Daisetsuzan Crossing 2-Day Guided Hiking Tour

Bask in the spectacular beauty of Hokkaido’s most famous peaks and traverse the Roof of Hokkaido to the Ohachidaira caldera. Enjoy the large-scale mountain vistas formed by volcanic activity on this 2-day guided hike.

HIGHLIGHTS
Climb to the summit of Mt. Asahidake, Hokkaido’s tallest peak (2,291m)
Hike along the ridgeline around the caldera of Ohachidaira
Stay overnight at Kurodake Ishimuro Emergency Shelter (1,890m)
Enjoy a foot spa at Nakadake Onsen, a wild hot spring surrounded by untouched alpine terrain
Designated as Japan’s National Park in 1934, Daisetsuzan holds a special place in the hearts of the people of Hokkaido. The national park covers over 2,300 square kilometres and is home to a dramatic mountain range, giving Daisetsuzan the nickname “the Roof of Hokkaido”. Keigetsu Omachi, a writer of the Meiji and Taisho period (late 1800s, early 1900s) , challenged the length of these peaks long before a trail had been established. He famously said “To understand the height of a mountain, climb Mt. Fuji. To understand the vastness of a mountain, climb the Daisetsuzan mountains.”

Join us on this two-day guided hiking tour and trek the most popular trails around Mt. Asahidake and the adjoining 2,000-metre peaks.

THIS TRIP IS PERFECT FOR TRAVELLERS THAT ENJOY…
Hiking through alpine terrain for more than 7 hours per day
Sleeping out in the backcountry
LANDSCAPES OF THE FOUR SEASONS
We run this tour from June to September and anytime during these months is the perfect time to go! During the June and July months, expect some snow on the trails. Generally, on this trip we approach the snow-covered areas during the day when the temperature is milder to avoid icy conditions. If you’re interested in seeing the alpine flowers in full bloom, we suggest hitting the trail between June and mid-July for the spring season in the mountains. Summer arrives in Daisetsuzan in August when most of the snow has melted away. During September, the mountain sees a change in colour with the leaves blazing with yellows, oranges and reds. The first snowfall occurs just before October on Mt. Asahidake marking the end of the autumn hiking season.

ITINERARY

Day 1
Sugatami – Asahidake – Kurodake
Kick-off your adventure at 8 am and meet your guide at Asahidake Onsen. After a prep meeting to ensure that everyone is adequately prepared for the adventure, we’ll jump on a cable car to Sugatami Station at 1,600m. Enjoy the spectacular views of Sugatami Pond and witness the volcanic activity of Mt. Asahidake along the route. Once we reach the summit of Mt. Asahidake, we’ll slowly descend down to the other side of the mountain. This part can be quite challenging as it’s a relatively steep track with fine gravel. We’ll journey on to Mt. Araidake (2,183m) from which the impressive Ohachidaira caldera can be seen in the distance. Walking leisurely on the ridgeline will take us through to Mt. Hokkai (2,149m) and eventually Kurodake Ishimuro, which is an emergency shelter partially serviced during the summer season. If you’re up for it, there is the option to hike on your own to Mt. Kurodake (1,984m) or Mt. Keigetsu (1,938m), which are both within 20 minutes from the shelter. The stone-shelter we’ll be staying at is almost 100 years old and can accommodate up to 80 people in bunks. There are bio-toilets next to the shelter. In the evening, your guide will prepare dinner and drinking water for the following day.

Hiking distance: 10km / Required time: 7-8 hours

Day 2
Kurodake – Nakadake Onsen – Sugatami
The departure time for the following day will depend on the weather conditions, your guide will decide this on the day. After having breakfast prepared by your guide, we’ll continue our walk to the other side of Ohachidaira and complete the circuit. On the way, we’ll stop at Kumonotaira, a very special area where a variety of beautiful alpine flowers bloom. We highly recommend hiking this area during June and August when the flowers are in full bloom. We’ll then push on to the main ascent of the day, to Mt. Hokuchin (2,244m), the second-highest peak in Hokkaido. After conquering the peak, we’ll make our way to Nakadake Onsen, a wild hot spring tucked away deep in the valleys of Daisetsuzan. The hot sulfur springs that surge from the ground flow to meet a mountain stream, making this a perfect site for enjoying a foot spa. After re-energizing our legs and feet, we’ll make our way back to Sugatami Station, where we’ll take a cable car back to Asahidake Onsen. The tour will wrap up in Asahidake Onsen in the late afternoon.

Hiking distance: 10km / Required time: 6-7 hours

We advise against planning long-distance trips after this particular tour as change of itinerary might occur due to bad weather.