Akadake 2078m（赤岳）
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·Time of year climbed |
· September 2007 |
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·Weather condition of climb |
· Sunny and calm. |
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·Climbing time |
· 2 1/2 up. 2 hours down |
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·Comments |
To get to this mountain you drive from Sounkyo toward Kitami for about 20 mins through some very long tunnels. Once you get to route 273 turn right toward Obihiro. Drive about 10mins and you'll see a sign that says Ginsendai. Turn right there and head up the path for about 15kms. |
This is a wonderful mountain to climb in September as it has some the most splendid autumn colours that I have ever seen. It truly just an explosion of reds, yellows brown and oranges. Photos really do not do this scene justice. You must get up and into the mountain to fully enjoy it.
The course is easy enough - only a couple of steep bits to get the heart pumping, but you will not be bursting a lung. Easy to follow and very well maintained. This might be because it is very popular with regular tourists. When the colours are in full bloom you'll see coach loads of them. But do be put off by that. We did climb at the end of September during the tourist season and on a Sunday I would imagine it to be one of the busiest days, but we never had to wait for anybody coming up or going down.
During the peak time (last two weeks of September) you cannot drive up to Ginsendai - the obvious reason for this is if you tried the road would be blocked as it is almost a single track road and there would be nowhere to park. What you do is park at a carpark about 3 kms from the turn off to Ginsendai. The car park is very well sign posted and also there'll be about 10 people waving batons showing you the way to go. Once you park your cark there is a very good bus service that starts at 6 am and the last bus down is at about 4pm. You'll be given a time table when you pay your 200 yen parking fee. The buses run about every 30mins and cost 400 yen one way. You can also get buses from Sounkyo.
