(羊蹄山) Mt. Youtei Hike

 

Surprisingly, this mountain is doable throughout the year. But be careful in all seasons. 

Budget: JPY5,190 (~USD50)

• JPY2,100. Train, Sapporo Station to Kutchan Station. 
• JPY460. Bus, Kutchan Station < > Youtei-shizenkouen (JPY230 one way)
• JPY2,630. Train, Kutchan Station to Sapporo Station. 

Hike Date / Difficulty (Elevation: 1,898m / 6,227ft)

• 2021
• Difficulty: 5 out of 5. 
• Route below is around 16.8kilometers, with an elevation change of ▲1,800m/ ▽1,800m (around 11 hours in total)
• PDF Map Link 

When to Go

Ideally during the hiking season, but there are plenty of people who do it in winter too. Here's a post from someone who did it in January 12, 2020. 

Special Notes

• The summit is called Mt. Shiribeshi (後方羊蹄山). 
• No water source in the mountain. 
• Trailhead. Only one accessible with public transportation. 
• Youtei-shizenkouen (羊蹄自然公園, google maps pin), which is right next to a parking and camping spot. From here, map says it's about 360 minutes to the summit, so allot about 6 hours. 
• Access 1. 
• Train, Sapporo Station to Hirafu Station (比羅夫駅). JPY2,100 one way, ETAs as follows: 09:58am, 12:42pm, 06:27pm. 
• Walk. The trailhead is a 3.8km (one hour) walk from Hirafu Station. 
• Access 2. 
• Train, Sapporo Station to Kutchan Station (倶知安駅). JPY2,100 one way, ETAs as follows: 09:19am, 10:54am, 12:10pm, 01:50pm and 02:58pm. 
• Bus, Kutchan Station (倶知安駅) to trailhead, 羊蹄自然公園. JPY230 one way, 11 minutes. Bus schedule here. 
• Given the time constraints, might be best to target 10:54 arrival, 11:05am bus and then start the hike around noon. 

• Makkari (真狩, google maps pin). Not accessible via public transportation, but it has camping spots and parking. 
• 喜茂別 (google maps pin). No public transportation nor camping spot. 
• 京極 (google maps pin). No public transportation nor camping spot. 
• Mountain huts.
• Paid. None. 
• Free. 羊蹄山避難小屋. Very close to the summit, with a fee of JPY1,000. From mid June to mid October, there'll be someone manning it, and you can pay him. Outside of that season, it's honesty basis. 
• In 2022, reservations are needed. Call 0136-23-3388.
• Camping. Lake Hangetsu Campsite (半月湖野営場, google maps pin), right at the Youtei-tozanguchi trailhead. 
• Camping. Makkari (真狩, google maps pin)

Itinerary

It's about 5 hours from Hirafu Station to the summit. 
Saturday

• 08:43am. Sapporo Station to Kutchan Station (JPY2,100)
• 10:54am. Kutchan Station.
• 11:05am. Bus, Kutchan Station to Yotei-shizenkouen. 
• 11:37am. ETA: Yotei-shizenkouen. Start hike.
• 04:00pm. ETA: Mountain hut. stay for the night.

Sunday

• 05:00am.. Start hike. 
• 11:00am. Back at trailhead. 
• 09:39am. Bus, Yotei-shizenkouen to Kutchan Station.
• 10:15am. ETA: Kutchan Station.
• 11:46am. Train, Kutchan Station to Sapporo Station. JPY2,630. 
• OR
• 12:40pm. Bus, Yotei-shizenkouen to Kutchan Station.
• 01:16pm. ETA: Kutchan Station.
• 02:10pm. Train, Kutchan Station to Sapporo Station.