I’ve only ever done Asahidake as a day hike once, the other times have been the start of multi-day excursions into the range. Although it’s a bit of a steady slog up the often busy route above the ropeway, you are compensated by the classic volcanic scenery, hissing steam vents and expanding views. The summit can sometimes be crowded and you might even have to queue for your turn for a selfie by the marker post.
The route down the other side varies with the time of year from a wide snowfield that is fun to slide down to a loose rutted track that isn’t. One time there was a guided group coming up the snowfield that reminded us of those pictures of the queues of climbers on the Lhotse Face of Everest. Well, almost.
At the bottom you pass by the Ura-asahi designated camping spot. It is an open col with no facilities but a few rock walls have been built to shelter tent sites from the wind. Then it’s a gentle climb up to Mamiyadake. This is one of the most scenic stretches of trail with lots of flowers blooming in July. Later in the season, as you look back to the small crater of Kumagatake on your left the snow patches form a smiley face to reflect your mood.
Once on the broad main ridge it’s a half hour walk north with expansive views into the large crater of Ohachidaira on the right and Hokuchindake, Hokkaido’s second highest peak, ahead.
At the signposted junction you turn left and drop down to Nakadake onsen. This is just a small pool in the riverbed. My companion and I refreshed ourselves by soaking our tired feet in the steaming tub. Then we carried on down though the increasingly green meadows and occasional marshy spots of Susoaidaira to the junction with the trail that took us around the flank of the mountain and eventually back to the ropeway at Sugatami.
11 thoughts on “Asahidake and Nakadake-onsen Loop Hike”
Hello, thanks for the information! What is your opinion on doing this loop in mid-June? Is most of it still under a considerable amount of snow?
Hi Andrew, yes there will still be plenty of snow up on the tops behind Asahi-dake covering the trail in many places and possibly the trail junction signs as well. Below is an image looking towards the area from the north that time of year.
Hi Rick, thank you for the route, looks incredible! I am thinking going there the first week of November, do you think I will need crampons or any special equipment? Do you think I will need a guide or will it be relatively straightforward to find the route?
Hi, the webcam footage for today 10/15 shows no snow at the top station of the ropeway but at this time of year a big dump could come at any time and I’d certainly expect it to be snow conditions by early November. In that case full winter gear and equipment is necessary. And a good stable weather forecast, it can change quickly up there and it’s very exposed. In good clear weather an ascent from the ropeway to the summit is straightforward but if you want to drop off the back and do the circuit you need to have good navigation skills and experience as obviously the trails will be covered and in a whiteout the broad ridges don’t offer many defined features to aid route finding. The route timings above are for summer conditions and it will take longer in snow, and of course daylight hours are shorter. Hope this helps!
Thank you so much for all the great information. We planned to hike in Hokkaido in April. Is this trail doable then?
Hi Lyn – April is still winter up there and at that time this route would require full winter clothing and gear – crampons and ice axe for Asahidake and depending on conditions snowshoes useful if wanting to go further. The trails and markers will all be under metres of snow. Fine settled weather advisable too! Definitely not for the inexperienced.
Thank you so much for all the great information. We planned to hike in Hokkaido in April. Is this trail doable then?
This trail map looks great!
Do you consider it save to hike here individually in Juli/August, given adequate condition and navigation skills, or would you advise against it?
I mainly ask this question because I have no experience with bears or other wildlive present in the area
Hi Jeffrey, should be no problem! The trails are well marked and bears are rarely seen in this part of the park. Just keep an eye on the weather.
Thank you!
I’m glad you found it interesting and/or useful!