Mt Eniwa-dake

Mt Eniwa-dake

Mt Eniwa-dake sits on the shores of lake Shikotsuko and stands at 1320 meters high.

This active but sleeping volcanic peak can be seen from miles around and is a must do for anyone looking for a good hike and especially those people staying or visiting the city of Sapporo and want some thing to do.

The start point Mt Eniwa-dake

The Trail:

From the car park you can easily find the trail which starts of as a small dirt road which quickly turns into a hiking trail. You slowly work your way over a rocky path which will led you into the trees and slowly up the mountain.

around the start of the hike

After about 30 minutes the trail starts to get steeper then it is a hard hike up for about 2 hours which will include a couple of rope sections. After the last rope section the trail flattens out a bit and you will break out of the trees onto a rocky outcrop where you will be met with a great view of the northern end of lake Shikotsuko and a view of the center crater of Mt Eniwa-dake which will include it's steaming vents. This point makes a good place for a break but you are not finished.

One of the rope sections

The rocky outcrop

From here you want to drop your packs and hike about another 20 minutes which will bring  you to another look out point. From this point you can not go any further. The peak was damage by typhoon a few years back and is unsafe.
I suggest you go to this lookout point and then go back to the rocky outcrop to have your lunch.

The 2nd lookout point

view from rocky outcrop

Hiking times:

From car park to rocky outcrop: 2 hrs 30min

From Rocky outcrop to 2nd lookout point: 20 min

Hiking time down: 2 hrs

Total hiking time: about 5 hrs

Heading down the top rope section

How to get there:

By car: from Sapporo JR station
You find route 36 and follow that south until you come to route 453 which will be on your right.
Follow route 453 for 1 hr and 20 minutes all the out of the city to you to the Mt Eniwa-dake.

Google Map: Click link below:
How to get the starting point of Mt Eniwa-dake

Heading down the trail

When can I hike this mountain ?

You can start hike this mountain from late May until End of October or until the first snows fall.

Mt Kogane-yama:

Mt Kogane-yama stands at 740 meters and is a cone shape peak that stands out in the countryside.
This small mountain isn't very high but you gt a lot for your buck. From the top you get some stunning views .

Mt Kogane-yama

The trail:
From the car park you head out on a dirt trail for 30 minutes that will bring you to junction.
There are two trails going left and right. Both trails will take you to the top but I suggest you take the right trail up and down by the left trail. The right trail is a short route up and a bit easier. The left trail is a bit longer and has a couple of short rope sections which I think is better coming for coming down on.

The trail heading up

Rocky outcrop

From the junction the right trail take about 1 hr &10 minutes to the top. About 3/4 of the route up is steep and on a dirt trail with tree roots (When the trail is wet, it can be very slippy so be careful). With 1/4 of the trail to go you will come to another junction. This is when the two trails meet up again. From this point you will start to break out of the trees on to a rocky outcrop. From this point you start to get great views. You work your up a bit to  small peak but this not the top, the trail carry's on a little bit further which drops down and then heads back up another rocky peak. This is the top. You should be met with a Japanese sign which will Mt Kogane-yama on it.

View from the top

The sign at the top

To head back down you go back to same way to you hit the top junction and take the trail heading right. The trail down should take you about 50 minutes and will join back to the tyrail you went up on and back to the car park.

One of the rope sections heading down

The view looking down heading down

At the car park there are toilets and running water .

The trail is open from June to October.


The best season is autumn which is from late September to mid or late October.

The car park and start and finish point of the hike

How to get there:

From Sapporo JR Train Station you take route 5 north. As you are driving route 5 will change to route 231. You take route 231 out of Sapporo up the west coastline for about 90 minutes to 2 hours you will come to a small town and route 451 which will be on your right. You will see the peak stick out and very easy to see if it is a clear day. Head down the road for about 10 minutes until you come to the sign to the hike on your left. The sign is big wooden one and the Japanese letters are painted in yellow and green.
Turn left and drive about 190 meters down the dirt road to you come to the car park.

The road sign on route 451

 Goggle Map:
How to get to Kogane-yama from Sapporo

View from the road (route 451)