Happo-one hike in Hakuba, Nagano, Japan

Happo-One Nature Study Trail [八方尾根自然研究路]
Happo-one is in Hakuba Alpen Resort.
Hakuba is in Nagano prefecture in Japan.
Hakuba is the small village located at the foot of the Japanese Northern Alps/ Northern Japan Alps.

How & Where to go to hike Happo-one?
1.Take a bus from JR Hakuba station [Japanese: JR白馬駅] to Happo bus terminal [Japanese: 八方バスターミナル]
2.walk until Happo Gondola Lift ADAM [Japanese: 八方ゴンドラリフトアダム].
3.Take the Happo Gondola Lift [Japanese: 八方ゴンドラリフト] to an altitude of 1400m.
4.Take the Alpen Quad Lift [Japanese: アルペンクアッドリフト], then hike from an altitude of 1680m.

Tomo&Chouchou took a bus from JR Hakuba station [Japanese: JR白馬駅].

 

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Got off at Happo Bus Terminal [Japanese: 八方バスターミナル].

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Walked to the Happo Gondola Lift ADAM.

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Happo Gondola Lift ADAM 

[Japanese: 八方ゴンドラリフトアダム]

We took the Happo Gondola Lift until an altitude of 1400m.

 

 

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We went up until the altitude of 1680m 

by Alpen Quad Lift.[Japanese: アルペンクワッドリフト].

We arrived at Nagano Olympic Start House.

Then we started hiking from there.

 

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At the beginning of the trail of Happo-one.

We could see many green trees.
It was like walking in the forest.

 

 

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We could see a mountain range of Happo-one in front.

 

 

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trail Around Maruyama Cairn [Japanese: 丸山ケルン],
we needed to walk on the small rocks.

 

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We arrived at Maruyama Cairn which is 2430m high.

Maruyama Cairn [Japanese: 丸山ケルン] in the back.

There was another cairn build by the hikers beside the Maruyama Cairn.

 

manisificent view to see the Japanese Alps from the Maruyama Cairn.

We could see the clouds and high mountains very close.

We could feel the power of the nature.

 

We had a picnic at the Maruyama Cairn.

We could enjoy the scenery all the time while having lunch. 

 

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We went down back.

 

While going down from the Maruyama Cairn,

We found the fan-shaped snow ravine. 

[Japanese: 扇の雪渓（せっけい)]
Snow ravine was between the 3rd Cairn and the Maruyama Cairn. 

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We went down a bit.

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There was the Happo pond [Japanese: Happo-ike; 八方池] 

at an altitude of 2050m. 

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We passed Happo Cairn [Japanese: 八方ケルン] at an altitude of 2035m.

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We came back to the Nagano Olympic Start House 

[Japanese: 長野オリンピックスタートハウス].

We went down by the lifts.

Episode of Happo-one hike

Tomo&Chouchou decided to hike in Northern Japan Alps. Hakuba is located at the foot of the Japanese Northern Alps, so we booked an accomodation in Hakuba in Nagano prefecture.

Firstly, we decided to hike Happo-one Nature Study Trail in Hakuba Alpen Resort.
We took a bus from JR Hakuba station to Happo bus terminal, then we walked till Happo Gondola Lift ADAM to go to the start point for hiking in Happo-one.

Firstly, we went up till the altitude of 1400m by Happo Gondola Lift. Next, we went up untill the altitude of 1680m by Alpen Quad Lift. Then we started to hike from there.
Unfortunately, it was slightly raining and foggy. But the atmosphere was like the secrets of nature! It was the healing trail.

At the beginning of the hiking course, we could see many green trees. It was like walking in the forest. The higher the altitude is, the less the trees are.
Unfortunately, we couldn't enjoy the view on the way to go up because of the fog. But little by little, the fog was disappearing. Then we could see a mountain range in front. The trail condition changed around Maruyama Cairn. We needed to walk on the small rocks. The cloud was floating at the same height as we were. When we approached to Maruyama Cairn, the fog disappeared and the sun showed up.
Finally we arrived at Maruyama Cairn which is 2430m high. It was manisificent view to see the Japanese Alps from the Maruyama Cairn. We could see the clouds and high mountains very close. We could feel the power of the nature and the landscape was impressive. We were so happy to feel the nature and see such a valuable view which only people who climbed by themselves. The cloud changed the shape quickly, so the view of mountains also changed quickly. We never got bored to see such a scenery. It was the most impressive scenery from the top of the mountain. We decided to have lunch at Maruyama Cairn so that we could enjoy this fantastic landscape all the time! It became unforgettable moment in our lives! We took many photos and we enjoyed taking a rest at Maruyama Cairn.

We wanted to climb until the top of Mt.Karamatsu-Dake [唐松岳]. However we didn't have enough time to catch a last bus to go back to our accomodation in Hakuba, so we decided to go down the mountain.

While going down from the Maruyama Cairn, we found the fan-shaped snow ravine [扇の雪渓]. Snow ravine was between the 3rd Cairn and the Maruyama Cairn.
After going down a bit from the snow ravine, there was the Happo pond / Happo-ike pond [八方池] at an altitude of 2050m. The Happo pond was blue and the water of the pond was transparent. Near Happo pond, we enjoyed sea of clouds. It was wonderful scenery. We were moved to see the beauty of the clouds.
On the way to go down, it was sunny. So this time, we could take a photo in front of the Happo Cairn at an altitude of 2035m.

Our hiking course in Happo-one was starting from Nagano Olympic Start House [長野オリンピックスタートハウス], going through the Happo Cairn [八方ケルン] at an altitude of 2035m, and going until the Maruyama Cairn [丸山ケルン] at an altitude of 2430m. But you can keep climbing until the top of Mt.Karamatsu-Dake [唐松岳] at an altitude of 2696m. The trail of Happo-one was neither keeping going up nor keep goind down. So there were up & down by turns. There was also some flat area to walk. It is a very enjoyable hiking course. Anyway we were so satisfied with this Happo-One hike.

 

Tomo&Chouchou's impression about Happo-One Hiking

It was the hike under the little rain and thick fog. At the beginning, Tomo was not so happy to hike in such a condition as Tomo was a beginner hiker. But it was just under the clouds. After we went up above the clouds, it was like a paradise! Tomo didn't know about it. Tomo really enjoyed the scenery above the clouds. We felt like we were on the clouds! Happo-One became our favorite hiking place. We will never forget such a fantastic landscape!


Information

Happo One Nature Study Trail map (PDF) - written in English
https://www.happo-one.jp/wp2019/wp-content/themes/happo-one2020/img/info/pdf/Happo-oneRouteGuide.pdf

八方尾根研究路ガイド - Happo One webpage written in Japanese
https://www.nsd-hakuba.jp/green/happo/kenkyu.html


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