(十勝岳) Mt. Tokachi Hike

This has year long public transportation access, but if you're not fond of avalanches, then avoid winter hikes.

Budget: JPY2,440 (~USD23) from Asahikawa

• JPY2,440. Bus, Asahikawa Station to Biei Trailhead (JPY1,220 one way)

Hike Date / Difficulty (Elevation: 2,077m / 6,814ft)

• Target hike: 2021
• Difficulty: 3 out of 5
• Route below (backtrail Tokachidake-onsen (十勝岳温泉) is around 12.4kilometers, with an elevation change of ▲1,267m/ ▽1,267m (6h23m)
• Map Link : yamakei ・yamap

When to Go
June to September might be the best season to avoid avalanches.

Special Notes

• Weather forecast: English / Japanese. 
• Loop of Mt. Asahi - Mt. Tomuraushi - Mt. Tokachi means a four day-3 night hike, covering around 63.7kms, with an elevation change of ▲4,899m/ ▽4,977m.
• Biei is the famous blue pond of Hokkaido, and it is in the town of Shirokane Onsen (Biei Trailhead)
• Mountain huts.
• Paid: None.
• Free: 
• 美瑛富士避難小屋, closer to trailhead Biei. There's a stream nearby (melted snow) for water source.
• 上ホロ避難小屋, closer to trailhead Tokaichidake-onsen. Plenty of flies on summer.
• 十勝岳避難小屋, closer to trailheads Bougakudai and Fukiage-onsen.
• Camping: None.
• Trailheads. Quite a lot of options. 
• Tokachidake-onsen (十勝岳温泉). Bus does not run on January 1, that's it.
• Train, Asahikawa Station to Kamifurano Station, JPY970, 57 minutes one way. Earliest ETA: 07:37am.
• Bus, Kamifurano Station (上富良野駅) to Tokachidake-onsen (十勝岳温泉). JPY500. In the bus schedule, Kamifurano Station is referred to as eki-mae (駅前) or "in front of the station".

• Fukiage-onsen (吹上温泉). The same bus above should have "吹上温泉" as one of the stops.
• Bougakudai (望岳台). Trailhead is an hour walk from bus stop.
• Bus, Asahikawa Station to Shirokane-onsen (白金温泉). JPY1,220 one way. Take bus#39. Bus schedule here. The PDF is crowded, so just look for "白金線"

• Biei (美瑛富士登山口). Same bus stop as Bougakudai (望岳台) above, and about 2kms walk.
• Genshigahara (原始ヶ原・富良野岳登山口). No public transportation.

Itinerary

• Train, Asahikawa Station to Kamifurano Station. 
• 07:37am. ETA: Kamifurano Station. 
• 08:52am. Bus, Kamifurano Station to Tokachi Onsen. 
• 09:37am. ETA: Tokachi Onsen. 
• 10:00am. Start hike.
• 01:34pm. ETA: Summit.
• 04:30pm. Back at trailhead.  
• 05:27pm. Bus, Tokachi Onsen to Kamifurano Station. 
• Train. Kamifurano Station to Asahikawa Station.