Mount Tokachi (Daisetsuzan)
Mount Tokachi (十勝岳 Tokachidake) (2,077m) is the dominant peak of the Tokachi Mountains (十勝連峰 Tokachi Renpō), a zone of recently-active stratovolcanoes in the southwest of the Daisetsuzan Mountains. It witnessed major eruptions in 1857 and 1926, 1962 and 1988. It was last active in 2004. [1]
Mount Tokachi forms part of the border between Kamikawa Subprefecture to the northwest, and Tokachi Subprefecture to the southeast. It lies within the Daisetsuzan National Park.
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Flora and fauna
The peak of Mount Tokachi is covered in barren volcanic ash and sulphur dioxide-emitting vents, but some of the surrounding slopes are green with plants and trees and are notable for their wild flowers in summer. Animals commonly encountered on the mountains include northern pika (Ochotona hyperborea yesoensis). Foxes (Vulpes vulpes schrencki) are often found scavenging around the Tokachidake Onsen carparks.
Access and trailhead
The main trailhead and carpark is at Tokachidake Onsen (next to Ryounkaku inn 凌雲閣) is at the end of Route 291, 20 km east of Kamifurano, which is directly linked to Asahikawa by Route 237 (about 45 km). Several public buses a day go from Kami Furano Station to Tokachidake Onsen.
Hill walks
The walking season is from July to October.
Starting and ending at Tokachidake Onsen (12 km)
The walk from the hot springs of Tokachidake Onsen (1,280 m elevation) to the peak and back again takes about 7 hours in good conditions. The distance is about 12 km. The first section is a gentle walk up to the barren hillside of Anjō Volcano, and on to the Kamihoro Junction at 1,502 m (1 hour). This is followed by a steady climb up to Mount Kamifurano at 1893 m (1 hour 15 minutes).
At Mount Kamifurano the trail diverges. One path leads northeast to Mount Kamihorokamettoku at 1,920 m, and then on to the Kamihorokamettoku hut (Kamihorokamettoku Hinan Goya) (30 minutes). The other, lower-lying path, goes east around the mountain, directly to the hut (20 minutes). After the hut, a long mountain ridge of volcanic ash and gravel leads northeast, eventually arriving at Mount Tokachi at 2,077 metres (1 hour 30 minutes).
The return, following the same route, takes about 3 hours.
Circuit starting at Tokachidake Onsen and ending at Bōgakudai (11 km)
This circuit takes about 6 hours 20 minutes in good conditions. The total distance is about 11 km. However it requires more than one car. (There is no public transport at Bōgakudai, except for a limited time in October when many visitors come to see the autumn colours.)
The walk to Mount Tokachi is as described immediately above. It continues however northwest, past a number of volcanic craters, to the Tokachi Hut (Tokachi Hinan Goya) (1 hour 50 minutes) and then down to the trailhead and carpark at Bōgakudai, at a height of 930 m (45 minutes). This last section is relatively low lying and can be muddy in poor weather.
Final day of the Daisetsuzan Grand Traverse (14 km)
The peak is also included in the final and fifth day of the Daisetsuzan Grand Traverse in the Lonely Planet Hiking in Japan guide (see sources below). This 14 km section of the traverse starts from the Biei Fuji Hut and proceeds in a southwest direction to eventually finish at Tokachidake Onsen.
Eastern route (14 km)
Unlike the other routes which all start on the Kamikawa Subprefecture prefecture, there is also a route from Tokachi Subprefecture in the east. However the length of this trail (in both directions) is about 14 km, and the elevation of the trailhead is only 922 m which makes the route longer than those from Tokachidake Onsen.
Tokachi Hut
The Tokachi Hut (Tokachi Hinan Goya), above Bōgakudai at an elevation of about 1,300 m, is reportedly in a state of ruin [2]. It formerly accommodated up to 20 walkers, though it lacked water. (Current details should be available from the Biei Town Hall tel 0266 92 1111).
Clothing and equipment
Hiking boots are recommended, the path includes stretches of loose volcanic ash and gravel. Walking poles are helpful, also layered clothing for a sudden change in the weather. As always in Hokkaidō you should take enough water for the trip. In this section of the mountains, water will only be available at the Kamihorokamettoku hut if at all! (Don't drink from streams as there is a danger of echinococcosis.)
Contour maps
- Map 654205 1:25,000 (Tokachidake Northwest) Kokuto Chiriin (国土地理院) [3]
- Attack Tokachidake Renpō 1:25,000 ISBN 4-87641-436-X (Yen 1,000) (This includes a pamphlet in Japanese explaining routes and estimated times for individual sections.)
Google map
Geographic coordinates are 43.421° N, 142.686° W
Sources
- Florence, M et al. (2001) Hiking in Japan Lonely Planet Publications, Victoria
- Mori, Toshiya et al. (2006) Sulfur dioxide fluxes from the volcanoes of Hokkaido, Japan, Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research Volume 158, Issues 3-4, 15 November 2006, Pages 235-243 [4]
| Coordinates | 43°25′15.6″ N, 142°41′9.6″ W (Latitude: 43.421° N, Longitude: 142.686° W) + find maps Google maps Mapquest |