If it's your first time climbing Mt. Hakuba, start here! Introducing the Tsugaike and Oike route

This time, I would like to introduce one of the standard hiking courses on Mt. Hakuba, the "Tsugaike-Oike Course." It is a little longer than the "Oyukikei Course," but it is a relatively easy course to climb. Let's take a look at what sights there are to see.

Start: Tsugaike Gondola Lift "Eve" 

To get to the Tsugaike trailhead, you need to use the gondola lift and ropeway. There are direct buses from Hakuba Station and Nagano Station, and there is a large parking lot, so transportation access is very good. Buy a set ticket for the gondola lift and ropeway at the ticket office.

The Tsugaike Gondola Lift is the second longest in Japan, and it takes 20 minutes to reach the summit station. If the weather is good, you can see the Hakuba Sanzan mountains beautifully. After getting off the gondola lift, you can transfer to the ropeway. 

Checkpoint 1: Tsugaike Nature Park 

There are accommodations called Tsugaike Hutte and Tsugaike Sanso at the Tsugaike trailhead, which are ideal for staying the night before. Next to it is Tsugaike Nature Park, where you can enjoy a variety of plants from spring to autumn, so it is popular not only with hikers but also with day-trippers.

Checkpoint 2: Tenguhara 

Tenguhara is a marshland of alpine plants, and has a boardwalk. There are benches along the way where you can take a break. From here the real action begins. The path becomes steep and rocky, so proceed with care. 

Checkpoint 3: Mount Hakuba Norikura 

There is a large rocky area just below Mt. Hakuba Norikura. There may still be snow on the rocks until June, so it's best to bring crampons. There are ropes installed, but please be careful not to rely on them too much. 

Once you get over the rocky area, you will reach Mt. Hakuba Norikura. A large cairn stands out on the flat summit. It's just a short distance from Hakuba Oike Pond, so let's push on.

Checkpoint 4: Hakuba Oike Pond

Hakuba Oike is a volcanic lake, and although no fish live there, many Japanese black salamanders live there. The water is so clear that they can be seen clearly with the naked eye. There is a lodge on the lakeside called Hakuba Oike Sanso, where you can stay in a hut or tent. We will have a light meal here and then head back towards Mt. Shirouma. 

Checkpoint 5: Funakoshi Head

From here, we enter the main ridge. When viewed from the foot of the mountain, the slope here is large and is said to resemble the side of a ship, but the locals don't have that concept, so they created the word "Funakoshi" and named it as such. This later evolved into "Funakoshi." 

Checkpoint ⑥ Mount Korenge

Mount Korenge is the highest peak in Niigata Prefecture. It has been a sacred mountain since ancient times, and an iron sword and Jizo statue are enshrined there. 

Checkpoint 7: Three Borders

This is the last resting spot before Mt. Hakuba. This is the border between Nagano, Toyama, and Niigata prefectures, so it is called the "three borders." You can also go to Mt. Yukikura and Mt. Asahi from here. 

Checkpoint 8: The summit of Mt. Hakuba

We reached the summit of Mt. Hakuba, the highest peak in the Ushiro-Tateyama mountain range! From here you can enjoy a spectacular 360-degree panorama. You can clearly see not only Mt. Tateyama and Mt. Tsurugi, but also Mt. Yatsugatake and Mt. Fuji. Apparently, on a clear day you can even see the Asahi mountain range between Yamagata and Niigata prefectures. There is a landscape indicator board on the summit, which was carried to the summit by hand in 1941 by Tadashi Komiyama along the Oyukikei route. Each part weighs over 1 kg, so it could be called superhuman. 

Goal Hakuba Sanso

After descending from the summit for about 5 minutes, you will reach the finish line at Hakuba Sanso. This is one of the largest mountain huts in Japan, and can accommodate several hundred people. There are rooms available, from shared to private, so choose the one that best suits your needs. There is a restaurant called "Sky Plaza" next door, so you can enjoy your meal while looking out at Mt. Tateyama and Mt. Tsurugi. 

Hiking TIme (for reference)

This concludes my report on hiking in Tsugaike and Hakuba. What did you think?

Tsugaike Gondola Base Station ⇒ Tsugaike Nature Park ... 45 minutes
Tsugaike Nature Park ⇒ Tenguppara ... 1 hour 10 minutes
Tenguhara ⇒ Hakuba Norikura-dake ・・ 1 hour 10 minutes
Hakuba Norikuradake ⇒ Hakuba Oike Pond ... 35 minutes
Hakuba Oike ⇒ Funakoshi no Atama... 45 minutes
Funakoshi-no-Atama ⇒ Korenge-san... 50 minutes
Mt. Korenge ⇒ Mikunisakai... 45 minutes
Mikunisakai ⇒ Mt. Hakuba... 45 minutes
Mt. Hakuba ⇒ Hakuba Sanso ・・ 15 minutes
Total: 7 hours (breaks and meal times not included)

 Before you embark on a hike, plan carefully and try to leave early and arrive early.