Chubetsu-dake Hinan-goya (Hut)

Chubetsu-dake Hinan-goya

Chubetsu-dake Hinan-goya (Hut) is a triangle shape hut that is nestled in a small valley surrounded by low trees and alpine pine . 
The hut is about a two day trek from Asahidake and Sounkyo onsen villages or very long and hard day trek for the hardcore out there.

Chubetsu-dake Hut

The hut has two floors, The lower floor can sleep about 12 people comfortably and upper floor which is more like a loft, about 6 to 8.
The hut like most huts in Daisetsuzan is very simple with only a place to sleep. The first floor has 2 raised wooden areas where people sleep and you must wear your shoes on these areas. there is a walk area between them where you can take off and leave your footwear.
For the 2nd floor there is a ladder to your right as you walk into the hut. The 2nd floor is just a wooden floor and again you mustn't wear your boots or shoes up stairs. What people do is usually take off their footwear before climbing the the ladder and leave them at the bottom. Thiis is where have a pair of sandals make life easier when popping in and out of the hut.

first floor

first floor

first floor

Hut details:

    Official Season: July 1st to September 30th.
    Caretaker: No
    Water: YES
    Fee: NO (free)
    Power: NO
    Toilet: YES (out house)
    Campsite: YES
    

first floor

 Water:
All the water there comes from the snow field that is right next to the hut. Usually there is no problems with water in July and August but September can be a MAYBE or even a NO if it was a real hot summer. 
The water there is icy cold and delicious but you must boil, filter or use tablets to treat the water before drinking.

July: The ice field is right up to the hut

September: The ice field is almost gone

Taking a bath:
One of the best kept secrets about this hut is that it has a great pool for taking a dip in and having a bath. The pool isn't very big about a meter and a half long and a meter wide and if you stand up the water will come just above your waist (some years it can get deeper) but it is big enough for a dip. BUT ! be warned the water can be freezing but on a hot day it is just what the doctor ordered .
To find this pool you head down from the hut to the stream and follow the trail the leads to the 2nd campsite. the pool is just there.

Uraasahi Camp Site

Uraasahi Camp Site

Uraasahi Camp Site is my all time favorite mountain camp site in the park if not Hokkaido.When most people see this camp site for the first time they think "What the HELL !" and "Have I made a mistake by planning on camping here !" but they would be wrong on thinking that in my book.

Uraasahi Camp Site on the slope of Mt Asahi-dake

Uraasahi Camp Site sits on the back slope of the eastern side of Mt Asahi-dake and is the highest camp site in Hokkaido and supposedly Japan (I'm not sure about that last bit but that is what many people have told me) at a height of around 2000 meters.

Uraasahi Camp Site is a very simple place with no facilities like toilets or anything at all. The only thing there are spaces to pitch your tent that surrounded by semi rock walls to help protect your tent from the very strong winds that can blow through there.

Like I said before a lot of people get a bit shocked when they first step into the  Uraasahi Campground because of its roughness and if you turn up there when it is covered in clouds it can have that spooky feeling going for it for sure but once you have you tents up and if the weather is clear and you give it a bit of time, you will start to see and feel what makes this cam site so special to me and a lot of locals.
For one thing  there is nothing round but nature. The camp sites sits in a small high valley that has the peak Mt Asahi-dake on one side and couple of other small peak on the others and is surround by alpine grass which in July can be dotted with beautiful alpine followers and in September the grass turns a remarkable gold color.
From this camp site you can get some magnificent sunsets and if you can get up real early some spectacular sunrises.

Alpine flowers in July

Alpine flowers in July

Sunset at the camp

When can you camp there ?
The official hiking and camping season the Daisetsuzan is from the beginning of July up to the end of September. From the end of September the first snows start to fall and the camp site can be covered in snow right up to June.

The camp site covered in cloud

Uraasahi camp ground in June. Notice the winter sleeping bag and down jacket

Water ?
The camp site is located right by an ice field which is the sauce of the water there. There is a stream that runs right through the camp ground in July and August which means you can collect water right at the camp site without walking anywhere but as the summer months move along the ice field gets smaller and by the end of August and September the stream in the campground can stop running, which is that case you will have to walk a bit to get your water. Some years because of a very hot summer there has been no water in September at Uraasahi Campground. This doesn't happen a lot but can happen.
Walking for water: If you see snow that is where the water is coming from. What you do is walk back up the trail up Mt Asahi-dake a bit and you will see where the stream was running. Follow it up until you come to some running water. Sometimes you may only have to walk a few minutes and some years you might have to walk all the way up to where the snow is which might take 20 minutes.
Note: In September the nights can get very cool and if there is water it can freeze overnight and stop running until it warms up again. I suggest that if you are planing to leave early that you get all your water the night before.
Note: If you are heading into park from end of August or September and are planning to start at Uraasahi Camp Site. It might pay to visit the visitor center at Asahidake onsen village and check if there is water there but be warn that there is not always English speaking staff there and they might not have the latest up date about the water situation on the mountain. The other thing would be to ask people if you run into them that have been up there about it.
Note: You must treat the water before drinking either by boiling, filtering or tablets .

Walking into the camp site. As you can see the snow field is right up to the camp so no problem with water

collecting water at the campsite

The camp site in September. As you can see by this photo there is no snow at the camp site and no water. There is a little snow up hill that you can't see in this photo where I had to walk to to get water.

The Bush Pig's advice:
The Uraasahi Camp site is a about a 20 minute hike down the back slope from the peak of Mt Asahidake and is well worth a stop over for the night.
If you are planning on doing the Grand Traverse route and starting from the Asahidake onsen village then make the Uraasahi Camp site for first stop.
If you hike from the Asahiake onsen village it will be a hard 5 to 6 hour trek to the camp. If you start from the top gondola station then it should take between 2 and 3 hours.

The camp site looking down from one of the nearby peaks

Naka-dake onsen:
If you get to camp real early or plan to take a rest day there. You can make a side day hike to Naka-dake natural hot spring (onsen).
From the camp it will take you about 1 hour and half to get to and about the same to get back.

Naka-dake natural onsen, about a 3 hour round trip from the camp

Bush Pig tip:
Because this camp site sits right next to a snow field it can get real cool and cold even in mid summer and especially in the evenings. I strongly suggest that you take some extra warm clothes and things like a woolen hat and gloves will not go a miss there.

Uraasahi Camp

Always a good time at the Uraasahi Camp Site

Kuro-dake hut

Kuro-dake Ishimuro (hut) :

Kuro-dake Ishimuro (hut)

 

Hut details:

• Official Season: July 1st to September 30th.
  
• Caretaker: YES
• Water: YES (guaranteed between the months of July and September)
• Fee: YES , Y2,000 pp (this fee can change yearly)
• Rental gear: Yes
• Power: YES (only for lights inside the hut. YOU CAN NOT USE TO RECHARGE BATTERIES)
• Toilet: YES
• Campsite: YES
• Shop: YES (you can buy beer, sports drink, cup of noddles, LPG gas cans)

This hut is about a 25 minute hike from the peak of Mt Kuro-dake and is the busiest and most popular hut in the park. Being only a short distance from Mt Kuro-dake and having rental gear to hire, you get lots of big and small tour groups using the hut and can get very crowed.

The inside is made up of bunk rows and you have small area the size of a sleeping mat for yourself. 

inside Kuro-dake Ishimuro (hut)

Water:

Water is outside in two big contains and you must treat it before drinking. Either by boiling, filter or tablet.

water contains at Kuro-dake Ishimuro (hut)

Toilets:

The toilets at Kuro-dake Ishimuro (hut) are ECO toilets and are bit special and unique to this hut. People just resting or taking a break at the hut are asked to pay a donation for using the toilets there. If you are staying overnight in hut or camping the toilet donation is included in your hut or camp fee. Toilet paper is included.

the toilet block at Kuro-dake Ishimuro (hut)

what to do and not do

ECO toilet at Kuro-dake Ishimuro (hut)

Out of season

This hut is officially open from July 1st to September 30th. Which means between these dates the hut is staffed and you have to pay to use it and they supply water plus the toilets are open.

You can still use this hut from Oct 1st to June 30th but it done at your risk and the hut is officially closed which means it is not staffed and there is no water supplied. The toilets are lock up and the main door is locked and you have to use the water door.

 Winter:

You can use this hut in winter if you can find it. The hut is usually covered over in now and the only way you can find the winter door is by looking for the flag sticking out of the snow and digging down to the winter door.

Kuro-dake Ishimuro (hut) in Spring (May).

the winter door in spring (May)

MT ASAHI-DAKE :

Mt Asahi-dake

 Mt Asahi-dake is the highest peak Hokkaido at 2290 meters.

The main up route up Asahi-dake is from Asahidake onsen village.

You have two way to head up. The easy-ish way or The hard way. 

The Easy-ish way up from Asahidake village to 'Sugatami-no-ike':

Take the gondola up from the village to the top gondola station at a place call 'Sugatami' . from here you head out of the gondola station and take the boardwalk path heading right which quickly turns into a dirt and stone trail. Follow this trail for about 15 minutes to a lookout point where there is a bell and a stone hut. Here is the start point of the trail heading up Mt Asahidake and to the peak.

getting on the gondola at bottom station

The top gondola station

 The Hard way up from Asahidake village to 'Sugatami-no-ike':

To the right of the gondola station at the village you will find the hiking trail to 'Sugatami' and the top gondola station.

This route will take through some wet land over boardwalks and then through the trees working your way up on a dirt and rock trail. The trail gets steeper and harder the higher you go.

It take about 2 hours and 20 minutes to reach 'Sugatami'. the the end of this trail you will come to a junction. If you turn left this will take you the top gondola station which is only 300 meters away. If you turn right lookout point where there is a bell and a stone hut. Here is the start point of the trail heading up Mt Asahidake and to the peak.

 A word of warning from The Bush Pig: 

This way up is great for a day hike up to the peak of Asahi-dake but I do not recommend doing this route if you are planing any long multi-day treks with a heavy backpack. This route can be a real killer with a heavy backpack and take a lot out of you and then you still have the hard climb up Mt Asahidake to go. The first time I every did a multi-day trek into Daisetsu-zan I didn't take the gondola and took the hiking trail up to the top gondola station and 'Sugatami' and never taken it since on starting any other multi-day trek. That was 15 years ago and I've started around multi-day trips from Asahidake village since then.

It is just much easier to take the gondola. Trust me on that! You will save a lot of pain later on. Why kill yourself on the first day.

The boardwalk section

The route up Mt Asahi-dake from 'Sugatami-no-ike':

From the lookout point at 'Sugatami' and the stone hut. You can see the trail up the peak.

The trail up follows the right edge of it's blown out crater and is is to follow and well marked by yellow paint on the rocks and well worn by millions of hikers over the years. 

The trail up is made up of big and small rocks and small stones which can make for loose and slippy footing at times. 

On your way up you pass active steam vents and get some great views if the weather is nice so don't forget your camera.

The route up for 'Sugatami' should take you around 2 hours , a bit longer if you are carrying a heavy backpack.

A word of warning from The Bush Pig:

The trail up from 'Sugatami' to the peak is out of the treeline and totally open to the weather and wind which can change very fast. I strongly recommend you take a Jacket for rain and wind and an extra warm top, even if the weather looks fine. 

The route from Sugatami to the peak of Mt Asahidake

At the peak of Mt Asahid-dake

Mt Asahi-dake

 Review of the hiking times:

Asahidake village to 'Sugatami-no-ike

• Day hike (light backpack): up 2 hr, 20 min. down 1 hr 40 in
• Heavy backpack: up 3 hr, 30 min. down 2 hours 

'Sugatami-no-ike' to the peak of Mt Asahi-dake

• Day hike (light backpack): up 2 hr. down 1 hr
• Heavy backpack: around 2 hr, 30 min to 3 hrs. down about 1 hr, 30 min

The route from Sugatami to the peak of Mt Asahidake

The route from Sugatami to the peak of Mt Asahidake

 Best time to go:

The hiking season is official open from July 1st to September 30th.

There are two best times to go. 

1. July for the wild alpine flowers. Usually earlier in the month is better but changes year to year.
2. September for the autumn (Fall) colours. Mid September is usually the best but again this changes year to year.

August is OK but this usually when people have their summer holidays in Japan so you can get big tour groups and lots of other foreigners. Don't think you will be the only foreigners up there. Everyone seems to have the idea. Some years in August it fells like all I met is just other foreigners .

Sugatami-no-ike:

'Sugatami' is the area around the top gondola station. 

It has many walking trails around this area. The trails will take you up close to some steaming volcanic vents and round a couple small alpine lakes (ponds)  and you can get a great view of the active crater of Mt Asahi-dake. 

'Sugatami' is a great place for those people who just want to something easy and walk around without too much effort. 

'Sugatami' is open all year round and the best time is June, July and September.

The Sugatami area

One of the alpine ponds and steam vents at Sugatami

 The stone hut at 'Sugatami'

The hut at Sugatami is only to be used for taking a break and having a rest for emergencies. You are not allowed to use it to stay over night. 

The stone hut

Gondola station:

The Gondola at Asahidake is open all year round except from Nov 30th to Jan 10th when it is closed for maintenance.

At the bottom gondola station you can buy maps, gas for LPG cookers and snack food and drink and clean toilets and a fast foo snack bar and a restaurant on the 2nd floor. 

You can not buy food here to cook up in the mountains.

There are coin locks there if you need to lock anything away to keep safe.

Water:

If you want to fill your water bottles. There is an outside tap just to the right of the front main door when you walk in. This is OK to drink.

Outside the gondola station at Asahidake village

Inside the gondola station at Asahidake village

The Fees for the gondola:

High season: June 1st to Oct 20th

Adults: from junior-high school students and older

• One way: Y1,600 pp
• Round trip: Y2,800 pp

Kids:  primary school students and under

• One way: Y800pp
• Round trip: Y1,400 pp 

Regular season: Oct 21 to May 31

Adults: from junior-high school students and older

• One way: Y1,100 pp
• Round trip: Y1,800 pp

Kids:  primary school students and under

• One way: Y550 pp
• Round trip: Y900 pp 

Link for Asahidake Gondola

Asahidake ropeway 

Asahidake gondola

Getting off the gondola at the top station

Ashidake Village:

Asahidake village is mainly made up of Small and big Onsen hotels and accommodation.

At the village you can find the Asahidake information center  which on the left just before you reach the gondola station.

There are no shops there, not even a convenient store and NO ATM. 

Car parking:

There are two places:

1. There is a free car park area which opposite the information center just before the gondola station. If you park you car here the park has no responsibility if anything happens to it.
2. The car park at the gondola station you have to pay. This is a good idea if you want to leave your car for a few days or longer. There is always someone there to keep an eye on it.

Accommodation:

There many different accommodation in Asahidake onsen village to suit all types of budget.

There is a good camp ground there. It has drinkable running water and clean toilets and place to wash dishes but no showers. You can use any of the onsens nearby for a small fee. You must take your own towels.

The campsite at Asahidake village

The place I recommend is 'Lodge Nutapukaushipe'.

This is great place run by by a Husband and wife team. This log house has Japanese style rooms up stairs and a group dining room and place to relax down stairs and an outside and inner onsen.

You pay one set price per person which includes 2 meals (dinner & breakfast). All guests eat together down stairs.

The fee is about Y8,000 pp.

The only thing with this amazing place is they have no website and you have to book by phone and only in Japanese.

Ph: 0166-97-2150

Another place we can recommend is the Asahidake YHA.

Lodge Nutapukaushipe

Lodge Nutapukaushipe

 

Lodge Nutapukaushipe

Lodge Nutapukaushipe

 How to get there:

 By Train & Bus:

From Sapporo you catch a train to Asahikawa city. There are many trains leaving each day. The first train leaves at 6.50 am and the 2nd at 7.20 am.

From Asahikawa JR station you make your way to the main street outside the station. There you will find some bus stops. You want to find bus stop number 4. There are three bus a day in Summer that take you to Asahidake village . 

• 9:25 get there 10:51
• 12:35 get there 14:01
• 15:55 get there  17:21

From the gondola station at Asahidake village to Asahikawa

• 11:00 get there12:26
• 14:10 get there 15:36
• 17:30 get there 18:56

Bus fee: Y1,320 pp

Bus stop number 4 outside Asahikawa JR station