(浅間山) Mt. Asama Hike

Asama-yama is an active volcano with one of the most distinct shapes. The same way Mt. Fuji has its cone, Yarigatake has its spear, Mt. Asama’s crater and shape is also a very distinct pudding shape. And well, it is a very active volcano that just keeps on passing gas 😉

Budget: JPY11,533/person (~USD108)

• JPY8,533 – Roundtrip bus, allocated using Willer Bus Pass
• JPY260 –  Train, Tanaka Station to Komoro Station
• JPY2,140- Roundtrip bus, Komoro Station to trailhead. 
• JPY500 – Train, Komoro Station to Karuizawa

Hike Date / Difficulty (Elevation: 2,524m/8,281ft)

• October 26-27, 2019
• Difficulty: A decent 3 out of 5. 
• Route below is around 11.7km, with an elevation elevation change of ▲1030m/ ▽1029m
• PDF Map Link

When to Go

Year round. I’ve been in the area during winter (overlooking Asama), so I’d say that you can go anytime.

Special Notes

• Mt. Maekake (前掛山) limit. The official summit of Mt. Asama is not accessible, ever. This is due to the continuous release of volcanic gas. The closest point then is Mt. Maekake, which overlooks the crater of Mt. Asama. Still, you’d have to check if they don’t prevent people from coming too close. 
• Volcanic activity alert. Based on this, they may cordon off a kilometer or so from the crater. Personally, I’d say if the warning is level 1 to 2, I would have had taken the risk and go up Mt. Maekake. 

• Mountain huts. 
• Paid: None.
• Free: Not huts, but steel shelters. There are a couple of steel shelters just in case Mt. Asama gets active. There’s even one close to the Mt. Maekake summit
• Camping: No official spot, but we camped near the steel huts. Those who stayed at the top of Mt. Maekake simply stayed in their sleeping bags inside the steel shelter. 

• Trailhead. For the hike described below, we started and ended at Takamine Onsen (高峰温泉). 
• Direct Access by Bus: One (just one!) bus leaves Shinjuku at 10:35am and gets there 2:28pm. Return trip leaves at 4:17pm and arrives at 8:17pm. 
• via Komoro Station (小諸駅). It costs JPY1,070 one way, bus schedule as follows:

Itinerary

Friday

• 24:10　Departure from Tokyo Station Yaesu South Exit (JPY3,000 ish)

Saturday

• 05:30 Arrival at Tobu Yunomaru SA. Walk towards Tanaka Station (田中駅) 　(3.5kms)
• 06:16 Train from Tanaka Station (田中駅) to Komoro Station (小諸駅) . (JPY260, 10km)
• 06:25 Walk around Komoro Castle, wait for 08:42 bus to Takamine Onsen (高峰温泉). 
• 09:20 Arrival at Asamatozanguchi (浅間登山口). The bus stop is 4kms away from Asama Sanso (浅間山荘) (trail head)
• 09:30. Started hike. We decided to do the loop, but refrained from going up Mt. Maekake given that the entrance was cordoned off. But we know at least 5 people went up there, given that we can actually see them haha. 
• 14:55. Arrival at our chosen camp spot, which was right next to the steel shelter. 

Sunday

• 09:37 Bus from Takamine Onsen to Komoro Station. When we were there, there were NO buses because of the typhoon damage. We had to hitchhike! In this case, try to schedule your hike so that you can exit at Asamatozanguchi (浅間登山口) and the bus passes there. 
• 10:18 Arrival at Komoro Station.
• 10:18 Komoro Station to Karuizawa Station (JPY500). Next train at 10:52am.
• 10:24 Arrival at Karuizawa Station. Explore Karuizawa.
• 18:00 Departure from Karuizawa Station, bus stop 3
• 20:52 Arrival at Ikebukuro Station