 10 days, but the new boardwalk will be unveiled to the public next year after the spring snowmelt.
[Tsugaike Nature Park Opening Information]
＊Business Period … 6/11 (Sat.) to 10/23/2022 (Sun.)
＊Business Hours … 8:00－16:40
＊Fees … Round trip use of the Panorama Way (gondola & ropeway) + Nature Park entrance / Adults JPY3,700, Children JPY2,100 → Adult Advance Discount Tickets JPY3,300, Children JPY1,850! (Advance Discount Tickets are usable as-is! Proceed directly to the gondola for immediate boarding.)
[Hakuba Tsugaike WOW! Opening Information]
＊Business Period … 6/11 (Sat.) to 10/23/2022 (Sun.)
＊Business Hours …9:00－16:00 (Last entrance 15:00, open daily during August, irregular schedule during September)
＊Fees … Amidasu (60 min.) Adults JPY2,000・Children JPY1,800 / Tobidasu (One Time) JPY1,000 / Fumidasu (One Time) JPY800 / Kabedasu (One Time) JPY500 / Kogidasu (One Time) JPY2,000
＊Business Period … 7/15 (Fri.)－10/23/2022 (Sun.)
＊Facilities … GLAMPING FIELD TSUGAIKE, LANTERN CAMPING FIELD TSUGAIKE, Hakuba Tsugaike WOW!, Tsugaike Ropeway, Dog Run, Tsugaike Golf Center
*To Visitors Requesting Original Data of Our Photographs
*Tsugaike Nature Park & WOW! will be reported 1－2 times a week
