Visitor Center Report

Today’s Ginsendai (9/8)
Day by day Autumn foliage is getting more beautiful.
Private Vehicles restricted 9/14~9/29.
(Kougen onsen 9/20~9/29)

Momijidani course

This course is about 700m and takes 30minutes one way.
It’s a pretty good walking course.
As the name suggests, autumn foliage (maple) is very beautiful.

Here in Sounkyo autumn foliage is still early.
“Quercus crispula Blume” that is near the entrance bears fruits.
“Acer japonicum” is coloring a little. (Look at picture, please.)
“Aconitum sachalinense subsp. yezoense , “Actaea simplex
” and “Nepeta subsessilis “ are blooming now.
There is Momijidani waterfall at the end of this course.
All the year we can see it.
But in particular from the end of September to the beginning of October “Maple” is so beautiful and amazing.
We will be sharing updates regularly.
If you are difficult to walk up to the mountain, we recommend “Kamuinomori forest trail” that is 7th station of Mt.Kurodake and “Momijidani walking course”.

Mt.Midoridake autumn foliage report
For the past few days in the morning and at night it has been chilly.
It makes leaves turn red and yellow from the ridge line.
In Mt.Midori after passing forest belt, hikers can see autumn foliage of “Sorbus matsumurana”
Before alpine belt there is a mass of rock slope.
From here hikers see “Tasuki no kouyou” that is like sash hanging from a mountains.
This sash part is turning red.
From the summit to ridge line “Arctous alpina var. japonica” is really beautiful autumn foliage.
It will take 2~ 3days to see peak of autumn foliage.
Hikers will see red color stripes on the mountain slope.
It is so beautiful.
At the bottom of Itagaki shindou there is 50m snow left.
The snow is very hard. When hikers walk on it , watch your step.

Hikers can use water at Hakuun hut.
There is snow near the camping site.
It will use for a week.

The hut keeper says that yesterday he observed first ice in this year.
When staying in lodge and staying camping to see autumn leaves, hikers have to bring something warm to wear.
As usual around Sep 20th Daisetuzan mountain range gets first snow.

Mt.Kurodake autumn foliage report.
We often said “the temperature stays higher than as usual.”
Yesterday and today the temperature was 3°c at Kurodake Ishimuro against all expectation.( in a few days the temperature stays high.)

We guessed leaves will color more.
Aucually “Sorbus matsumurana” between the top of Mt.Kurodake and Hokkaizawa and Mt.Hokuchin started coloring.
Compering with last report leaves has not changed very much.
Around ohachidaira autumn foliage is going slowly.

On the other hand the east slope of Mt.Kurodake is coloring more.
A slope of stream near the Manekiiwa is heading to good time to see.
(but the east slope near the summit leaves has not changed as same as last report.

Both side of trail between the top of Mt.Kurodake and Kurodake Ishimuro “Arctous alpina var. japonica” is spreading.
Now is good time to see.

*Akaishi river is calm and the amount of water is less. Hikers can cross the river.
Depends on weather, the situation will change.
Bring you full equipment.
*snow under the junction of Mt.Hokuchin is gone.
When it is foggy, be careful not to get lost. (The sign is new.)

Mt.Akadake trail report
All the trail has no snow in Mt.Akadake

At Daiichi kaen after raining the trail is muddy and slippery. Be careful.
We recommend to bring a pair of pants cover to avoid mud splashing.
At Daini kaen when in foggy, be careful not to get lost.

At Daisan sekkei rocks are unstable, and the trail is sometime very steep.
Be careful to slip.
At Komakusadaira most of “Dicentra peregrina” finished.
Now is good time to see “Arctous alpina var. japonica” that turns red.
At Daiyon sekkei the trail is good to walk without no snow and no water.
The lower part of trail in Daiyon sekkei is shaved and narrow and slippery.
And also there are gravel and small stones, it’s hard to walk.
Watch your step.
We can see “Arnica unalascensis var. tschonoskyi” and “Arnica unalascensis var. tschonoskyi”.
A little more we will enjoy seeing flowers.