Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway — Attraction in Higashikawa

This was such a nice, peaceful experience. We went in the summer and definitely recommend that you check weather conditions beforehand, as well as the Ropeway website to see if it is operating. The Ropeway is very peaceful, gives you a good view, and wasn’t too crowded when we went. It’s larger than the Mt Fuji Panoramic Ropeway and was less crowded.

The hike to the summit after riding the ropeway is 2-3 hours. (4-6 round trip). Would recommend hiking poles (they offer them to rent for free or donation by choice) as the road up and down is especially steep/rocky/slippery. We really had to take our time going down because we did not have proper hiking shoes. Additionally, if it is a cloudy day, prepare for some moments to have low to no visibility. It gets even more foggy as you get towards the summit. There is also a beautiful loop around the lake which gives you most of the views you would need - so no worries if you are not a hiker! Along the hikes, notice the little wildflowers that start to bloom in June and the large puddles (look like ponds) created by...

Visited on 11 September 2024. It had rained the whole night and in the morning. But fortunately the sun came out in the late morning and we were able to take the Ropeway and do the trail under nice blue skies.

The 1.7km loop trail is supposed to take about 1.5 hours to make (we took it leisurely in just over 2 hours). Lotsa rocky areas and steep steps. So do wear sturdier shoes. The trail grounds were generally quite dry but some parts had some puddles due to the rain but you could still mostly skip over them.

At the top of the Ropeway Sugatami station, take the Sugatami Area Map as it has some details on which parts are uphill, which are downhill and whether there are steep steps (the part immediately after Sugatami View Point heading southwest towards the Ropeway station has the steepest steps).

Autumn leaves in Japan is supposed to commence here, from September. But with global warming, there was barely any hint of yellow or red leaves. Such a pity. Regardless, the hike was still beautiful and...

This was a peak experience for me (pardon the pun). The ropeway itself is amazing - what a view! But then, to walk towards the mountain peak (we walked to the 5th station) and get close to the fumaroles (steam vents) was unbelievable. The plants in this high alpine environment are fascinating, too. Did you know it's considered a wetland? But a few words of caution. Bring warm gear - gloves, hat, and a good windproof coat. You don't need special equipment for this 1-2 hour walk, but the path is rough, muddy, and uneven. We saw melting ice on the path at midday on a sunny, still day in October, so it could very easily be icy. So I'd recommend supportive, waterproof, warm, non-slip shoes or boots. You could easily twist an ankle or fall on the rocky path and steep stairs. Please don't let this put you off, though. Many people were walking in trainers and it definitely depends on the season and the weather on the day, which can...