Asahidake

Mountain

Prefecture

Hokkaido

Type

Mountain

N/A

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About This Destination

At 2,291 m, Asahidake is the highest mountain in Hokkaido and an active volcano in Daisetsuzan National Park. The Asahidake Ropeway lifts you from Asahidake Onsen to Sugatami Station at about 1,600 m in 10 minutes, where a 1.7 km loop passes Sugatami Pond and steaming vents, and the summit trail begins.

The ropeway car leaves Asahidake Onsen through birch and fir and, ten minutes later, lets you out at Sugatami Station, around 1,600 m up, above the tree line. From there a loop of about 1.7 km, roughly an hour, circles Sugatami Pond, and on a still day the summit cone of Asahidake shows in the water with steam drifting off the fumaroles behind it. You will smell the sulphur before you see the vents. The loop is open from June to mid-October; wear boots or thick-soled shoes and pack rain gear, because the weather turns fast even on clear mornings, and the top station rents rubber boots. Chishima-zakura, a dwarf cherry, flowers here in mid-June, often called the last cherry blossom in Japan, and the slopes colour early, with September weekends very busy. The summit itself, at 2,291 m the highest point in Hokkaido, is a loose, rocky climb of about 700 vertical metres. Near the top, a boulder known as the false Kinko-iwa looks like the real trail marker and has led people off route in fog; ropes now mark the right way. Do not count on a one-way ticket up late in the day: staff may refuse it close to sunset.

Location

Prefecture: Hokkaido

Address: Higashikawa, Hokkaido, Japan

Nearest Station: Asahikawa Station

Closed: The ropeway stops for maintenance for a few weeks each year in November and December, and also in strong wind or when lightning is likely. Check the official schedule before going.

Hours note: Ropeway hours change through the season: the first run is as early as 6:00 and the last descent as late as 18:00 in summer, with shorter days the rest of the year. Cars run every 15 minutes from June 1 to October 20 and every 20 minutes otherwise. Miss the last car down and the police may be called as for a mountain accident.

Best time to visit: Mid-June for chishima-zakura and early June to mid-August for alpine flowers; mid-September for autumn colour; winter for powder snow

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Visitor Information

Credit Cards: Unknown

Official Website

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Asahidake Ropeway cost?

Adults (junior high school age and up) pay 3,500 yen return or 2,200 yen one way from June 1 to October 31, and 2,800 yen return or 1,700 yen one way from November 1 to May 31. Children pay 1,750 yen return all year, and one preschool child per adult rides free. Cards are accepted and no booking is needed.

How long does it take to climb to the summit from Sugatami Station?

The Ministry of the Environment puts it at about 2 hours 30 minutes up, over loose rock with about 700 m of climbing, so allow most of a day for the return. Wear proper boots, carry warm and waterproof layers, and know when the last ropeway car goes down.

Is Asahidake an active volcano, and is it safe to visit?

Yes. The steaming vents near Sugatami Pond belong to the Jigokudani explosion crater. The Japan Meteorological Agency monitors Daisetsuzan and issues a volcanic alert level from 1 to 5: level 1 means stay aware it is an active volcano, 2 restricts the area around the crater, 3 restricts entry to the mountain, and 4 and 5 call for evacuation. Check the current level on the agency's Daisetsuzan page before you go.

When can I walk the Sugatami Pond loop, and what should I wear?

From June to mid-October. The loop is about 1.7 km and takes about an hour; wear hiking boots or thick-soled shoes and bring rain gear. Rubber boots can be rented at the top station, and in winter the area is snow-covered.