From Asahidake to Mount Pippu
Around Asahidake (2291 m), the highest peak of Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost main island, there are many other summits only slightly lower. Among the highest is the main summit of a massif made up of several peaks – from the lowest, Mount Toma (1998 m), to the highest, Mount Pippu (2197 m).
Route overview: Asahidake ropeway bottom station – top station – north-east across the plateau with a gentle descent below the massif – from the south-west up Mount Toma (1998 m) – east and north to Mount Antaroma (2194 m) – north-east to Mount Pippu (2197 m) – descent from Mount Pippu south and south-west to the top station of the Asahidake ski area – down on or off the pistes depending on the snow.
From the Asahidake ski area to the ropeway top station
After landing in Sapporo, pick up a rental car and take the E5 motorway to Asahikawa. From there continue via Higashikagura to Lake Chubetsu (430 m). From the lake, mountain road no. 1160 (Asahikawa Asahidake Onsen Line) climbs to the Asahidake ski area (1100 m). At the bottom station it doesn't look at all as if the surrounding hills rise above two thousand metres. The lower terrain is gentle and quite densely forested, so at first glance newcomers wonder where all the amazing powder terrain from the Hokkaido photos and videos is.
There are two ways to reach the plateau surrounded by two-thousand-metre peaks – by the ropeway or on skins. The large-capacity gondola is for those who don't want to tire themselves climbing to 1600 m, where its top station is. We of course go up on skins, combining open terrain with the occasional piste crossing, until we reach the ropeway top station.
From the ropeway top station to Mount Pippu (2197 m)
At the top station a beautiful view opens up of the collapsed crater of the extinct volcano Asahidake (2291 m) with smoking fumaroles in its lower part – the goal of 99 percent of visitors here. This time we give it a wide berth, as there are many other two-thousand-metre peaks around offering ascents and descents of varying difficulty.
Skin north-east, passing Asahidake. Then turn north and reach the extensive massif of several peaks, the lowest of which is Mount Toma (1998 m). Depending on the snow, choose an ascent line between south-east and south. From the summit continue along the ridge north-east, east and north over Mount Antaroma (2194 m) to the highest summit, Mount Pippu (2197 m).
Descent from Mount Pippu (2197 m)
The summit of Pippu offers a superb all-round view of the highest peaks of Hokkaido. The whole area between Mount Pippu and Mount Toma is available for descents – it all depends on the current snow and your preferences. In excellent snow you can repeat the roughly 400 m climb back to the ridge several times. Ski down near Nakadake Onsen (1840 m) and continue through gentle terrain to the top station of the Asahidake ski area. Depending on the snow, carry on down through open terrain or on the pistes.