Shakotan-dake and Shakotan Hut Hiking

積丹岳 | Poro-ru-par

Posted on Sep 19, 2018
1

Posted on Sep 19, 2018

0 1

12km

Distance

7hrs

Time

800m

Ascent

1255m

Highest point

6/10

Difficulty

Best season icon (Hokkaido Wilds)
Jun-Oct

Best season

Mt. Shakotan (積丹岳, 1,255m) is the towering peak that dominates the peninsula northwest of Sapporo bearing its name - the Shakotan Peninsula. Mt. Shakotan's peak offers 360-degree views across the Japan Sea, Mt. Yotei, the Niseko Range, and the Rumoi Ranges. It is also a popular ski touring destination in the spring skiing season. In the summer hiking season, hikers enjoy gorgeous gnarled white birch forests and towering black pines along the way to the summit.

We visited this route on Jul 29, 2018

Last updated Jul 13, 2021

Route Map

Need to know details

Location

This hike is located on the Shakotan Peninsula to the northwest of Sapporo City. The hike itself starts from the Shakotan Hut, accessible by a rough dirt road.

General notes

Mt. Shakotan is a popular destination but shouldn’t be underestimated. The approach is long, and the track involves plenty of crouching and ducking a number of low-lying trees.

Other attractions in the area include the historic Nikka Whiskey Yoichi Distillery (location) is on the way back to Sapporo (near the Yoichi JR Train Station), and they offer free tastings. Very much worth a visit!

Route Timing
Up | 5hrs
Down | 3hrs

In summer, the route starts at the hut. It is a fairly long approach, so you’ll want to bank on up to 5 hours from hut to summit, and another 3 hours from summit back to the hut.

Route

There are very few route markers, however the trail is well defined and easy to follow.

Transport

Public transport:

You’ll want to catch the Number 21 bus from Yoichi JR Station, bound for Cape Kamuisaki, and get off at the bus stop called tozan-guchi (登山口) which is stop number 52 (counting from Otaru Station). Bus stop location is around 43.308076, 140.553185, and will likely take around an hour from Yoichi Station. Check at tourist info at Sapporo Station before you head off for season timetable information. From there, it will be about an hour’s walk to the hut along a paved road at first, then becoming a gravel road.

By car: 

In summer, there is a large area next to the hut to park cars. There’s enough room for at least 15 cars.

Hut(s)

Shakotan Hut (full details here)

Available for use from around the end of April each year till November, Shakotan Hut provides an excellent base from which to explore peaks such as Mt. Shakotan-dake (積丹岳 – 1,255m) or Mt. Yobetsu (余別岳 – 1,298m) on the Shakotan Peninsula. You can drive there in summer, and in winter, it’s about 40 minutes from the end of the snow-cleared section of dirt road. Shakotan Hut is a public-transport accessible hut, free to use for overnight stays. As far as Hokkaido mountain huts go, it is a luxurious one – running spring water, a kerosene stove, and a large tatami living area.

Physical maps
Print: HokkaidoWilds.org 1:25,000 TOPOMAP+
Niseko Backcountry map: Buy on Amazon.co.jp | See companion site for more purchase options
GSI Topo Map: Yobetsu (余別) – map no. NK-54-20-9-1
GSI Topo Map 2: Mikuni (美国) – map no. NK-54-20-5-3

NOTE: The GSI 1/25000 topo map(s) above can be purchased for 350yen each from Kinokuniya bookstore next to Sapporo Station or online (in Japanese).

route safety

Police notification: Fill your police notification out online using Compass – instructions here

Weather forecast

Windy.com weather forecast for Shakotan-dake

Onsen nearby

Shakotan Onsen (location), 10km further around the cape, is highly recommended for its spectacular outdoor pools. Furubira Onsen (location), is also nice, and it’s on the way back to Sapporo, and has an ocean-view outdoor bath.

Extra Resources
No extra English resources that we know of. If you know of any, please let us know in the comments.

Guide Options

If you’d like to hike this route and/or explore other hikes in the central Hokkaido area together with a local certified guide, get in touch with Yasuko Kikuchi. Born and raised in Hokkaido, she’s a JMGA-certified guide now based in Sapporo. Her outdoor experience is broad and worldwide, having worked as a Canadian Ski Patrol member, and has sumitted a number of 6,000m+ peaks around the world. She speaks good English. In addition to Yasuko, also see a full list of English-speaking Hokkaido Mountain Guides Association (HMGA) guides on the HMGA website here

Support us

Like this content? Buy the HokkaidoWilds.org team a coffee. 50% of tips go to the Hokkaido Wilds Foundation.

As with each ski touring, cycle touring, and hiking route guide published on hokkaidowilds.org, should you choose to follow the information on this page, do so at your own risk. Prior to setting out check current local weather, conditions, and land/road/track closures. While traveling, obey all public and private land use restrictions and rules, carry proper safety and navigational equipment, and of course, follow leave-no-trace procedures. The information found herein is simply a planning resource to be used as a point of inspiration in conjunction with your own due-diligence. In spite of the fact that this information, associated GPS track (GPX, KML and maps), and all information was prepared under diligent research by the specified contributor and/or contributors, the accuracy of such and judgement of the author is not guaranteed. hokkaidowilds.org, its partners, associates, and contributors are in no way liable for personal injury, damage to personal property, or any other such situation that might happen to individuals following the information contained in this post.

Comments | Queries | Reports

Done this Shakotan-dake route? Thinking of doing it? Please post any feedback or queries here. Thanks!

1 thought on “Shakotan-dake and Shakotan Hut Hiking”

  1. Pingback: 6 Must-Visit Places in 【Hokkaido】 – Travel to Japan

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