Daisetsuzan (Hokkaido, Japan) Grand Traverse, how hard?

Daisetsuzan (Hokkaido, Japan) Grand Traverse, how hard?

8/27/2019 11:43:25 AM

I walked the whole thing (bottom Asahi-dake → valley down from Tokachi-dake). Here are the main difficulties:

  • The most difficult part was actually climbing Asahi-dake, because a part of the slope is muddy and slippery. When dry I guess it is easy.
  • There are also a few sections with a rope that you need to hold in a narrow very steep path. Not really difficult, but definitely more than just walking, so it could block someone that has a handicap.
  • Some parts are mountain ridges, which can be a problem for people with acrophobia.
  • There are no shops at all, so carrying all of the food and gas (to boil water) for the 5 days can be considered a difficulty.

Overall it was quite easy and very enjoyable.

I saw 3 bears, who happened to be much lower than me, at a reasonable distance. If I had met them face-to-face I might have considered that a difficulty. The path is well-traveled though, with many people wearing small bells, so I guess they stay away.

I had no GPS so I lost my way one time. I would suggest checking your smartphone every hour or so, don’t forget to install an offline maps app such as OsmAnd before leaving.

4/24/2013 11:01:54 PM

I’m not brilliantly positioned to answer this, but since nobody else has…

So I walked a small section of the route back in 2000 or so (Sounkyo Onsen to Kurodake and back) as a day trip, just enough to realize that it’s a pretty “serious” national park and you’ll want to be well prepared for a serious hike:

enter image description here

As you can see, the problem is not that it’s 55 km long, it’s that you’re going up and down and up and down in the mountains, exposed to the wind, rain, snow and ice (there’s no forest cover on the plateau) — the picture above is the view from Kurodake on a relatively warm late summer day! So if you have no previous experience, I’d hook up with somebody else or try out a shorter section of the route. Asahidake to Kurodake can be done in two days with lodging en route, so you don’t need to carry a tent etc.

This guide looks rather useful: http://www.idioimagers.org/Daisetsuzan-guide.htm

And for what it’s worth, his opinion is that 5 days for the full traverse is pushing it, and most people are better off budgeting 6 or even 7.

Credit:stackoverflow.com‘

About me

Hello,My name is Aparna Patel,I’m a Travel Blogger and Photographer who travel the world full-time with my hubby.I like to share my travel experience.

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