Mts. Asahi-dake, Hokkai-dake, Kuro-dake

Daisetsu-zan NP is vast and gorgeous and Japan's largest wilderness: a huge variety of landscape includes some of Hokkaido's highest peaks, as well as other volcanoes, high empty mountains, plateaux, virgin forests, lakes and wetlands.

Asahi-dake (2,290m) in the north is an exciting day walk up an active volcano, offering outstanding views and the mysteries of vulcanism.

Kuro-dake (1,984m) and Hokkai-dake (2,147m) sit on the edge of the same crater as Asahi-dake and make for a splendid day long walk. Approaching from the north-east, start with a cable car (always popular with Walkopedia) to an upper station at 1,510m. You are mostly above the treeline, so enjoy high shrublands and big views. Kuro-dake is some 1.25 hrs from the cable car. Some 1.5 hrs on to Hokkai-dake. Huge and fascinating views on clear days. See Walking Stories account.

You can also traverse this "roof of Hokkaido" from the Asahi-dake side in a long day, also taking a cable car to the upper levels of Asahi-dake then swinging around the huge rim to Hokkai-dake then Kuro-dake and then down to Sounkyo ousen in the north-east.

Our friends and partners Walk Japan offer a Hokkaido Hike, which explores Daisetsu-zan National Park, and climbs Asahi-dake.

This is demanding walking in remote mountains, with uncertain weather. Come fully prepared. Beware bears in some areas, check out the position.

A section in Lonely Planet's Trekking in Japan gives good practicalities. And a chapter in the charming Trekking in Japan: an Adventurer's Guide to the Mountain Trails by Paul Hunt.

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For more information and photos, including detailed practical information and some warnings, see our Daisetsu-zan and Hokkaido pages.