Mt. Asama Opening Ceremony to herald the climbing season with the sound of the O-Asama Fire and Smoke Drum! Asama, pork miso soup is served by the Asama Mountain Man, and grilled chicken is also served by the owner of a ryotei restaurant!

～Pray for safety at the opening of Mt. Asama in Komoro City, Nagano Prefecture (May 8)

2024.04.17 10:00

一般社団法人こもろ観光局

Komoro Tourism Bureau (located in Komoro City, Nagano Prefecture; Chairman: Takashi Hanaoka) will hold the "Asama Yama-biraki" ceremony on May 8, 2024 (Wednesday) to pray for a safe and peaceful start to the mountain season and for the safety of residents, tourists and climbers at the foot of Mt.

The ceremony is attended by climbers, Komoro City's tourism, commerce and industry, police, and local government officials, and includes a performance by the local "Ooasama Hizumo Daiko" (fire drums), the distribution of memorial offerings, and the cutting of sacred ropes. After the ceremony, a guided hiking tour called "Don't go home until you see the antelope" will be held to see the antelope and return home.

Mt. Asama (from Yarigasaya)

Mt. Asama is an active volcano that has been volcanically active since prehistoric times and continues to erupt. As a symbolic mountain of the region, it is closely related to our daily lives in terms of water, agriculture, and tourism. Komoro City in Nagano Prefecture is the only trailhead for Mt. Asama, which was once worshipped by ascetic practitioners as a mountain of asceticism. Designated as Joshinetsu Kogen National Park, the mountain is rich in nature and is visited by more than 30,000 climbers annually. As of April 16, 2024, due to the eruption alert level 2 (crater area restrictions), the trail from the Sainokawara branch to Maegakeyama is under mountain entry restrictions within approximately 2 km of the summit crater.

Asama Mountain Opening

Date ： May 8, 2024 (Wednesday)

Place: Mt. Sengen Volcano Museum Course trailhead (in front of Tengu Onsen Sengen Sanso)

　　　　　　　Parking lot will be open free of charge only on the day of the event.

Schedule：7:30 Ceremony to pray for safety

　　　　　　　8:00 Mountain Opening Ceremony

　　　　　　　　　　Distribution of "Gokko" (limited quantity) to commemorate the opening of the mountain

　　　　　　　　　　Pork miso soup (Tengu Onsen Sengen Sanso)

　　　　　　　　　　Sale of yakitori (Kaiseki Hanaoka)

　　　　　　　　　　Prayer climbing guided by a free mountain guide

Asama Opening Ceremony

Ooasama Fire and Smoke Drum Festival

You can't go home until you see an antelope

Tour for those who cannot return until they see antelope

This is a unique tour to meet antelopes with Itsuro Sato, a guide with an antelope search eye that has a 100% antelope detection rate. You can't go home until you see antelope!

Participation fee: Free, no application required

Meet at the site on the day of the tour (Depart from the plaza in front of Tengu Onsen Sengen Sanso after the ceremony on the day of the tour).

　*Please bring your own lunch, etc.

Free shuttle bus

Free shuttle bus service will be provided from Komoro Station to the Sengen trailhead (environmentally friendly EV bus).

<Outward> Departure from Komoro Station 7:20 → Arrival at Asamayama trailhead 7:50

<Return> Departure: 15:00 from Asamayama trailhead→Arrival: 15:30 at Komoro Station

Only one round trip service is available.

Asama-yama-biraki related website

https://www.komoro-tour.jp/blog/id_15789/

Free transportation by environmentally friendly EV bus

Komoro City May Event Information

The 20th Kurumazaka Pass Hill Climb The Final

Date & Time: Sunday, May 19, from 9:00 a.m.

Venue: Cherry Park Line

Distance: 11km, elevation gain: 950m, slope angle: over 8%. Kurumazaka Pass Hill Climb, known as Japan's L'Alpe d'Huez, will be held at the foot of Mt. The 20th edition of this event will be the final one.

https://kurumazaka.jp/

Komoro Wine Days 2024 Spring

Date & Time: Saturday, May 25, 14:00-18:00

Venue ：Komoro Station Stop Garden, Seseragi no Oka, Machitane Plaza

This is a spring wine event held in Komoro City, Nagano Prefecture. Nineteen wineries from the city and beyond are scheduled to open stalls, selling various wines and ciders by the glass or bottle for 300 yen and 500 yen per glass, respectively. Visitors can also enjoy food sales that go well with wine, music, stage events, and more. Limited sale of Komoro original wine glasses (3,000 yen) with RIEDEL, a long-established Austrian wine glass manufacturer!

https://komoro-tour.jp/komorowinedays/spring2024/

Grand Fondo KOMORO 2024

Date: Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26

Venue: Hishino Onsen Yakushikan

This is a full-scale mountain Gran Fondo that starts in Komoro and circles the foot of Mount Asama, reaching a maximum gain of 2,399 meters. Anime enthusiasts gather to participate in this annual cycling event, and riders dress up in cosplay of their favorite anime. Booth exhibits and items for sale the day before the event are open to the public.

https://www.gfkomoro.com/

The New Normal! City Tour with Smart Cart "EGG

Date of operation: Every Saturday and Sunday in May (also on May 3) *Suspended in case of rain

The area around the old Hokkoku Kaido Road and Komoro Station, where you can feel the history and culture, is dotted with old and new stores, temples, shrines, and Buddhist temples. Smart Cart egg is a green slow-mobility vehicle that travels at a speed of 20 km/h. For first-time visitors to Komoro, we recommend the 20-minute course around the city from Komoro Station. For repeat visitors, it is also a must-have item to go to and from your favorite stores and spots.

City Tour with Smart Cart "egg

How to use: Register as a friend on the official LINE account "Shinshu Komoro-Komasu" and obtain an electronic ticket to use the service for free. In addition to running in conjunction with city events, the service is scheduled to run in the fall as well.

https://www.komoro-tour.jp/machitaneproject/

Waterfall Experience at Hippo Camp" using a wheelchair for outdoor use!

As a universal tourism initiative, Komoro Tourism Bureau has planned the "Hippo Camp Waterfall Experience" program, which can be enjoyed by people with and without disabilities alike. a program that can be enjoyed by people with and without disabilities alike.

Participants will experience waterfall gyoing at Fudo Falls in Hishino, Komoro City, in an amphibious outdoor wheelchair "Hippocamp" and wearing a waterfall gyoing outfit. Immediately after the waterfall experience, visitors can take a hot spring bath at Hishino Onsen Tokiwa-kan (barrier-free). This wheelchair allows you to go deep into the wilderness, which is normally inaccessible.

Experience Period

Mid-May to November 2024 *Registration will begin in mid-May.

Experience site

Around Hishino Hot Springs, Komoro City, Nagano Prefecture

For more information and to apply, please visit the following website.

https://www.komoro-tour.jp/blog/id_14980/