Traverse of Mt. Hakkoda from Ropeway to Sukayu Onsen (hot spring) | HIKES IN JAPAN
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Traverse of Mt. Hakkoda from Ropeway to Sukayu Onsen (hot spring)

Descend from the gently sloping summit towards the wetland.
  • Duration
    1Day / 5Hours
    Highest Point
    1585m
    Elevation Gain
    702m
  • Skill Level
    Fitness Level
    Gear Level
Mt. Hakkoda (Hakkoda-san) is located in the central part of Aomori prefecture in the Tohoku region. It is the general term for mountains consisting of 10 peaks in Northern Hakkoda (Kita-hakkoda) and 6 in Southern Hakkoda (Minami-hakkoda), all of which are located within Towada-Hachimantai National Park. Additionally, it is listed among Japan’s 100 most famous mountains, and characterized by many wetlands, lakes and marshes interspersed in the foothills and on the mountainside. In this route, you will use the ropeway to go 1311 meters above sea level to hike up Mt. Otake, the highest peak of Mt. Hakkoda, then descend to a historic hot spring via beautiful wetland.

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.

Other Info

Mt. Hakkoda is famous for being one of the areas of heaviest snowfall in Japan.
Visitors can enjoy a long skiing season from early December to mid-May, as well as the view of ice-covered trees in the summit area from January to February.



High Season:June to October

Notes

This route contains only less than 300 meters of elevation difference to ascend, but the descent has over 700 meters of elevation difference and requires over the half the walking distance/time. Hiking beginners are recommended to carry necessary equipment to support their descent, such as trekking poles.

Route Map

Elevation Map

Height (m)
Horizontal Distance (km)

Spec

Duration
1Day / 5Hours
Highest Point
1585m(Mt. Otake)
Elevation Gain
702m
Horizontal Distance
11.6Km
Skill Level
Fitness Level
Gear Level

On the Trail

Sleeping

Otake-hinan-goya

Eating

Sanroku Station Resthouse Hakkoda, Sancho Koen Station Hinazakura Restaurant, Sukayu Onsen

Hot-Springs

Sukayu Onsen

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Access

Mt. Hakkoda is located in the central part of Aomori prefecture in the Tohoku region. Take the Tohoku Shinkansen from Tokyo station, which will get to Shin-Aomori Station in approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes. From Shin-Aomori station, take the JR Bus Tohoku bound for Lake Towada (Towada-ko), to Ropeway-mae bus stop, which is approximately an hour and 2 minutes away.
Hakkoda Ropeway runs every 15 to 20 minutes. From Sanroku Station, it takes approximately 10 minutes to Sancho Koen Station.
From Sukayu Onsen hot spring, take JR Bus Tohoku, bound for Aomori Station, and it takes approximately an hour and 6 minutes to Shin-Aomori Station.

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COURSES

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