| The natural beauty of
the region means that people come to take in the
splendid scenery throughout the year. As the snow
melts in late spring, the snow makes way for fresh green
colors and the beauty of flowers both at town level and
on the mountain. Snowshoeing is also popular from
early March until early May each year (information
here). Summer in the region is
relatively cool and the mountains are popular with
climbers and trekkers.
Tsugaike National Park
Panorama Way Course
Kazafuki Oike
Hakuba Oike
Amakazariyama
Shio-no-michi
Freeclimbing
Paragliding
Tennis
Shower climbing
Tsugaike National Park, part of the Chubu-Sangaku National
Park, is one of the famous high-moor areas 1900m above
sea level. It is known for alpine flora such as Mizubasho (Japanese skunk cabbage) in mid-June to July
and Nikko-Kisuge (Hemerocallis dumortieri var. esculenta,
Yellow sedge liliaceae) in July to August). The leaves of Dake Birch and Nana-kamado trees put on
spectacular autumn
colors in October.
Such alpine flora and plants are shown and explained on
a video and exhibition in the Visitor Center at the park gate. The
alpinists’ bases such as "Tsugaike-sansoh lodge" (public owned) and "Tsugaike Hutte" (Hut, mountain Villa) are also located at the park gate
and
can be enjoyed by visitors as well.
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Pure white Mizubasho (Japanese skunk cabbage) flowers
bloom in the park with Hakuba tri-mountains back in
baird season.
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Summer |
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Nikko-kisuge (Yellow sedge liliaceae), alpine flora
busts out looking like a huge yellow carpet.
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Autumn/Fall |
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The autumn leaves in mid-September make for
spectacular scenery. The leaves in
the wetland turn a yellow gold color known as "Kusa-momiji",
and Dake Birch and Nana-kamado sorbus trees
turn red in October.
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| By "EVE" (cable railway) and "Tsugaike Ropeway" (aerial railway) between Tsugaike Kogen station and Tsugaike
Natural Park.
(Car access to Rindo-Oike Drive Way is
limited year round for the conservation of nature.)
Approximate
time:
One-way
- 40 min.
(20 minutes on EVE + 200m for
transfer + 7 minutes on the ROPEWAY + 700m walk to the gate)
Cable railway "EVE"
4120m long;
6-people occupancy;
720-people per hour capacity.
Tsugaike Ropeway (aerial railway)
1200m long;
71-people occupancy;
1350-people per hour capacity.
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Kazafuki Oike is a beautiful natural lake surrounded by plants
and flowers with wonderful views of the
surrounding mountains and natural landscape.
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3.8km
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2.0km
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180 minutes
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60 minutes
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 The large
Hakuba Oike (lake) comes into view after around
three hours trekking, where you are rewarded
with spectacular views of the
surrounding mountains. On the way you
will go through swamp areas, spacious areas,
rocky area and forests. Viewing the Hakuba
Oike from 2379 meters, it almost looks like a
natural minature garden. Hakuba-dake
is a further two and half hours on from Hakuba
Oike.
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1.8km
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1.0km
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0.85km
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80 minutes
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60 minutes
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30 minutes
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With the North Alps
and the Sea of Japan both visible, the views
from the summit of Amakazariyama on the border
of Nagano and Itoigawa in Niigata prefecture are
truly spectacular. With thick forests, even in
summer it is cool and pleasant.
Start off along the
beautiful flowing river with a gentle climb.
After that it gets steeper to Arasugesawa and
continues through forests, rocks and bamboo
until you reach the flower gardens before you.
From the top enjoy the views out over the alps
or towards the Sea of Japan.
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20 minutes
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90 minutes
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60 minutes
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30 minutes
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Over 120 kilometers long, from Itoigawa in
Niigata to the castle town of Matsumoto
in Nagano Prefecture, the "chikuni-kaido' road
is better known as the "Shio-no-michi" (Salt
Road).
Known as the Salt Road, it was
traditionally a very important route bringing vitally
needed salt and marine products from the Sea of Japan
into the mountainous regions of Nagano and other areas
of Japan. The road goes through Otari region and there
are a number of old temples, shrines and stone Buddhist
images along this historic highway, taking you back to a
traditional way of life in times past.
3rd May 2008 - Shionomichi Festival:
Click here for more information (Japanese) |
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Enjoy a climbing experience in the safe environment
of the interior climbing wall at Hakua Norikura Free
Climbing School. Anyone can enjoy the
experience, from children to experienced
climbers.
School Guide
Hakuba Norikura Free Climbing School
Tel: 0261-82-3044
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If you ever thought that you would "like to fly
in the sky like a bird", then you might want to try paragliding.
You can safely try paragliding at the official
paragliding schools in the area and get full
instruction from qualified instructors. This
is truly an experience worth trying!
Otari
Paraglider School
Tel: 0261-82-3044
http://www.otari-pgs.com/index.html
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Flight area: Hakuba Norikura Kogen |
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Times: |
9:30am -
3:30pm |
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Reservations on the day?
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OK (before 9am) |
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Charges:
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Half day
course - 4,500 yen
1 day course - 8,000 yen
Tandem flight - 8,000 yen |
JMB Hakuba
Paraglider School
http://www.janis.or.jp/users/kfunada/school/
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Flight area:
Cortina Kogen |
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Times: |
9:30am -
3:00pm0 |
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Reservations on the day?
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OK |
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Charges:
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1 day
experience (4 hours) - 9,500 yen
Half day experience (2 hours) - 5,500 yen
Tandem flight course - 10,000 yen |
Tsugaike
Paraglider School
TEL:0261-83-2521
http://www.janis.or.jp/users/tugapara/
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Flight area: Tsugaike Kogen |
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Times |
9:30 - 16:30 |
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Reservations on the day?
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OK |
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Charges
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4000 yen -
6000 yen |
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Summer is relatively cool on the plateaus of Otari
Village and many people come to enjoy sports and
activities in the outdoors.
Many accommodation facilities in the Tsugaike and Hakuba Norikura areas have tennis
courses (which are often available for use by guests
and visitors alike).
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Shower climbing is a new kind of way to enjoy natures
waterfalls. Put on the special wear, walk up the
cascading waterfalls, slide, and be taught with a
professional guide. It is a wonderful way to enjoy
nature and especially good when the weather is hot.
Beginners most welcome.
Cost: 6000 yen (including insurance) per person
Please pay by cash at reception on the day.
All healthy individuals from the age of
6 and total beginners are all able to try Shower Climbing. (Please
note that elementary
school age children must be accompanied by an adult).
Wetsuits are available (for people up to 185cm and
90kg). Feet size up to 28cm.
Time & Place:
Morning course: 9:20am
Afternoon course: 12:50pm
The place to meet is "Restaurant Bon Neige" (please
note: currently not used as a restaurant).
Please
look at this map.
Contact & more information:
Sadao Sei (Otari Paraglider
School)
Address:
Hakuba Norikura Kogen 4169
Otari-mura
Nagano-ken 399-9422
Mobile phone:
090-3312-1069
Mail:
seisadao@valley.ne.jp
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Tsugaike Natural Park at
altitude 1880m on the mountainside stretches out for a total
of 100 hectares with 5.5 km pedestrian walkways suitable for
light trekking. From mid June to mid August, you can
enjoy pretty alpine flora on the way to. Also enjoy
experience of nature such as caves which blow off cool
air even in summer, and stream of icy snowmelt water.
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