Asahidake Onsen

The village consists of a few wooden lodges, 2-3 large hotels, and a beautiful youth hostel.

Shopping and dining opportunities are limited to the hotels and the ropeway station. For weather forecasts, maps and other tourist information, head to the visitor center.

The nearby “ropeway” aerial tram costs 1800 or 2800 yen, depending on the time of year.

Hiking opportunities in the area range from 30- to 60-minute walks all the way up to one- or two-day tours of the area’s mountains. The area is volcanic, and steamy evidence of such activity is plentiful. There are also opportunities for skiing in the area during the winter.

There are buses that run to and from the village year-round.

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Autumn is a wonderful and popular time to visit. The mountains of Daisetsuzan National Park are the first place in Japan to display autumn colors. The best colors can be seen mid to late September in the higher elevations of Mount Asahidake ,  Kogen Onsen, and Ginsendai. Also, early to mid October in lower elevations, such as the Sounkyo area.

During winter, the mountain is open for use by skiers and snowboarders. Sugatami Pond, directly below the peak, is famous for its reflection of the peaks, snow, and steam escaping from the volcanic vents.

The Asahidake Ropeway lifts visitors from Asahidake Onsen to within a two hour hike of Mount Asahidake’s summit. Even though the ropeway’s upper station is “only” 1600 meters above sea level, it stands in a treeless alpine tundra landscape with alpine flowers in summer.

There are many hiking opportunities in the Asahidake area from late June through September. For beginners, there is an attractive, 30-60 minute circular trail around the ropeway’s upper station, which passes some ponds and sulfurous vents. There are also several easy walking trails around the village.