Asahidake: Hokkaido's Highest Peak in Autumn

Hokkaido's highest mountain is also one of its easiest to reach.

Why go

Asahidake stands in Daisetsuzan National Park, in the middle of Hokkaido. A ropeway carries you from the forest at about 1,100 m to open alpine ground at about 1,600 m in roughly ten minutes. From there you can stroll around the ponds in an hour, or climb to the summit and back in half a day.

We climbed to the summit on 25 September, at the height of the autumn colour: up by ropeway in the morning, to the top at 2,291 m in the early afternoon, and back down to the ponds for sunset. Every photo and video on this page is our own, taken that day.

Our day on Asahidake, base to summit

Photographed 25 September

Asahidake and its steam vents, from Sugatami

The mountain at a glance

What to know

HEIGHT

2,291 m

The highest point in Hokkaido, and an active volcano. Steam vents hiss beside the trail.

ROPEWAY

About ten minutes

From the base station at about 1,100 m to Sugatami Station at about 1,600 m. Check the official site for times and fares.

EASY WALK

Sugatami Pond loop

A marked path of under two kilometres around the alpine ponds. Allow about an hour. No climbing experience needed.

THE CLIMB

Half a day

From the top station, the summit is two to three hours up on loose volcanic rock, steep all the way, and about two hours down.

SEASON

Mid to late September

Autumn colour starts here in mid-September, among the earliest in Japan. Snow can fall from late September.

WHAT TO BRING

Warm, windproof layers

It is windy and cold on the ridge even when the base is mild. Proper shoes, water, and rain gear.

How the day goes

The route we took

Morning — ropeway upRide up early. On a clear day the autumn forest spreads out below the gondola.
Late morning — Sugatami PondWalk the loop first. The peak and its steam vents reflect in the pond when the air is still.
Midday — the climbIf the weather holds and you are equipped, climb to the summit. Turn back if cloud comes down; the trail is hard to follow in fog.
Evening — sunset at the pondsIn the last light the slopes turn red and the clouds pink. Check the time of the last ropeway down before you stay.

Questions

FAQ

Can I visit without climbing?

Yes. The ropeway and the Sugatami Pond loop are a complete visit on their own, and suit most people in ordinary walking shoes.

How do I get there?

The ropeway base is at Asahidake Onsen in Higashikawa, about an hour by road from Asahikawa. There is a bus from Asahikawa; check the current timetable.

Does YUKIZURU guide the climb?

Not at present. This page is our own record of a place we know. Our planned tours bring guests to the ropeway and the pond loop; summit climbs need proper mountain guiding, which we do not offer.

Is it safe?

It is a real mountain and an active volcano. Weather changes fast, there is no shelter on the ridge, and brown bears live in the park. Check the forecast and volcanic notices on the day.

Asahidake, the roof of Hokkaido.