Discover the Scenic Hakkōda Mountains

Great destination! Enjoyed the open trail and peaceful outdoor atmosphere.

There is a nice rest area and observation deck after you get down from the cable car. There is coffee and a few snack options. Even if you don’t want to climb to the peak, there is a short hiking path you can take. Just be sure to have a bear bell and bear spray with you. You can see the Hokkaido peninsula from here!

On August 6th, 2026 (Thursday), I hiked a round trip from the Hakkoda Mountain Ropeway (first departure at 9:00 AM) to Akakura-dake (elevation 1,548m), then to Ido-dake (elevation 1,550m), and finally to the summit of Hakkoda-Odake (elevation 1,584m). The temperature was 24℃ to 30℃, and it felt even hotter when the sun was out. On June 24th and 28th, bear attacks on the east side of Jigoku-numa were confirmed, leading to the mountain's closure. However, the bear was captured on August 1st, allowing the mountain to reopen. As a precaution against bears, I hiked with two other people (including someone who was on the ropeway with me), carrying bear spray and bear bells. We chatted throughout the hike. Despite being a low mountain in Tohoku, the heat was unexpectedly intense 🥵. My companions made sure to stay hydrated (with oral rehydration solution), used parasols, and used up all four rapid cooling pouches before barely making it down the mountain. I think it's really important to take thorough precautions against heatstroke (and don't forget the opposite, as mountain weather is unpredictable). After descending, someone who was with me gave me a watermelon 🍉 that had been chilled in a mini refrigerator 🙏🏻😋 It was delicious! It also helped to alleviate the heat! I also want to thank the group who were maintaining the hiking trails in that heat 🙏🏻 They were carrying heavy wooden mallets and other equipment all the way up to the summit of Mt. Otake by hand. The mountain shapes formed by volcanic activity make any mountain feel less like a low mountain, and walking along the ridge while looking down at the impressive cliffs that were blown down to the mountainside by a sudden volcanic eruption is well worth seeing ✨

You take a cable car up the mountain, and there are walking trails for tourists. Because of bear sightings, you can't climb the entire mountain. The scenery is beautiful and worth experiencing in person.

There are two hiking trails available: a 30-minute trail and a 60-minute trail. You can enjoy the natural beauty of Mount Hakkoda.