Alpine Plants

Happoike Pond [Hakuba, Nagano]

 

Happoike Pond is located at the 2060m point of the Hakuba Happo One trekking course.

Happoike is a natural pond formed by melting snow and rainwater. It reflects the three Hakuba Mountains like a mirror, and offers an amazing view of nature’s creation.

This is a relatively easy spot to visit with a short walk of about one and a half hours.

Photos: PIXTA

Highlights

  • The surface of the water reflects the mountains of the Northern Alps (Hakuba Sanzan, Mt. Goryu-dake, Mt. Myoko, Togakushi mountain range, Mt. Asama, Mt. Yatsugatake, etc. can be seen).
  • The alpine plants indigenous to Happo One are in bloom here. In addition, Japanese serows, salamanders, and forest green frogs live there.
  • Although the area seems to be a “hidden area,” there are well-maintained trekking courses that make it easy to visit.

VR View

NameHappoike Pond
AddressKitashiro, Hakuba Village, Kita-Azumi-gun, Nagano 399-9301
 
Access

There are several express buses operated by Alpico.
From Tokyo (Shinjuku(新宿), Narita Airport(成田), or Haneda Airport(羽田)), take the Alpico bus to Hakuba Happo Bus Station (about 5 hours).
Then take the gondola lift and trek to Happo Pond (about 90 minutes total).
Please refer to the Alpico website for more details.
Note that the direct highway bus access from Narita/Haneda Airport is not operating during the 2020/2021 winter season.

Take a train for Matsumoto(松本) Station from Shinjuku(新宿) Station in Tokyo on the JR Azusa limited express,
and then transfer to a local train on the JR Oito Line to Hakuba Station.
It will take a total of 4.5 hours.
From Hakuba Station, take a local bus to Hakuba Happo Bus Station (about 10 minutes).
Then take the gondola lift and trek to Happo Pond (about 90 minutes).

Convenient rental car outlets can be found at Chubu International Airport(中部国際空港) (about 310 kilometers southwest)
and at Tokyo Haneda (羽田) (about 300 kilometers southeast).
From Chubu International Airport, Hakuba village is about a 4.5 hours drive via Nagoya(名古屋), Ina(伊那), and Matsumoto(松本).

Hours/ClosedThe period of operation of the Happo Alpine Line, which connects to the starting point of the trek:
from early June to October ( scheduled )
ContactTEL: +81 261-72-3066 (Happo Information Center) [English Available]
WebsiteHiking Guide | Hakuba Happo-one Snow Resort (English)
SNSHakuba Happo-one (@hakuba_happo) (Twitter in English)

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