(十勝岳) Mt. Tokachi Hike

This has year long public transportation access, but if you're not fond of avalanches, then avoid winter hikes.

Budget: JPY2,440 (~USD23) from Asahikawa
  • JPY2,440. Bus, Asahikawa Station to Biei Trailhead (JPY1,220 one way)
Hike Date / Difficulty (Elevation: 2,077m / 6,814ft)
  • Target hike: 2021
  • Difficulty: 3 out of 5
  • Route below (backtrail Tokachidake-onsen (十勝岳温泉) is around 12.4kilometers, with an elevation change of ▲1,267m/ ▽1,267m (6h23m)
  • Map Link : yamakei ・yamap


When to Go
June to September might be the best season to avoid avalanches.

Special Notes
  • Weather forecast: English / Japanese
  • Loop of Mt. Asahi - Mt. Tomuraushi - Mt. Tokachi means a four day-3 night hike, covering around 63.7kms, with an elevation change of ▲4,899m/ ▽4,977m.
  • Biei is the famous blue pond of Hokkaido, and it is in the town of Shirokane Onsen (Biei Trailhead)
  • Mountain huts.
  • Trailheads. Quite a lot of options. 
    • Tokachidake-onsen (十勝岳温泉). Bus does not run on January 1, that's it.
      • Train, Asahikawa Station to Kamifurano Station, JPY970, 57 minutes one way. Earliest ETA: 07:37am.
      • Bus, Kamifurano Station (上富良野駅) to Tokachidake-onsen (十勝岳温泉). JPY500. In the bus schedule, Kamifurano Station is referred to as eki-mae (駅前) or "in front of the station".
    • Fukiage-onsen (吹上温泉). The same bus above should have "吹上温泉" as one of the stops.
    • Bougakudai (望岳台). Trailhead is an hour walk from bus stop.
      • Bus, Asahikawa Station to Shirokane-onsen (白金温泉). JPY1,220 one way. Take bus#39. Bus schedule here. The PDF is crowded, so just look for "白金線"

    • Biei (美瑛富士登山口). Same bus stop as Bougakudai (望岳台) above, and about 2kms walk.
    • Genshigahara (原始ヶ原・富良野岳登山口). No public transportation.
Itinerary
  • Train, Asahikawa Station to Kamifurano Station. 
  • 07:37am. ETA: Kamifurano Station. 
  • 08:52am. Bus, Kamifurano Station to Tokachi Onsen. 
  • 09:37am. ETA: Tokachi Onsen. 
  • 10:00am. Start hike.
  • 01:34pm. ETA: Summit.
  • 04:30pm. Back at trailhead.  
  • 05:27pm. Bus, Tokachi Onsen to Kamifurano Station. 
  • Train. Kamifurano Station to Asahikawa Station. 

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