Mt.Asahidake, the highest mountain in Hokkaido vol.1

This place is written as [旭岳] in Japanese.

11th July 2015, I went to Mt.Asahidake. Asahidake is the highest mountain in Hokkaido, and also a active volcano observed by the Meteorological Agency. It is said that Mt.Asahidake is easy to climb and very familiar and popular but the mountain is the same as 3000m class high mountains in Honshu (本州), main land of Japan, so you can see many alpine plants and need a good preparation for considering volatile situation of weather.

From Sapporo, it takes 2 hours and 40 minutes by car driving Hokkaido Expressway. From Asahikawa, 1 hours by car.

I took another course via Furano from Sapporo that takes 3 hours 10 minutes but I could see nice sceneries of Furano, Nakafurano and Biei. Before 6 o’clock in the mourning, I reached to Nakafurano and went to the famous lavender farm, Farm Tomita. Viewing lavender gardens which were peak from the middle of July to the middle of August.

Farm Tomita

After lavender, I drove to Mt.Asahidake.

Lake.Chubetsuko

Driving through Lake.Chubetsuko, Mt.Asahidake is standing far from here.

cablecar-parking1

Another 1 hours driving from Farm Tomita, I got to the foot of Mt.Asahidake. Parking fee is 500 yen which is available for all day long parking.

You can access to Sugatami station (姿見駅) in 10 minutes by cable-car from here. Adult for 2900 yen for round way in top season. Cable-cars operate every 15 minutes but the operation and fees are changed in season or holidays, check the web site, Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway.

cablecar

In Autumn, you can see the beautiful panoramic scenery with red and yellow leaves that starts the end of August and ends in September.

cablecar

This was the very lucky day with the clearest sky and air.

cablecar3

The summer of Mt.Asahidake is very short. After 1 month and half, The mountains will be colored with red and yellow.

 

sugatami-station1

When you get off the cable-car, the guide staff lectures the point worthy of viewing of the day only in Japanese. Small map is available for other languages.

sugatami-station2

You can see these plants and animals, if you have a luck.

sugatami-station3

The most popular course is a left-round trip, 1.7km which takes 1 hours. You might see some alpine plants and birds.

Next : Mt.Asahidake, climbing to the summit, the highest mountain in Hokkaido vol.2