Heavens Sonohara

長野県

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Recommended activities and seasons

item2 Activities

Enjoy Natural Scenery:Mountainous scenery / Starlit Sky / Alpine plant
Get Some Exercise:Snow shoeing / Hiking

Seasons

Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter

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The finest starry skies in Japan, fields of flowers, and stunning scenery.

The clear air of the village of Achi in southwestern Nagano prefecture, nestled between the river and the mountains, won it praise as the best place in Japan for stargazing from the Ministry of the Environment. The Heavens Sonohara ski course, on the Fujimidai Highlands at an elevation of 1,400 meters, has offered a night tour of the starry skies since 2012, held almost every night from April through October. Some 150,000 people take the tour every year, carrying lanterns to the peak and then lying on the grass while listening to the guide’s explanation.
In the summer the highlands are abloom with Dicentra peregrine, Lilium japonicum, and other wildflowers in a “tapestry of a million blossoms.” From the lift you can look out over a brilliant, multi-colored carpet, while in the fall you can climb to the scenic outlook at 1,600 meters to see the sea of clouds swirling below, stretching to the southern Japan Alps. As the autumnal colors reach their climax, the panorama spans the full 360 degrees.

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Fun activities throughout the year.

Heavens Sonohara Snow World is well-known for its skiing-only slopes. Enjoy downhill skiing surrounded by the beauty of the southern Japan Alps on the Panorama Course, while the South Wing Course for experts is popular for its 30-degree grade. The seasonal Rindo Course, weaving through the beautiful trees for a limited period, is renowned for its unique design. There are also separate sledding-only and snow-shoes-only courses, ensuring visitors of all ages a fun experience.
In addition to hosting winter activities, the region around Achi Village transforms into a land of peach blossoms in the spring. For about a month from mid-April, the village is painted in red, white, and pink blossoms. National Route 256 has earned the nickname “Peach Blossom Road,” with some 10,000 peach trees stretching over a 40-km drive. In Heavens Sonohara you can see the skunk cabbage in bloom, with only three yellow plants amid all the white flowers.

Heavens Sonohara

Address

3731-4 Chisato, Achimura, Shimoina-gun, Nagano Prefecture

Hours

Unkai Harbor: 5:30 am to 7:00 am
Ropeway: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Night tour: 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Closed

Varies depending on time of year

Cost

Ropeway return trip Adult, 2,200 yen; etc.

Phone

0265-44-2311

Access

By car from Chuo Expressway Sonohara IC, about 5 min
By express bus from Nagoya Meitetsu Bus Center, about 90 min

Web site

http://mt-heavens.com/
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