Mountains · Hokkaido

Asahi-dake

旭岳あさひだけAsahi-dake

The roof of Hokkaido, a steaming volcano above Asahidake Onsen.

Asahi-dake (旭岳), 2,291 m, is the highest mountain in Hokkaido and the summit of the Daisetsuzan volcanic group in the centre of the island. A steaming active volcano, it is reached by ropeway to the Sugatami plateau and is the first place in Japan to see autumn colours and snow each year.

Elevation: 2,291 mActive volcanoNational park · 1934100 Famous Mountains

National park: Daisetsuzan National Park

Overview

Asahi-dake rises at the south-west corner of the Ohachidaira caldera, the heart of the Daisetsuzan massif, a highland of volcanic peaks, alpine meadows and snowfields covering more than 2,000 km² in central Hokkaido. Its western flank is scarred by the fumaroles of Jigokudani, whose plumes are visible from Asahikawa.

The Ainu called the mountains Kamuimintara, "playground of the gods". Today the Asahidake Ropeway from Asahidake Onsen in Higashikawa brings visitors to the Sugatami plateau, where a loop trail around volcanic ponds offers classic views of the steaming cone. From the summit the trail continues across the caldera rim to Kuro-dake and Sōunkyō, a classic traverse.

Landscape and formation

The Daisetsuzan volcanoes formed over roughly the last million years. About 30,000 years ago a large eruption created the Ohachidaira caldera, some 2 km across, and Asahi-dake grew as a younger cone on its south-west side. A sector collapse opened the horseshoe-shaped Jigokudani on its west face, where fumaroles and hot springs are still active.

Because of Hokkaido's latitude, the alpine zone begins much lower than in Honshū: dwarf pine and meadows appear from around 1,500 m, and permafrost exists in the highlands. Snowfields persist on the slopes all year.

Highlights

Sugatami pond
姿見の池Sugatami no ike
A small crater pond near the ropeway station that mirrors the steaming summit.
Jigokudani
地獄谷Jigokudani
The fuming collapse crater on the west flank, the most active area of the volcano.
Ohachidaira
御鉢平Ohachidaira
The central caldera of Daisetsuzan, viewed from its rim on the traverse to Kuro-dake.
Asahidake Onsen
旭岳温泉Asahidake onsen
A small hot-spring settlement at the ropeway base station.

Ecology

Daisetsuzan's high plateaus hold the most extensive alpine meadows in Japan, with plants and insects that are relics of the ice age, several of them endemic. Brown bears roam the entire massif.

Flora

Ezo-kozakura
エゾコザクラezo-kozakura
A pink alpine primrose of the snowbed meadows.
Chinguruma
チングルマchinguruma
Carpets the Sugatami area in July and turns red in autumn.
Siberian dwarf pine
ハイマツhaimatsu
Covers the lower alpine zone.

Fauna

Brown bear
ヒグマhiguma
The Hokkaido brown bear; encounters occur on trails in the massif.
Northern pika
エゾナキウサギezo-nakiusagi
An ice-age relic living in boulder fields.
Daisetsuzan butterflies
ウスバキチョウusubakichō
Alpine butterflies such as Parnassius eversmanni are protected as natural monuments.

Culture

For the Ainu of the Ishikari and Tokachi basins, the Daisetsuzan peaks were the realm of the kamuy (gods). Japanese exploration of the massif began in the late nineteenth century, and the writer Ōmachi Keigetsu popularised it with his accounts of a 1921 ascent. The name Asahi-dake ("morning sun peak") dates from the Meiji period.

Asahidake Visitor Center
旭岳ビジターセンターAsahidake bijitā sentā
Information on trails, bears and conditions at the foot of the ropeway.
Higashikawa
東川町Higashikawa-chō
The town at the foot, supplied entirely by groundwater from the Daisetsuzan massif.

History

c. 30,000 years ago
Caldera-forming eruption creates Ohachidaira.
1921
Ōmachi Keigetsu's ascent and writings popularise Daisetsuzan.
1934
Daisetsuzan National Park is designated.

Through the seasons

Spring

Deep snow into June; spring skiing from the ropeway.

Summer

Snow melts in late June and July, and the alpine meadows bloom from July to early August.

Autumn

Japan's earliest autumn colours, from early to mid-September; first snow often in late September.

Winter

Powder snow and severe cold; the ropeway serves backcountry skiers, and ascents are for experienced winter mountaineers.

Routes and trails

Sugatami – Asahi-dake summit
From the ropeway top station past Sugatami pond and up the scree ridge; about 2.5–3 hours up, moderate but steep and loose.
Sugatami loop
A 1-hour loop around the ponds at the top station, easy and suitable for all visitors.
Asahi-dake – Kuro-dake traverse
From the summit along the Ohachidaira rim to Kuro-dake and down by ropeway to Sōunkyō; 6–7 hours in total, a classic traverse.

Practical notes

Asahidake Onsen is reached by bus from Asahikawa (about 1.5 hours) or by car via Higashikawa.
Weather changes quickly and fog is common; the summit area can be dangerous for navigation, so carry a map and follow the marker poles.
Brown bears are present: carry a bell or spray and check the visitor centre for sightings.
Daisetsuzan is monitored as an active volcano by the Japan Meteorological Agency; see its volcano pages for current information.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to climb Asahi-dake?

From the Sugatami station of the Asahidake Ropeway (about 1,600 m) the ascent takes about 2.5–3 hours on loose volcanic scree, and the descent about 2 hours.

Is Asahi-dake the same as Daisetsuzan?

Daisetsuzan is the name of the whole volcanic massif, listed as one of the 100 Famous Mountains; Asahi-dake is its highest peak.

When do the autumn colours start?

Usually in early to mid-September on the upper slopes, earlier than anywhere else in Japan; the first snow often falls on the summit in late September.

Are there bears on Asahi-dake?

Yes. Brown bears (higuma) live throughout the Daisetsuzan massif; hikers should carry bear bells or spray and follow park warnings.

Sources

1.日本の主な山岳標高 (opens in a new tab) — 国土地理院 (Geospatial Information Authority of Japan)
2.大雪山国立公園 (opens in a new tab) — 環境省 (Ministry of the Environment)
3.火山登山者向けの情報提供ページ（大雪山） (opens in a new tab) — 気象庁 (Japan Meteorological Agency)
4.北海道庁ホームページ (opens in a new tab) — 北海道 (Hokkaido Government)