Leaving Sugatami Station, I walked along the right-hand footpath towards Sugatami Pond (姿見の池). It takes about 30 minutes. There are two walking courses to choose from: the right and the left. If you’re not planning to climb to the summit, you might take the left course. Along this path, you will encounter several ponds: Mangetsu Numa Pond (満月沼), Suribachi Pond (摺鉢池), and Kagami Pond (鏡池). There are five observation platforms between Sugatami Station and Sugatami Pond. The left course typically takes about 1 hour. If you’re short on time, visiting Sugatami Pond would be a good option.
Access
On weekends, it gets very crowded, so it’s advisable to arrive at the parking lot by around 9 AM. It’s about a 3-hour drive from Sapporo via the expressway, and 44 minutes from Asahikawa Airport.
Link
You can find detailed information about the ropeway on the following website.
Mt.Resort Asahidake Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway
The path to the pond offers a glimpse of beautiful alpine plants, alongside remnants of snow.
After a 30-minute walk, you’ll arrive at Sugatami Pond (姿見の池). The name Sugatami refers to its reflection of Mt. Asahidake in the pond.
This area is called Kamuimintara in Ainu, which translates to “the garden where gods walk.”
Leaving Sugatami pond, head towards the summit. It typically takes over 2 hours for an average person.
This is the sixth station at 1800 meters above sea level.
The views from the slope are stunning and beautiful under a clear sky.
This is the seventh station, at 1930 meters. The slope here is very steep and slippery, so I took breaks and enjoyed some green tea. Some say Mt. Asahidake is suitable for beginners to climb, but I have my doubts.
The path to the eighth station from the seventh is the most challenging. Here we are at the eighth station.
From here, I could see many people reaching the summit. We’re almost there.
The cone-shaped slope of the mountain creates strong upper winds, which made me feel cold despite the weather being nice and hot.
After over 2 hours from Sugatami station, I finally reached the 9th station. However, it wasn’t the end; the summit of the mountain still awaited.
The view from here is truly spectacular. There’s a rectangular rock that appears to be the “Strongbox Rock,” but there’s also a fake version of it nearby. The actual descent route is to the right of this imitation Strongbox Rock.
This is the real “Strongbox Rock” located above the fake one. The slope to the right of this rock is quite steep. In case of bad weather conditions, it’s recommended to descend on the left side of this rock.
I finally reached the summit!
I finally reached the summit! The view from here is incredible, especially the panorama behind Mt. Asahidake. These breathtaking vistas are what make the climb worthwhile.
Standing at the summit of Mt. Asahidake and gazing at the distant mountains, one can truly understand the Ainu concept of Kamuimintara, which means “the garden where gods walk.” Here, you can feel something divine that words cannot fully express.
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