At the heart of Hokkaido’s rugged wilderness lies Mt. Asahidake, a towering landmark steeped with cultural and spiritual stories.
Dominating the landscapes of Daisetsuzan National Park, coined as the “Playground of the Gods” by the indigenous Ainu people, this mountain boasts an elevation of 2,291 m (7,516 ft) which makes it the tallest peak in the whole region!
While its geological marvels, including its status as a stratovolcano with active fumaroles and steaming geysers, make it a site of scientific interest, for me it is its spiritual aura that truly sets it apart.
The Ainu view Mt. Asahidake as a holy peak, a bridge between the human realm and the domain of the deities. Over generations, they’ve passed down tales that speak of divine beings who once roamed these terrains, dancing amidst its peaks and valleys.
For the Ainu, every river, forest, and mountain possesses a spirit known as kamuy (same as the kami in Shintoism.) And Mt. Asahidake is believed to be home to some of the most powerful and benevolent kamuy.
How to Get to the Mt. Asahidake
The best place to make a home base when attempting Mt. Asahidake would be at Asahikawa.
This allows you plenty of time to do the hike as compared to coming from Sapporo. Plus, it is simply more convenient if you’re doing other summer activities such as cycling from Biei to Furano or visiting Noboribetsu.
Here’s how to get there:
- By Public Transport:
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- Start at the JR Asahikawa Train Station.
- Hop onto the Ideyugo bus, which is a service run by the Asahikawa Denki Kido Bus company. This dedicated line will take you directly to the Asahidake-Onsen region.
- Buses destined for Asahidake-Onsen leave at 07:11, 09:41, 13:11, and 16:24. Return journeys are scheduled at 09:30, 12:00, 15:30, and 18:00.
- You can expect the ride to last approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, with a fare that’s around 1,430 JPY for a one-way trip.
- By Rental Car:
If you’re someone who cherishes the freedom and flexibility of a road trip, renting a car and driving to Mt. Asahidake is another convenient option. If you’re coming from abroad, getting travel insurance is always a good idea before you hit the road or the trails!
Mt. Asahidake Ropeway
From Asahidake Onsen, you can then choose to get on the Asahidake Ropeway which will take you to Shitsugami Station, or you can start your hike from the base.
Opening Time: 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, runs every 10 to 15 minutes from June through October
Cost: 2,800 JPY for a round trip and 1,600 JPY for one-way.
Where to Stay in Asahikawa
There are many hotels near and around Asahikawa station which is really convenient. The rates are not as high compared to more popular neighbors such as Otaru and Sapporo. Here are some of my recommendations for accommodations in Asahikawa:
Best Hotels in Asahikawa:
- Hotel Wing International Asahikawa Ekimae – one of my favorites in Asahikawa, I have stayed here two times and the location is quite convenient. It features a restaurant, a shared lounge, and air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi and private bathrooms. The hotel also offers a 24-hour front desk and luggage storage for guests. Each room is equipped with a flat-screen TV, bed linen, and towels.
- Hotel Amanek Asahikawa – provides complimentary WiFi, a 24-hour front desk, and space to store luggage. Ensuring a smoke-free environment, each room is well-equipped with modern amenities including a flat-screen TV, air conditioning, a closet, and a desk to ensure a comfortable stay.
- JR Inn Asahikawa – a convenient lodging option directly linked to JR Asahikawa Station. The hotel offers on-site amenities such as a public bath, laundry facilities, and free WiFi. Designed with simplicity in mind, each room showcases a minimalist aesthetic, equipped with bespoke pillows, a flat-screen TV, and shower facilities.
Best Hostels in Asahikawa:
- Morihico J-style Asahikawa – offers free WiFi access and rooms that are comfortably air-conditioned. Every room at the ryokan is thoughtfully equipped with a desk, flat-screen TV, private bathroom, bed linen, towels, and a handy fridge for your convenience.
- B Cycle – with a modern Scandinavian design, it provides a comfortable space across various room types. Although there is only one bath, there are three lavatories, and a sento (public bath) is nearby. The common living room has a large dining table and is equipped with WiFi.
What to Know About Mt. Asahidake
Difficulty
Mt. Asahidake, the Roof of Hokkaido, has been selected as one of Japan‘s Top 100 Mountains. But is it difficult?
I would say it’s moderately challenging but the views more than make up for it, which was something we didn’t have much on when we did Mt. Fuji, for instance.
The weather can also be a bit fickle up top, ranging from rainy, windy, and foggy which can drastically change the hiking experience. With an elevation gain of around 674 m (2,211 ft) it’s not tall per se though there are a lot of rocky portions that would require some scrambling.
Good hiking shoes are really recommended as I found myself slipping quite often.
Distance
The distance covered is around 5.5 km (3.4 mi) if you’re going to be using the ropeway going up and back down which is not really that bad all things considering.
Personally, I used the ropeway going up but opted not to going down which I’m pretty sure more than doubled my distance, but the bonus is that you’ll be taken to a marshland and you can have the whole mountain to yourself since everybody else takes the ropeway back down.
Duration
If you’re taking the ropeway up and backdown, the hike will take around 3 – 4 hours, including breaks and taking the time to appreciate the wonderful natural phenomena around Mt. Asahidake. In the summer, the alpine flowers are beautiful, and the steaming vents and geysers are another note-worthy spot, along with Sugatami pond.
If you’re planning on skipping out on the ropeway going down, expect to add another 2 hours.
The Mt. Asahidake Hike
- Distance: 5.5 km (3.4 mi)
- Time: 4 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Summit: 2,291 m (7,516 ft)
- Best Time to Go: Summer for the alpine vibes, Autumn can have really unpredictable weather. The climbing season is short, from late June to early October
- Crowds: Medium, mostly locals
- GPS & Map: Mt. Asahidake
Mt. Asahidake Hiking Experience
Waking up extra early and got on the bus going to Daisetsuzan National Park where Mt. Asahidake, the tallest mountain in Hokkaido, was located.
I got off the trail head and started off with the ropeway. I didn’t want to use it but it seemed like it was the only way, and frankly I am glad I did as I don’t think I had it in me to finish the whole ascent like that.
Leaving the gondola, I had to just go with my gut and aim for the summit first. This was my first alpine mountain in the summer months and it was so pretty, there were a lot of plants and flowers scattered all around.
It was foggy for a bit since it was raining but I didn’t let it bother me that much. There were two huge mountain lakes and geysers at the base. Steam gushing out as Mt. Asahidake is a volcano afterall.
As I started the hike, the clouds parted way and gave me a nice view of the surrounding mountain range and forests.
This was going to be a good hike.
The climb lasted for a couple of hours, I got quite tired. The greenery gave way to rocks and soon, I was bouldering up the mountain.
The fog sometimes made it so hard to see what was in front of you, the wind sometimes was very strong as well. I didn’t have hiking shoes too and my shoes would slip on the gravel sometimes so I had to hang on to the ropes as if my life depended on it.
Very fun, a bit stressful.
I eventually made it to the top where a single bird plopped on to a trunk and everything else was covered by clouds. I ate my lunch and started going down.
Downhill was much trickier since I was slipping even more often, all the way down.
It was not fun for my knees but the views were much better on the way to the base with the clouds parting ways and the sun shining through.
Here is where I went full gladiator mode, I opted not to take the ropeway down and decided to finish the rest of the mountain on foot all the way to the bottom, not even knowing where I would end up in.
It was really worth it though, aside from the fatigue.
The hike on the way down pass the gondola was pretty much empty. The only person doing it was literally me so I had the whole mountain all to myself. There were a lot of dragon flies flying around, different trees of all shapes and sizes.
There were some rocks I had to scale over, and as I descended more, the more the forest came to be.
I was soon surrounded by trees and the path became much more narrow, more rocks to scale, puddles to avoid and insects to watch out for.
The descent took so long, I was beginning to doubt myself and was getting a bit worried but I still continued on and on and on.
I soon found myself in a marshland, on a wooden boardwalk, a bit dilapidated. My shoes ended up getting swallowed by the mud puddles a couple of times, much to the misery of my now wet socks.
This continued on for a long time but I was glad for the flats. I eventually found myself back at the base, so happy I made it back in one piece.
As with every mountain hike, I went to look for an onsen. The first one was only available for guests, but I found another one that allowed anyone to enter and so I did.
There were just a couple of people and soon they were out and I had the whole onsen to myself again.
I swam like a child and stayed for as long as I can until I decided it was time to catch the bus.
The sun was now setting, turning the clouds orange. I waited for my bus for a bit more, checking out the other hotels in the area to see if I can find someplace to rest away from the cold.
I was able to get on the bus and end the day tired but satisfied, even seeing some familiar faces in the bus from the hike.
Plan Your Trip to Hokkaido | Best Travel Resources
Book Your Accommodations
- Booking.com – the world’s leading online booking platform for accomodations around the world, they have an extensive amount of available listings with zero booking fees and best price guarantees.
- Hostelworld – a backpacker’s best friend, Hostelworld has the largest collection of hostels and guesthouses for affordable prices.
Don’t Forget Insurance
- SafetyWing – from Nomad Insurance, an insurance by nomads for nomads. They understand our lifestyle well and have really comprehensive and flexible plans that cater to any traveler.
Find Cheap Flights
- Kiwi.com – my go-to for booking and finding the cheapest flights and it’s helped me save tons of money. They do virtual interlining which is connecting flights from airlines that do not codeshare, so you can find routes that you wouldn’t be able to find normally.
Join Tours & Activities
- GetYourGuide – is one of the best places to find unique tours and activities. I found that it’s an excellent way to meet fellow travelers and create fond memories. They are not only limited to tours as they also offer niche services such as skip-the-line tickets or private transfers.
Catch a Ride
- Rentalcars.com – nothing beats the freedom of the road, Rentalcars.com is the world’s largest online car rental service. They operate across 160 countries so they’re the perfect partner to work with if you find yourself wanting a ride.
