2025 Katashina Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in March)

The Pumpkin King is cute 🎃 I went to Maruyama Plateau in Halloween style When you take the gondola to the top, the cute Pumpkin King will greet you 🎃🦇🕸 Enjoy the spectacular autumn scenery while soaking in the "foot bath in the sky" 🎃🍁🍄🌰 ✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼ 🉐Great deals🉐Here's a secret trick to get half-price ropeway fares ↓↓↓After 14:00, the round-trip fare is half-price!! If you're not hiking and just want to see the autumn leaves, you can still have fun from this time 🙆♀️✤ Afternoon ticket (half price for round trip for adults after 14:00)Ticket type Weekdays Saturdays, Sundays, and holidaysAdults (round trip) 1,100 yen 1,250 yenChildren (round trip) 1,000 yen 1,000 yen※Afternoon tickets cannot be used in conjunction with other discount services ✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼ ➸Ropeway fare✤WeekdaysTypeRound tripOne wayAdults 2,200 yen 1,500 yenChildren 1,000 yen 600 yenPets 1,000 yen✤Saturdays, Sundays, and holidaysTypeRound tripOne wayAdults 2,500 yen 1,800 yenChildren 1,000 yen 600 yen Pets 1,000 yen each ✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼ ➸ Recommended spot information📍Marunuma Kogen Ski Resort ✤ Address: 4658-58 Higashiogawa, Katashina-mura, Tone-gun, Gunma Prefecture ✤ Access: Kan'etsu Expressway About 50 minutes from Numata IC✤Parking: Free✤Ropeway operating hours: 8:00-16:30 (weekdays) 7:30-16:30 (holidays) Up until 16:00 Down until 16:30 ✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼••┈┈┈••✼ #Halloween2024 #100TravelStyles #Footbath #BreathtakingSights #AutumnFoliage #AutumnFoliageSpots

Hotaka Mountain, also known as Mount Hotaka, is part of the Hotaka Mountain Range in the Japanese Alps. Located in the Chūbu region of central Japan, it straddles the border between Nagano and Gifu Prefectures. At an elevation of 3,190 meters (10,466 feet), it is the third-highest peak in Japan, making it a prominent destination for mountaineers, hikers, and outdoor enthusiasts. Mount Hotaka is renowned for its dramatic landscapes, which include rugged peaks, deep valleys, and pristine forests. The area is part of the Chubu-Sangaku National Park, a protected region known for its biodiversity and natural beauty. The mountain is accessible from several points, with Kamikōchi being one of the most popular gateways. Kamikōchi is a highland river valley that offers stunning views and serves as a base for many hiking and climbing expeditions. Skiing at Hotaka 1. Norikura Kogen Ski Area While Hotaka Mountain itself does not have a dedicated ski resort, the nearby Norikura Kogen Ski Area provides excellent skiing opportunities. Located in the northern part of the Hida Mountains, Norikura Kogen offers a range of slopes catering to different skill levels. The ski area features well-groomed runs, scenic trails, and modern facilities, making it a favorite among both locals and tourists. 2. Hakuba Valley For those looking for more extensive ski facilities, the renowned Hakuba Valley is not far from the Hotaka region. Hakuba Valley is home to multiple ski resorts, including Happo-One, Hakuba 47, and Goryu, among others. This area gained international fame during the 1998 Winter Olympics and continues to attract skiers and snowboarders from around the world. The valley offers a variety of terrains, from gentle beginner slopes to challenging off-piste routes. Other Winter Activities Snowshoeing The Hotaka area is ideal for snowshoeing, providing access to serene snow-covered landscapes and breathtaking vistas. Guided tours are available, allowing visitors to explore the winter wonderland safely and enjoy the tranquility of the mountains. Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding For the more adventurous, the Hotaka range offers backcountry skiing and snowboarding opportunities. Experienced skiers can venture into the untouched powder and steep descents, experiencing the thrill of off-piste skiing. Due to the challenging nature of this activity, it is recommended to go with a guide who knows the terrain well. Ice Climbing The cold winter months transform waterfalls and cliffs into ice climbing playgrounds. Ice climbing is a challenging and exhilarating sport that attracts climbers to the frozen cascades in the Hotaka region. This activity requires specialized equipment and training, making it suitable for experienced climbers.

I had the chance to experience the athletics course attached to the campsite where I camped! Although it was a bit scary due to the height, I felt safe because I was connected to a lifeline. The zipline that goes over the campers was incredibly fun! It's hard to take a good landing pose, though, haha. The equipment can be slippery, so I recommend wearing shoes with good grip on the sole. There were courses for advanced and intermediate levels. The beginner's course seems to be for children. I enjoyed the athletic course in the forest, and I would like to visit the one in Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture as well.

Oze Tokura Onsen Fujika Ryokan has been my go-to since partnering with Ctrip. Whether it's for business trips or personal travel, booking flights or hotels, it's all done through them. Especially when traveling abroad, language is no longer a barrier, as everything is taken care of in one stop. There were no client schedules this weekend, so I joined a friend on a three-hour drive from Tokyo to our destination - Oze National Park. It's one of the closest national parks to Tokyo. Strictly speaking, it's part of Nikko National Park, covering areas in Gunma, Tochigi, Fukushima, and Niigata, and is the largest alpine wetland in Japan. The area is surrounded by mountains over 2000 meters high, and due to its highland location, it welcomes the snow season after October each year. Therefore, it's open from May to October, with no admission fee. This period coincides with several long holidays in Japan, making it a perfect retreat for Tokyo residents during these times (there's another place called Karuizawa, which I'll introduce another time). Because of the many marshes, the wetland ecosystem is rich, with an abundance of animal and plant resources that you don't normally see. While envying their environment, I can't help but think of our homeland. I remember when I was young, the village was surrounded by green trees and small rivers. As industrialization progressed, factories and chimneys rose, replacing the greenery. In recent years, the country has been paying more and more attention to the restoration of green mountains and blue waters. Sometimes I think the meaning of travel is to see sights you've never seen before, to realize the real differences, and then to return home and contribute, even if just a little, with your own hands to make your hometown more beautiful.