NORIKURA TIMES August - September (transition from summer to autumn)

With the heat still remaining intense throughout Japan, many people may be thinking about taking a vacation in a cooler place.
Norikura Plateau is located at an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level. After the Bon Festival, the air changes to that of autumn, and the mornings and evenings can feel chilly.
We will tell you about the highlights of Norikura, which are changing day by day.

Norikura shuttle buses running on the Norikura Echo Line are now available to the "Tatamidaira Bus Terminal" at the top of Norikura Mountain.
Tatamidaira is located at an altitude of 2,702 meters and is an attractive tourist destination for hiking and easy 3,000-meter mountain climbing.
From Tatamidaira, depending on your mood and the weather that day, you can take a walk to easy-to-climb Maodake (15 minutes on foot) or Daikoku-dake (40 minutes on foot), or challenge yourself to climb Kenga-mine (1.5 hours on foot), the highest peak on Norikura-dake. This time of year, it is also recommended to stay at a mountain lodge or accommodation to see the stars and sunrise.

At this time of year, the peony gentians also begin to bloom, signaling the transition from summer to autumn.
Norikura-dake, temperatures can be in the single digits, so please dress and equip yourself accordingly.

Fees

bus fare
Adult round trip ¥3,400 Child round trip ¥1,700
(Discounts for the handicapped are available.)

Timetable

Starting July 15, the schedule will be changed to A schedule, with 11 round trips per day and the first departure from Norikura Kanko Center at 6:10 a.m. (on sunny days; B schedule on rainy days). The first departure from Norikura Kanko Center will be at 6:10 a.m. (on sunny days.)
For details, please check the timetable below.
Alpico Transportation: https://www.alpico.co.jp/traffic/local/kamikochi/echoline/

*The Norikura Echo Line sunrise bus service will be suspended in FY2023.

Grouse on Norikura-dake

What you need to know about "Grouse."

Click here for more information about Tatamidaira Flower Garden.

"We went to Tatamidaira to look for pretty alpine flora."

Click here for details of Norikura-dake climbing route.

Norikura Mountain Climbing Route Guide

Enjoy the world of the sky at Norikuradake!

"Into the 3000-meter-high sky."

◆1017

White birches in the green meadows, Mt. Norikura in the distance, and blue skies. At Ichinose, you can enjoy the grassland scenery that led to Norikura Kogen being recognized as a national park.
From mid-August, "akebono" and "matsumisou," representative autumn flowers, begin to bloom, and the atmosphere of autumn begins to prevail.
The temperature is around 20 degrees Celsius during the day, making it the perfect time of year for a stroll.

For more information on Norikura Walking Guide, click here.

Norikura Kogen," "If you want to go for a walk in Norikura Kogen, here are six courses recommended by the proprietress! Six courses recommended by the proprietress.

Click here for more information on how to spend the first end of the year.

A noiseless time spent at Ichinose."

◆Norikura buckwheat noodle flowers

It is said that delicious buckwheat noodles can be grown in a lean land with short hours of sunlight, and Norikura is truly a suitable place for buckwheat noodle cultivation. Norikura has been growing Norikura's native "banjo soba," which is grown at an altitude of 1,200 to 1,300 meters above sea level.

In mid-August, buckwheat flowers bloom all over the plateau, and the pure white buckwheat fields and the butterflies flying around the buckwheat flowers signal the change of season from summer to autumn.
It will be a little later, around November, when you can taste the new buckwheat noodles from this buckwheat field.
This season, you can enjoy the beautiful view of the buckwheat field. You can enjoy the beautiful view of the buckwheat fields, or you can look forward to tasty new buckwheat noodles. Of course, you can also enjoy delicious buckwheat noodles at the restaurants in Norikura Kogen. Please stop by during your stroll or mountain climbing.

Stargazing

The Norikura Plateau, which stretches from about 1,200 to 1,600 meters above sea level, offers a clearer view of the stars in the clear air than on the plains.
There are many stargazing spots such as Norikura BASE and Ichinose, so please stay at Norikura Kogen and enjoy stargazing.

Click here for more information about stargazing at Norikura Kogen.
The sky is filled with stars."

Learn, Create, and Observe at the Nature Conservation Center

For summer vacation memories or as a subject for your children's free research, why not learn about Norikura's nature and try your hand at making something using mountain materials? The Norikura Nature Conservation Center has exhibits on the nature and history of Norikura, and on Saturdays and Sundays only, it holds the "Yama no Megumi Kobo" (Mountain Blessing Workshop), where visitors can make animals from natural materials.
Since it is indoors, it is also a good activity for rainy days.

*The Megumi Workshop in the mountains is popular every year and the number of participants is limited, so we recommend that you contact us in advance to participate.

Click here for more information on how to spend your summer.

Enjoy the Great Outdoors with Your Child! How to Spend Summer in Norikura Kogen"

Click here for tips on how to spend a rainy day.

How to spend a rainy day in Norikura Kogen

◆Norikura Hill Climb 2023

Date: Sunday, August 27, 2023
*August 26 (Sat.) Reception *Rain or shine (weather conditions to be discussed/rainfall, wind speed, temperature, fog, course conditions, etc.)
*Entries are no longer being accepted.

Location：Norikura Tourism Center, Nagano Prefecture
◇Start＝Norikura Tourist Center ⇒ Sanbon Falls (in front of the rest house) ⇒ Higahara Sanso-mae ⇒ Norikura Sightseeing Center
Goal＝Border between Nagano and Gifu Prefectures
Total length 20.5 km, elevation difference 1,260 m

The Norikura Hill Climb is held on the Norikura Echo Line, the closest bicycle road to the sky.
The goal elevation is 2702 meters, the highest elevation for a bicycle race in Japan, and the race is heated and exciting every year.
You will be able to experience the thrill of hill climbing and the rich and magnificent Norikura Kogen Plateau.

Official site: http://www.norikura-hc.com

Shuttle buses may be suspended or closed on the day of the event.

◆Rikura Picture Book Project

The Norikura Picture Book Project, a project to create picture books set in the Norikura Plateau, began last November.
This book will be a picture book that both adults and children can enjoy, as it will serve as a trekking map where they can learn about the charms of the Norikura Plateau through the picture book and enjoy discovering them while actually walking.
And we are now challenging crowdfunding to create a picture book until 9/15. Thanks to your support, we have now reached 39%. We are still far from our goal, but we would like to ask for your continued support and participation.

Crowdfunding period
Publication starts: July 15, 0:00
Publication ends: September 15, 23:59

Future Initiatives

◆Forestry Experience Program [9/2 (Sat) - 9/3 (Sun)

This is a forestry experience program in which participants work with local residents to maintain the landscape of Norikura Kogen and turn the thinned wood from the maintenance into artwork.
The forestry experience will be conducted in cooperation with the Environmental Improvement Department of the Norikura Tourism Association.
On the second day, participants will make bird calls (bird flutes) using thinned wood from the forestry experience on the first day.
*A bird call is a tool that produces a sound similar to a bird's call, also called a bird whistle.
The bird calls you make will be used to return the Norikura Trail Maintenance Cooperation Fund to the Norikura region.
Some of the finished products can be taken home.

Summary

<Day 1 (9/2)
　*Talking about Norikura's overall approach
　*After the talk, we walked along the "Ichinose Meadow Trail" to Ichinose, the forestry experience site.
　Forestry experience (Chainsaws are operated by the Environmental Maintenance Department)
　　Hand sawing, branch clearing, etc.
　　Organizing thinned wood
　　Experience operating forestry machinery (chipper)

<Day 2 (9/3)
　* Woodworking experience using thinned wood (bird calls, etc.)
　*You can take home the wood from each experience, such as birch, chips, and crafts.

Time Schedule

<Day 1　Forestry Experience
　13:00 Meet at the trailhead (cars go to the Tourist Center parking lot)
　　｜
　　｜ Orientation (talk about Norikura's initiatives, etc.)
　　｜
　　｜ Walk the Ichinose Grassland Trail to the forestry experience site.
　　｜
　　｜ Forestry Experience
　　｜
　16:00 End: Return to your lodgings

<Day 2　Woodworking experience (making bird calls, etc.)
　9:00 - 2 hours woodworking experience, followed by lunch (boxed lunch)
　12:00-13:00 Dismissal

■Participation fee: Free (including insurance)
Capacity: 15 persons (junior high school students and older)
Light rain or shine
■ Lodging:Participants themselves should make reservations directly with the Norikura Tourist Association's accommodation facilities.
https://norikura.gr.jp/plan/accommodations/
　Participants are responsible for paying for their own accommodations. Please pay directly to the facility.
■Others
*Day 1 Please take your car to the parking lot of the Tourist Center.
　　　　　Meet at the triangular-roofed trailhead at the crossroads across from the tourist center.
*Please bring your own cardboard boxes or bags if you wish to take home wood chips, etc. from the forestry experience.
Meeting place at 9:00 a.m. on Day 2 will be communicated to participants.
*Please wear light clothing and shoes that you can walk and work in.
*Please bring military gloves and a kappa.
　(Tools used for forestry and woodworking experiences will be provided.)
Please note that the tour may be cancelled due to weather or other reasons.
Closing date: Monday, August 28
If you wish to participate, please read the above before submitting your application.
Please apply from [Event Application Form].https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1JImyOjn6of43NwWmHKQ8zXJrkPIv67WLSCo2KSfaxyg/viewform?edit_requested=true

◆Take an e-Bike rental and enjoy Norikura Kogen to the fullest!

Outdoor activities are fun in Norikura Kogen in summer!
Enjoy the mountains and forests of Norikura Kogen with an electric-assist e-Bike rental.

Bike
Specialized Vado SL4.0
Specialized brand electric bicycles
Cross bikes are a cross between road bikes and MTB bikes, and are available in ultra-lightweight versions weighing as little as 15 kg!

Lending office: Norikura Tourist Center
4306-5 Azumi-Norikura Kogen, Matsumoto City

Reservations: Please make reservations through the reservation site below.
https://norikura.urkt.in/ja/direct/offices/2445/courses

Inquiries: Norikura Kogen Tourist Information Center TEL: 0263-93-2147
4306-5 Azumi-Norikura-Kogen, Matsumoto City, Matsumoto 390-1520, Japan
Business hours: 10:00-16:00
Lending hours: 10:30-15:30
Please see the calendar for business days.
https://norikura.gr.jp/content/norikura-kanko-annaisho/

How to enjoy e-Bike

eBike in the Sky.

From the Hill Climbing Guidebook

Norikura Hill Climb Recommendations.

◆MYMIZU (information on water supply by bringing your own bottle)

Norikura Kogen is certified as a Zero Carbon Park with many activities and encourages visitors to bring their own bottles.
You can search for water supply spots with mymizu, an application that allows you to find free water supply spots throughout Japan.
In addition, we may be able to supply water to facilities that are not listed on the application, so please feel free to contact us.

mymizu official website:https://www.mymizu.co/

◆Would you like to participate in the extermination of invasive alien species?

Norikura Kogen, designated as a national park, is an area rich in nature where a wide variety of creatures coexist. This area, where a variety of native Japanese plants and animals survive, has recently been affected by non-native species (organisms that were not previously native to Japan).

Norikura Kogen has been focusing on extermination of invasive alien species, mainly by local residents.
We have also held events that are easy for visitors to participate in.

And now, we are pleased to announce that anyone is welcome to join our activities at the following two facilities on non-event dates. We look forward to your participation in activities that bring you closer to Norikura's natural environment!

Norikura BASE

(This facility has both hands-on activities and camping sites.)
3994-21 Ajimu, Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture, 390-1520 Japan
TEL: 0263-88-0300 (Telephone service hours: 10:00-16:00)
Operating period: April 23-November 6
Business hours: 9:00-17:00
Closed: Tuesdays (open every day during peak season)
Café Chillon closed: Tuesdays and Wednesdays (open every day during peak season)
*Consumers who participate in invasive species eradication activities at Norikura BASE will receive 10% off at Café Cillon!

Norikura Kogen Tourist Information Center

4306-5, Ajimu, Matsumoto City, Matsumoto 390-1520 (in Norikura Tourist Center building)
TEL: 0263-93-2147
Business hours: 10:00-16:00
Reception hours: 10:30-15:30
Please see the calendar for business days.
https://norikura.gr.jp/content/norikura-kanko-annaisho/

Learn more about invasive species within the plateau.
What You Need to Know About Invasive Species to Protect Norikura's Native Species."

◆Bear Appearance

Norikura-dake Tatamidaira area and along the Echo Line, bears continue to appear.
Please pay attention to the following points when climbing, biking, etc.

Carry a bear bell.
If you encounter a bear, do not make noise, do not yell, and back away quietly and slowly.
Act calmly and without provoking the bear.
Do not take photos or videos.

◆Hawk Migration

In mid-September, "hawk migration" can be seen at Shirakaba Pass, not far from Norikura Kogen.
Shirakaba Pass is widely known as one of the best "hawk migration" spots in Japan, where you can observe approximately 15,000 eagles, hawks, and other migratory birds passing through every fall. Many birdwatchers watch over the migratory routes, and expert staff conduct daily seasonal fixed-point observations, allowing visitors to also enjoy the spectacular hawk migrations of sasiba, hachikuma, and tsumis.

Learn more about hawk migration.
Let's go to Shirakaba Pass to watch the hawk migration."

Soon Norikura's short summer will be over and autumn will arrive, when we can enjoy the daily changes in nature.
Norikura is a great place to visit as a summer retreat from the still hot weather of the metropolitan area, so please come to Norikura.