If you're looking for a way to enjoy the last stretch of summer in Japan before autumn really arrives, a new flower festival in Nagano offers a pretty spectacular excuse to head into the mountains.
The first-ever 30,000 Gentian Festival will take place at Fujimi Panorama Resort from late August to late September, with around 30,000 gentians expected to bloom across Irikasa Marsh at an elevation of 1,734 meters.
The Ezo gentians and Oyama gentians are the stars of the show, carpeting the wetland in shades of blue and purple. Other seasonal flowers, including Akebono-sou, Matsumushi-sou, and goldenrod, add splashes of white, pale purple, and yellow to the early autumn landscape.
Getting there is part of the experience. The gondola takes around 15 minutes to reach the summit station, from where the marshland is about a 10-minute walk away. You can then wander along the boardwalk and take in the flowers and mountain scenery. On clear days, the area offers views towards more than 30 of Japan's 100 Famous Mountains, including Mt. Fuji, the Yatsugatake Mountains, and the Northern, Central and Southern Alps. It's also a pet-friendly outing, with dogs allowed to ride the gondola without a carrier as long as they're kept on a leash.
Gondola tickets are 2,600 JPY for adults, 1,300 JPY for children and 800 JPY for pets. The gondola operates from 8:30am to 4pm, with the final descent at 4:30pm.
And if you're already thinking about winter, August is also your chance to grab a 40%-off early bird gondola ticket for the resort's upcoming ski season.
