A weekly series bringing you this week’s information from Ichinose at 1,600 meters above sea level. The Kanto-Koshin region has now seen the end of the rainy season, and summer is finally here in earnest. Even so, Ichinose stays more than 10°C cooler than Tokyo, and the highland summer continues, cool enough to want a jacket in the mornings and evenings.
*Information as of July 20, 2026
This Week’s Weather and What to Wear
With the rainy season over, this week brings summery skies with strong sunshine. From Tuesday to Friday in the first half of the week, it’s clear with dry air, perfect for a stroll. The weekend turns for the worse under the influence of a front, with rain expected at times on Sunday. In Tokyo that same week, highs are forecast at an extreme 34 to 37°C, a gap of roughly 11 to 12°C with Ichinose. Even during the day, Ichinose stays comfortable at 24 to 25°C, and since it drops to 15 to 16°C in the mornings and evenings, do bring a light jacket. This is a time of very strong daytime UV, so don’t forget a hat and sunscreen either.
*These are estimates based on the forecast as of July 20, 2026. The second half of the week in particular may change, so please check the latest forecast just before you head out.
| Date | Weather | High/Low | A Word |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7/20 (Mon) | Sunny with occasional clouds | 25°C/16°C | The highland summer sky begins |
| 7/21 (Tue) | Sunny | 24°C/17°C | A fresh day for a daytime stroll |
| 7/22 (Wed) | Sunny | 25°C/16°C | Dry air, and it feels wonderful |
| 7/23 (Thu) | Sunny with occasional clouds | 25°C/15°C | A crisp 15°C in the morning |
| 7/24 (Fri) | Sunny with occasional clouds | 25°C/15°C | Fine weather holds, great for a stroll |
| 7/25 (Sat) | Cloudy with occasional sun | 23°C/16°C | Chance of rain in the evening |
| 7/26 (Sun) | Cloudy with occasional rain | 21°C/16°C | The forest concert is indoors, so no worries |
Source: Japan Meteorological Agency, Northern Nagano Forecast, Outdoor Weather.jp, Ichinose Family Ski Area pinpoint forecast
This Week’s Events and What’s in Season
This week brings a run of events for enjoying the sounds and forests of the highland. On Tuesday, July 22, the Shiga Kogen Guides’ Association holds a Forest Therapy [Morning Walk Therapy] session, a program to walk through a forest glittering with morning dew in the early hours, when the birdsong is at its liveliest (advance registration required, 0269-34-2133). On Sunday, July 26, at the “Forest Concert Hall” in Okushiga Kogen, a string concert of the Ozawa International Chamber Music Academy Okushiga Forest Concert will be held. The sound of strings resonating through the wooden hall is well worth a listen.
The season’s best continues, too. At the Higashi-tateyama Alpine Botanical Garden (free admission), Nikko day lilies and other summer alpine plants are at their peak right now. You can ride up to a flower garden at 2,000 meters on the Shiga Kogen Golden Line (Yama-no-Eki to Higashi-tateyama, round-trip 1-Day Pass, adults 3,000 yen / elementary school age and under 1,800 yen). The Genji fireflies of Ishi-no-yu, a natural monument, are also at their best now.
Looking further ahead, the Shiga Kogen Nice! Photo Contest is accepting entries through November 3. Once August arrives, the Summer Festival Yamanouchi Dondon (8/1), the Shiga Kogen Summer Concert (8/3–31, 7 shows, free), and the highland’s biggest summer festival, the 59th Daija (Serpent) Festival (8/21–22), are all on the way.
Event Calendar
| Dates | Event / In Season | Location | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| In season (through July) | Nikko day lilies and other alpine plants | Higashi-tateyama Alpine Botanical Garden | Golden Line |
| In season (from mid-July) | Genji fireflies at Ishi-no-yu | Ishi-no-yu | Tourism Association guide |
| 7/22 (Tue) | Forest Therapy [Morning Walk Therapy] | Shiga Kogen (registration required) | Guides’ Association |
| 7/26 (Sun) | Ozawa International Chamber Music Academy Okushiga Forest Concert | Okushiga Forest Concert Hall | Okushiga Kogen NAVI |
| Daily through 8/16 (Sun) | Maeyama Summer Lift in operation | Suzurikawa | Operating info |
| Through 11/3 (Tue) | Nice! Photo Contest accepting entries | All of Shiga Kogen | Entry page |
| 8/1 (Sat) | Summer Festival Yamanouchi Dondon | Yudanaka Bosai Hiroba | Announcement |
| 8/3 (Mon) – 8/31 (Mon) | Shiga Kogen Summer Concert (7 shows, free) | Sogo Kaikan 98 | Announcement |
| 8/21 (Fri) – 22 (Sat) | 59th Daija (Serpent) Festival | In front of Yama-no-Eki, Shiga Kogen, and elsewhere | Event page |
Road, Lift, and Operating Info
- The weekday closure of Prefectural Route 502 (the Okushiga Koen Sakae Line) for bridge construction ended on Friday, July 17. It’s now open. Please check the latest status on the Major Road Opening Information.
- The Shiga Kusatsu Kogen Route (National Route 292) has been fully open since May 29, with a direct connection all the way to Kusatsu Onsen. Road traffic info here.
- The Maeyama Summer Lift runs daily through Sunday, August 16 (8:45 to 16:10, one-way adults 600 yen / elementary school age and under 400 yen). It’s the entrance to the pond-hopping course toward Shibu-ike and Shijuhachi-ike.
- The Shiga Kogen Golden Line (gondola) runs through November 1 (9:00 to 15:30). Enjoy a stroll through the sky from Yama-no-Eki to the Higashi-tateyama summit. For the operating status of all the summer mountain lifts, please check the Ropeway Association’s page.
- The hot-spring “Above-the-Clouds Yukemuri Pass” (2,000 yen for a tour of 3 baths) may have excluded days between July 20 and August 16. Please check with Kuma-no-Yu Hotaru Kidoike Onsen-kyo before using it.
- Carry a bear bell when hiking. Please also read our notice on wildlife safety.
A Word for This Week
With the rainy season over, the highland has finally entered its most pleasant season of all. While the cities sink into extreme heat, in Ichinose the morning air is still crisp, and even in the daytime the sweat fades away once you step into the shade of the trees. This weekend, the sound of strings will echo through the Okushiga forest. Open a window, let the cool breeze through, and listen closely to that music. Do spend such a highland-style holiday here in Ichinose.
We look forward to welcoming you again this week in cool Ichinose.
Sources and Related Links
- Japan Meteorological Agency Weather Forecast
- Outdoor Weather.jp, Ichinose Family Ski Area (reference)
- Shiga Kogen Tourism Association, Summer Events & Activities List
- Shiga Kogen Tourism Association, Major Road Opening Information
- Shiga Kogen Summer Mountain Lift Operating Status
- Related articles: A Journey to the Manten View Terrace / Summer Ichinose Two-Day, One-Night Model Course / Ichinose Weekly Vol. 01