Mt Nyukasa

Mt Nyukasa (Japanese: 入笠山) is an easy, open highland peak in Fujimi, Nagano prefecture, that offers beautiful scenery in every season and a wonderfully relaxed hiking experience. Its broad slopes and gentle ridgelines make it accessible to almost anyone, yet the mountain still feels spacious and atmospheric, especially when you move away from the busier areas near the ropeway.

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There are two main approaches. In the green season, you can climb from the Sawairi trailhead lower on the mountain, following forest paths and marshy clearings that gradually open into wide alpine meadows. Outside the green season, the ropeway becomes the practical starting point, especially for snowshoeing. Nyukasa is one of the easiest and most enjoyable snowshoe courses in Nagano with broad, rolling terrain,  and quiet marshlands transformed into white, frozen plains.

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The marsh areas are among the mountain’s greatest charms. Oahara Marsh is particularly spectacular, a serene highland wetland with a 30‑minute loop course that feels different in every season. It's bright and grassy in summer, golden in autumn, and beautifully stark under winter snow. Nyukasa Marsh, closer to the ropeway, is more crowded, but once you move away from that area the mountain becomes wonderfully quiet. 

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From the summit, the scenery is excellent including views of the South Alps and the Kirigamine (霧ヶ峰) highlands. Mt Tateshina (蓼科山) rises sharply to the east, its volcanic cone dominating the skyline, and the full sweep of Yatsugatake extends beyond it in layered ridges. 

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(All information here is based on personal observations and experiences. Check official sources before planning or starting any hikes.)