This site uses cookies to analyze site usage, to optimize content and advertising, and to provide social media functions.
In order to access this site, you need to agree to the use of cookies.
Mt. Chokai: Round Trip from Hokotate
A Splendid Solitary Peak and its Ethereal Mountain Lake.
-
- Duration
- 2Days / 11.5Hours
- Highest Point
- 2236m
- Elevation Gain
- 1078m
-
- Skill Level
- Fitness Level
- Gear Level
Start walking the path from Hokotate. You'll reach a lookout with a view of Mt. Chokai towering at the end of a deep valley. Follow stone steps through a meadow, and once you pass an open area known as Saino-kawara, the trail will turn to scree. In about two hours you'll arrive at the Ohama-koya mountain hut with its shrine. The hut overlooks the lovely Lake Chokai caldera, and you’ll reach it after about a 100-meter descent along the crater wall.
About an hour from Ohama-koya you'll reach Sennin-daira. The surrounding area is an expansive wetland, and the alpine plants that bloom there are beautiful from July to August. Return the way you came, and you'll reach Ohama-koya in about 1.5 hours. You'll spend the first night there.
The next day you'll pass the highest point in Sensu-mori and descend via a stone trail to Odagahara. Ascending a scree slope about an hour from Ohama-koya, you'll arrive at the Shimekake divergence. Descend into the valley and continue along the trail with a view of the outer rim of the crater to your right. About 2.5 hours from Ohama-koya, you'll arrive at the Omuro-koya mountain hut and Chokai-san-omonoimi-jinja Shrine.
Mt. Shinzan is the highest point on Mt. Chokai and consists entirely of a lava dome. Follow the arrows to ascend between the huge crags, and about 40 minutes after leaving the hut you'll arrive at Mt. Shinzan.
Return the way you came.
Other Info
Apart from hiking the mountain, you’ll also enjoy the area around Mt. Chokai and its natural wonders. You can visit these scenic spots before or after your hike. Some of them include the Ryugahara Wetland on the northern side of the mountain; Shishigahana Wetland with its enormous beech trees; Hottai Falls (Hottaino Taki), among the top 100 waterfalls in Japan with its 57 meter drop; Mototaki Falls (Moto Taki) whose water flows from Mt. Chokai; and Tsuruma-ike Pond at Yunodaiguchi on the southern side of the mountain.
High Season:July to September
Notes
As Mt. Chokai stands alone near the sea, the weather can change rapidly. Be sure to carry rainwear and clothes suitable for cold weather.
The area below the summit consists of an igneous rocky area, so gloves can make hiking safer.
Route Map
Elevation Map
Height (m)
Horizontal Distance (km)
Spec
- Duration
- 2Days / 11.5Hours
- Highest Point
- 2236m(Mt. Chokai, Mt. Shinzan)
- Elevation Gain
- 1078m
- Horizontal Distance
- 16Km
- Skill Level
- Fitness Level
- Gear Level
On the Trail
- Sleeping
Ohama-koya, Omuro-koya
- Eating
Inakura Sanso
- Hot-Springs
Chokai Hot Spring Recreational Facility Apon Nishihama
