This hike to Akakuradake (1545m) is a 5.5km return hike with 321m of elevation gain that starts and finishes at the Hakkōda Ropeway Sanchō-kōen Station (山頂公園駅).
The Hakkōda Mountains (八甲田山) are legendary in Japan, though often for their extremes. Most famous for the “Snow Monsters” (rime ice) that draw skiers from around the globe in winter, and the vibrant fiery maples of autumn, they take on a different, serene character in the summer. We visited in summer after the snow had (mostly) retreated. You could extend this and aim for the highest point, Mt. Hakkōda (Odake) at 1584m, but we opted for this shorter version due to fog and changing weather.
Trail Information
Hike time: 2-2.5 hours
Season: Summer (July)
Difficulty: Fitness (Grade 1: Easy) Technical (Grade 1: Easy)
Safety notes: Aomori is home to the Asian Black Bear (Tsukinowaguma). While brown bears are found in Hokkaido, black bears are active here – carry a bell and make noise. Also, be aware of sudden weather shifts; unexpected snow and extreme cold are common in Spring, Autumn, and Winter.
Access
Trailhead: Hakkōda Ropeway Sanroku Station 八甲田ロープウェー 山麓駅
Access by car is the easiest for this hike, however public transport is possible.
Suggested Meeting Point: Sukayu Information Center 酸ヶ湯インフォメーションセンター
Download or view trail map
App or map? While many rely on navigation apps these days I strongly recommend printing a copy of your hike maps using one of the free topographic map services.
Post-Hike Notes
We stayed the night before at the Sukayu Camp (酸ヶ湯キャンプ場), which is very close to Aomori’s famous Sukayu Onsen Tamanoyu (酸ヶ湯温泉 玉の湯). This area is reportedly the snowiest place on earth – a fact that is hard to imagine in the sweltering humidity of Japanese summer. The nearby Sukayu area actually holds the world record for the highest snow depth ever recorded in an inhabited area (5.66 meters in 2013). It averages over 17 meters of snow per year!
We set off mid-morning to the base station of the Gondola. As much as I’d like to climb peaks like this from top to bottom – with a child attached, it ain’t happening. The gondola ride is a fun trip in itself, and apparently the leaves in autumn are amazing. We restocked with a hot coffee at the vending machine near the top before heading off.
At the top the vegetation changes to a clearly alpine landscape – the trees are beautiful. The mountains are home to the Aomori Fir (Abies mariesii). In winter, these trees become the famous “Snow Monsters,” but in summer, they provide a beautiful alpine canopy. The trail heads over a knoll and you then drop down to a “Three Mountain View Point” which is a great place for a snack, or to turn back if you feel touristy.
The trail then continues down towards the Tamoyachi shitsugen marsh (田茂萢湿原). Take a left on the trail that heads towards the viewing platform. At this point, you’re still on the well-trod short tourist loop.
Continue on and take another left to jump off the tourist loop and head towards the peaks of this area. From here the trail heads straight up, with a large number of stairs (at odd and non-standard heights) towards 赤倉岳 (Akakuradake). This part is the real slog of this trip – and with a heavy pack child it wasn’t easy work in the heat, however it isn’t that difficult – we just had to take our time.
At the top we were greeted with just enough of a view under the clouds. The last remnants of snow still stuck around on the sheltered side of the peak, with great views of the surrounding areas. With Mt. Hakkōda (Odake) well into the clouds – and the weather forecast trending away from good we decided to turn back. You can actually continue on from here to the taller Mt. Hakkōda (Odake) at 1584m past the Ohdake Refuge (大岳鞍部避難小屋) if you wish, which would add a few kilometers and maybe an hour or two to the journey.
The Descent
The way back as always is deceptive. Beautiful views all the way as you walk down the hill but a little tough on the knees thanks to the volcanic rocks and stairs.
On the way back we took the opposite side of the tourist loop, which takes you up and over the adorably named Mt. Tamoyachi (田茂萢岳). After the gondola ride down, and a short drive we finished off where we started the night before (at the onsen!) Gotta love Japan for that!
I’d love to return to these mountains – maybe in the snow or in autumn and stay at the cabin at the top – but maybe next time.
Images of Akakuradake / Hakkōda Mountains
