Daisetsuzan National Park

Daisetsuzan National Park covers 2,267 square kilometers in central Hokkaido, making it Japan's largest wilderness area. Sixteen mountains here rise above 2,000 meters, including Mount Asahidake, which reaches 2,291 meters and emits steam from active sulfur vents. You can hike around volcanic craters near Sugatami Pond, relax in natural hot springs like Asahidake Onsen, or walk through Sounkyo Gorge with its steep cliffs. Trails pass through forests of Sakhalin fir trees and open into areas where autumn leaves change color as early as mid-September. This park appeals to hikers, photographers, and anyone interested in seeing wild animals like brown bears and pikas in their natural habitat.

Hiking Routes and Mountain Views

Daisetsuzan has trails for all skill levels, from 30-minute walks to week-long adventures. Take the Asahidake Ropeway to start the Sugatami Pond Loop, a 90-minute hike past steam vents and volcanic pools that mirror the sky. Experienced hikers often choose the Daisetsuzan Grand Traverse, an 80-kilometer path connecting Mount Kurodake’s rocky slopes to Mount Tomuraushi’s flower-filled plateaus. If you climb Mount Kurodake from its ropeway station, you’ll see the Ishikari River winding through valleys below. Families enjoy the Genshigahara Wetlands trail near Mount Tokachidake, where wooden walkways cross marshes filled with white cotton grass and purple irises.

Natural Hot Springs and Bathing Spots

Many hiking trails lead to hot springs where you can warm up after exploring. Asahidake Onsen sits at the base of Mount Asahidake, with simple lodges that have baths filled with mineral-rich water. In Sounkyo Gorge, public baths look up at cliffs where ice climbers practice during winter festivals. Tenninkyo Onsen offers quieter pools surrounded by birch trees in the park’s less-visited eastern section. For a more remote option, hike two hours to Nakadake Onsen near Mount Asahidake’s crater, where you can mix hot spring water with cold stream water to create your ideal bath temperature.

Animals and Plant Life

About 500 brown bears roam Daisetsuzan’s forests, along with small mammals like the Ezonaki rabbit and birds such as the black woodpecker. Walk through Numa-no-Hara High Moor, a wetland at 1,440 meters elevation, to find creeping pine shrubs that survive Hokkaido’s cold winters. Near Mount Tomuraushi’s summit, look for rock ptarmigans camouflaged against granite slopes and patches of pinkish-white Aleutian mountainheath flowers. The park’s tree line shifts at 1,500 meters, where tall spruce trees give way to low-growing shrubs and mosses. Rangers at visitor centers can tell you where bears were last spotted and loan bear deterrent spray.

Best Times to Visit

Mid-September brings bright red fall colors to Mount Asahidake’s slopes first, then spreads across lower valleys by early October. From November to May, snow blankets the park, creating routes for cross-country skiing near Sounkyo Onsen and snowshoe tours to frozen waterfalls. January’s Sounkyo Ice Festival displays ice castles lit with colored lights at night. July and August let you hike through fields of blue lupines and orange daylilies before afternoon rains arrive. Trails close when snow starts accumulating in late October; check with rangers for exact dates each year.

Planning Your Trip

Start at Asahidake Visitor Center to get topographic maps and learn which trails are open. Sounkyo Visitor Center has a detailed relief map of the park and tablets explaining how volcanic eruptions shaped the landscape. At Higashitaisetsu Nature Center near Lake Nukabira, exhibits show how park staff protect watersheds feeding the Tokachi River. All centers update their websites with trail conditions and weather alerts. Rangers suggest carrying a whistle when hiking and wearing waterproof boots for muddy paths.

Getting There and Nearby Stops

Asahikawa City serves as the main gateway, with buses leaving daily for Asahidake Onsen (90 minutes) and Sounkyo Gorge (2 hours). From here, you can drive 40 minutes to Furano’s lavender farms or 90 minutes to Lake Shikaribetsu’s summer boat rentals. South of the park, Mount Bieidake’s active crater emits sulfurous gases visible from hiking trails. Rent ice axes or camping gear from Guest House Asahikawa Ride, which also organizes shuttle vans to trailheads. Direct buses run from Sapporo Station to Sounkyo three times daily, taking 3.5 hours through rolling farmland.