The 2019-20 season came to an unexpected end due to the global spread of the coronavirus. We spoke to Hakuba Tourism Development, which operates Hakuba Happo-one, Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort, and Tsugaike Kogen, about the current situation
INDEX
- Hakuba Tourism Development's summer operations and specific COVID-19 countermeasures
- The following measures were taken during the state of emergency:
- What is Happo, Iwatake, and Tsugaike like in the summer?
- summary
Hakuba Tourism Development's summer operations and specific COVID-19 countermeasures
As of July 15th, the three facilities have implemented common COVID-19 infection prevention measures and are operating for the summer season.
Iwatake started its green season on May 16th, limited to Nagano Prefecture residents on weekends only. From June 1st, Happo-one and Tsugaike Kogen, as well as Iwatake which had opened earlier, began general operations regardless of region.
For specific COVID-19 prevention measures,the informationhere, but here we will give an example regarding the use of the Happo Alpine Line.
- Visitors are encouraged to install the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare's app "COCOA."。
- When purchasing a ticket, show the app screen at the ticket counter and purchase your ticket。
- If you have difficulty installing the app, you will need to fill out a consent form when purchasing tickets. This is to ensure a contact system in place in the unlikely event that an infection occurs。
- Masks must be worn inside the facility, and alcohol-based disinfectant is provided at the facility for sanitizing hands upon entering and exiting the facility
- The number of passengers on gondola lifts will be limited and disinfected. Only 50% of the capacity (3 people) will be allowed on board. The carriages will be disinfected with alcohol after each use。
- If multiple people are purchasing tickets, one representative should go to the ticket counter。
- The restaurant is constantly ventilated, alcohol disinfected as needed, and the cash register is fitted with a sheet to prevent droplet infection。
- It goes without saying that employees are required to check their health daily, wear masks and gloves, and thoroughly disinfect their hands
These measures are in place to ensure that even just the lift operations are running during the summer. We asked Kohei Saito of Hakuba Tourism Development's marketing department about their outlook for winter. He replied,
"Currently, we are taking sufficient infection control measures to create an environment where people can enjoy the charms of Hakuba with peace of mind. In order to ensure that people can visit the Hakuba area, an all-season mountain resort, throughout all four seasons, we are considering what kind of operating system to implement in winter, including infection control measures
.
The following measures were taken during the state of emergency:
The government declared a state of emergency on April 7th. The following day, Happo-one closed its doors, followed by Tsugaike Kogen two days later. Iwatake had already closed its doors on March 29th.
The staff at the two facilities that were still operating were immediately put on standby at home. During the self-isolation period, each facility continued to frequently post updates on Hakuba in the spring on social media. Even though people couldn't go there, they conveyed to users the charm of Hakuba, which is different from the depths of winter, and sent a message that they hoped people would come next year.
In particular, Iwatake, under the hashtag "#StayHomeTravel," streamed a live performance from "HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR" without an audience via social media and YouTube so that people could see the beautiful contrast between the fresh greenery and remaining snow of the Hakuba Three Peaks from their homes.
What is Happo, Iwatake, and Tsugaike like in the summer?
Each business also operates a thriving summer resort, making it a place where you can enjoy mountain resorts all year round
Happo-one has the Alpine Line, where you can take a gondola and lift to the top of the ski resort, and enjoy trekking up to an altitude of around 2,000m
Tsugaike Kogen is connected to Tsugaike Nature Park, a high-altitude marshland at an altitude of 1,900m, and is a great place for a stroll. Hakuba Tsugaike WOW!, which has a variety of adventure facilities, is also popular
Sandwiched between the two facilities, Iwatake is home to the highly popular HAKUBA MOUNTAIN HARBOR, which opened at the summit in 2019. Many people, regardless of age or gender, visit the harbor to relax while enjoying the spectacular view of the Hakuba Sanzan mountains
Information about Happo, Iwatake, and Tsugaike Kogen in the summer can be found here:
https://www.nsd-hakuba.jp/
summary
Opening for business this summer will highlight the necessary actions and challenges in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hakuba Tourism Development is operated by Nippon Ski Resort Development, which also has facilities in Nagano, Gifu, and Gunma prefectures. By sharing and accumulating various insights from each region, basic guidelines for preventive measures should be updated as winter approaches
The decision on winter operations will likely be made while monitoring the virus situation, government responses in response, and public trends