![](https://chanokstudios.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712584739_919_A-Week-in-Hokkaido-Japan-Using-Public-Transportation.jpg)
The climbing in Daisetsuzan National Park on the island of Hokkaido is chic, featuring bubbling incredibly hot springs, steaming, otherworldly fumaroles, remarkable volcanic landscapes, wildflowers, and thick forests. All through our 7 days in Hokkaido, we frequented Sapporo and used two times in Daisetsuzan Nationwide Park, getting public transportation to get about. We had been ready to do three hikes in Daisetsuzan Nationwide Park, Hokkaido, Japan.
The educate procedure manufactured it simple to get from Tokyo to Sapporo (together with a big chunk on the Shinkansen bullet practice), and then to Asahikawa. From Asahikawa, we took the Ideyu-go bus, which departed from the Asahikawa educate station and also stops at the airport. Our location was Ashidake Onsen, a resort within Daisetsuzan National Park that has many lodging choices, a ropeway (cable automobile) and Customer Heart, and no other amenities. We stayed at a traditional Japanese lodge, Daisetsuzan Shirakaba-so Ryokan, a 7-minute walk from the ropeway.
![](https://chanokstudios.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Three-Hikes-in-Daisetsuzan-National-Park-Hokkaido-Japan.jpg)
Hokkaido enjoys a quick summer season season, when it is really a bit cooler and drier than southern Japan. July as a result of September are perfect months for hiking, when wintertime delivers chilly temperatures, snow, and snow sporting activities, including cross-country and downhill snowboarding and snowshoeing. We were there the very first week of Oct, when the leaves had been commencing to flip, temperatures have been great in the mountains, and we dodged light rain. Ten times afterwards, they bought their very first snow, and with that the mountaineering year was in excess of.
A few Hikes in Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido, Japan
We stopped by the Customer Center in Asahidake Onsen, which is following to the ropeway station. We picked up maps and observed the information and facts about bears. Bears are current in Hokkaido and are once in a while problematic. They marked modern sightings on a map and shut some parts to mountaineering.
After we acquired maps at the customer heart and treats at a snack bar in the ropeway building, we procured tickets for the cable motor vehicle and were being whisked element-way up Mount Asahidake.
![](https://chanokstudios.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712605968_505_Three-Hikes-in-Daisetsuzan-National-Park-Hokkaido-Japan.jpg)
Sugatami Pond Loop
As the ropeway ascended, we remaining the forest powering, replaced by shorter shrubbery and, ultimately, very low grasses and bare soil. The Sugatami Pond Loop was a one-mile hike that nearly every ready-bodied visitor did after taking the ropeway up. It was a nicely-formulated hike that experienced some of the most extraordinary scenery on display. As quickly as we walked a limited length up a bluff, we promptly noticed what attracts men and women to the place. In opposition to the backdrop of Mt Asahidake, the best peak in Hokkaido, lay several reflecting ponds cradled by volcanic rock and the otherworldly sight of a number of clouds of steam hissing from fissures in the earth higher than molten rock. A faint acrid sulfurous odor bolstered the dynamic mother nature of an active volcano, emitting gases from within our world.
System on at the very least an hour for this limited hike mainly because every viewpoint warrants time to take in the remarkable views and appreciate the placing natural beauty. We extended the hike by continuing on the trail that potential customers to the best of Mt. Asahidake (7,516 feet), but threatening black clouds despatched us scurrying back again to the ropeway prior to we could summit.
![](https://chanokstudios.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712605968_708_Three-Hikes-in-Daisetsuzan-National-Park-Hokkaido-Japan.jpg)
Asahidake Onsen Mother nature Path
There are a couple nature trails in the Asahidake Onsen city. One short trail goes guiding the Visitor Center and Ropeway. An additional is a a little longer hike that qualified prospects from the ropeway station by an overgrown trail to the lodging down below. And a single is a 3.15-mile trail that starts off instantly throughout the street from the Daisetsuzan Shirakaba-so Ryokan.
The extended 3.15-mile trail was an simple hike on a comparatively flat trail with occasional boardwalks by marshy areas and showed off the thick vegetation at this altitude. We selected this path in the early morning since the temperature was unsettled soon after raining most of the evening.
I was not able to research for trails in Hokkaido by title in GaiaGPS or Alltrails, two absolutely free map applications I use, but when I opened the apps, this and other trails we hiked appeared and were quick to comply with.
![](https://chanokstudios.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712605969_683_Three-Hikes-in-Daisetsuzan-National-Park-Hokkaido-Japan.jpg)
Nakadake Onsen Hike
After accomplishing the Character Trail, the climate cleared, and we took a likelihood to go up the ropeway once again. This time, we headed left (NW) at a junction close to the beginning of the Sugatami Pond Loop toward Nakadake Onsen. This was a six-mile round journey out to the purely natural sizzling springs and back that traversed the facet of the mountain, displaying majestic sights that ended up ever-transforming, opening up to coax us toward the future valley. The trail undulates up and down with all over 1,000 toes of elevation acquire and took us 4.5 several hours, together with a lengthy foot soaking at the incredibly hot springs.
This hike forms one particular leg of a for a longer period loop that goes increased and all over the bottom of the mountain, so that is an option for hikers with extra time and obvious climate. The loop is mapped on AllTrails.
![](https://chanokstudios.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712605969_709_Three-Hikes-in-Daisetsuzan-National-Park-Hokkaido-Japan.jpg)
Other Hikes
If youre fascinated in longer hikes, here are two additional solutions.
- Asahidake-Kurodake to Sounkyo Onsen
- If youre up for the Asahidake-Kurodake day hike of 7-8 hrs, you can stick to both of the trails to Nakadake Onsen mentione previously mentioned, and then keep on on the Kurodake route to Sounkyo Onsen, another onsen town with a ropeway and lodging. Luggage may possibly be sent forward making use of a baggage transport service these as Yamato (TA-Q-BIN) or buses are out there to consider you back.
- Daisetsuzan Grand Traverse
![](https://chanokstudios.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712605969_17_Three-Hikes-in-Daisetsuzan-National-Park-Hokkaido-Japan.jpg)
Our a few hikes in Daisetsuzan National Park, Hokkaido, Japan offered an possibility to see exceptional ecosystems in the spot and enjoy the plentiful natural splendor. The climbing at Daisetsuzan Nationwide Park was inspiring and I could very easily invest extra time there.