Taisetsu National Park (230,000 ha) located in the heart of Hokkaido is a mountain range 50 kilometers long, comprising Asahidake, the highest peak (elevation 2,291 meters), and connecting peaks averaging around 2,000 meters in elevation.
The Asahidake Ropeway connects the foothills (elevation 1,100 meters) with the Sugatami station (elevation 1,600 meters). The ropeway offers sweeping vistas of the Asahidake Mountain Range, the Sugatami Pond (at elevation 1,670 meters), as well as other beautiful views of the flower-covered fields in the sky.
The leaves begin to turn color around mid September, spreading a welcoming carpet of vibrant colors across the mountainside.
From the “”Sugatami”" summit station, visitors will make their way through the alpine vegetation to the “”Sugatami Pond,”" which is about 1.7 kilometers round-trip.
The pond is an emerald green pond about 50 meters in diameter, with a circumference of about 400 meters. The pond is named “”Sugatami,”" which translates to “”mirror,”" due to the beautiful reflection of Mt. Asahidake that can be seen on the surface of the lake.
For lunch we will convene at the Asahidake Ropeway Sugatami restaurant, where we will enjoy a meal made with delicious local ingredients.
It is only a 3-minute walk from the hotel to the ropeway, so after your meal you can enjoy a ride on the ropeway and the epic scenery of flower gardens in the sky.
