Mt Asahidake & Biei Blue River
2 Day Snowshoeing Tour

Tour Highlights

• Snowshoe hiking in the snow in the foothills of Mt. Asahidake
• Seeing steam roaring out from spectacular volcanic fumaroles
• Snowshoe hiking through serene forest to Biei’s Blue River
• Staying overnight at Shirogane Onsen at the base of the Tokachi Mountains

About Asahidake & Biei

Checking in at 2,291 metres (7,500 feet), Mt Asahidake in Daisetsuzan National Park is the tallest mountain in Hokkaido. Also known as the “Roof of Hokkaido”, the mountain has a special place in the hearts of Hokkaido people, including the indigenous Ainu. The mirror lakes and rugged gullies of Mt Asahidake take all hikers’ breath away in summer, but winter is as exciting as you can imagine: vapors discharging high in the air with the mighty Asahidake as a backdrop.

Biei, in contrast, has charms in its rolling hills and tranquil forests. The iconic Blue Pond gained a worldwide recognition when the image was used as the Apple wallpaper. It’s always been a highly popular site to visit in summer, but in winter the frozen waters are shrouded in silence and snow. We take advantage of the snow to put on our snowshoes to explore the forest further behind this pond, where the Biei River feeds the blue water. Mt Asahidake & the Blue River are the best-matching winter gems of the area we’d like you to experience at least once in your lifetime!

Who is this tour for?

• Brave adventurers who like to spend a day in the outdoors in winter conditions, where temperatures can drop below -20˚C/-4˚F
• Winter hikers & snow lovers who love hiking in snow with the help of snowshoes (No experience required)
• Curious travellers who love learning about the cultural and ecological values of the regions they visit

What is the Hokkaido winter like?

We run this tour from late December to early April. The first snow of the season falls on Mt Asahidake usually around the third week of September. From then the snow melts and accumulates until it stabilizes and sticks around from early December. During the stormy start to winters in Hokkaido, the snow usually grows deep enough for skiing & snowboarding by Christmas, when the Asahidake Ropeway operation gears up to accommodate skis and snowboards. Generally, January is the coldest month, easily hitting -20˚C/-4˚F or lower! The weather becomes more stable towards March, and we can still enjoy snowshoeing up on Mt Asahidake & Biei in April (quite often under blue skies), although the snow starts disappearing from the streets in the towns below.

Please be aware that the cable car at Mt Asahidake can be suspended due to the bad weather, in this case, our guided tour takes place in the native forest around Asahidake Onsen village or at an alternative site in Higashikawa.