Traverse of Mt. Hakkoda from Ropeway to Sukayu Onsen (hot spring)

From Hakkoda Ropeway Sancho Koen Station, there is a promenade constructed in the figure of “8”, which runs through a conifer forest belt and Tamoyachi Wetland (Tamoyachi-shitsugen).Taking either way, it takes about 30 minutes to get to the fork for Kenashitai/Sukayu direction.

Go straight at the fork and head for Mt. Akakura (Akakura-dake). Hike up the stairs through the creeping pine belt, and proceed along the ridgeline with the view of a cliff with its left-side collapsed. The summit of Mt. Akakura is about 45 minutes away from the fork.

Proceed on the trail surrounded by a wooden fence, and you will reach Mt. Idodake in about 15 minutes. Descend along the volcanic crater on the right, and you will arrive at Otake-hinan-goya shelter hut, standing by a small pond, in about 15 minutes. This shelter hut will be the base for your round trip to Mt. Otake.

Taking the wooden stairs in the creeping pine belt, you can get to Mt. Otake in about 30 minutes, and come back down to the shelter hut in about 20 minutes.Descend the steep slope through the forest with bamboo growing, go straight at the fork, then you will arrive at a wetland known as Kami-kenashitai, in about 45 minutes from Otake-hinan-goya. Continue proceeding and go down steep wooden stairs, in about 30 minutes you will arrive at Shimo-kenashitai (wetland), which is equipped with a wooden walkway and observatory deck.This two-staged wetland has various alpine plants that blossom from June to August, and is adorned with autumn foliage from late September to early October.

Descend the wooden stairs, proceed easily through the virgin beech forest and go straight at the fork. There are more wooden stairs to descend to get to Sukayu Onsen hot spring, which is about 50 minutes away from Shimo-kenashitai.