Visitor Center Report

Snow report about Mt.Akdake, Mt.Hakuunndake, Mt.Hokkaidake
Snow on the trail almost melted.
At this time of year remaining snow is very dangerous.
Because snow is very hard, and slippery. When walking, be careful.
When it’s foggy, hikers might miss the trail.
Yesterday we met a hiker that missed the trail around Hananosawa.

*foxes are aiming hiker’s food around Hakuun hut.
Don’t leave food.

Snow report
・Mt.Akadake dainikaenn 80m (snow surface is hard.)
・The bottom of Itagaki shindou 100m+ 200m(there is guide rope.) it is really difficult to walk on the snow.
・Hananosawa 5m+2m+3m (snow is divided into three.)*when it’s foggy, it’s difficult to find sign.
・Crossing point of hokkaisawa 20m (when crossing, be careful not to walk through snow and fall down under the snow.

Autumn leaves about Mt.Akadake, Koizumitaira, Hakuun hut, Mt.Hokkaidake, Hokkaisawa


A place where snow remains relatively late in the season is called a snowpatch.
At a snowpatch “Phyllodoce nipponica Makino” and “Primula cuneifolia Ledeb. var. hakusanensis Makino” are blooming.
Most of plants are going to finish.
“ Gentiana algida f. igarashii”is blooming around Koizumi daira and Hakuun hut.
Last week snow might turn on “Autumn leaves”.
“Arctous alpina var. japonica” growing in wind-blown is starting to turn.
Some “Sorbus matsumurana” turn red.
We think “Autumn leaves” season will visit early.

Mt.Akadake information about autumn leaves

As the photo shows, “Arctous alpina var. japonica ” at Komakusa daira starts to turn red little bit.
But “Sorbus matsumurana” has not started yet, keeps green leaves.

Mt.Kurodake information about autumn leaves

*northeast slope of Mt.Kurodake
Most of leaves are green.
Around 9th station of Mt.Kurodake , near the “Manekiiwa” some leaves(“Sorbus matsumurana” ) turns to red.
(“Solidago virgaurea subsp. leiocarpa”, “Aconitum yamazakii” , “Gnaphalium affine” ,” Cirsium” are still blooming beautifully.)

*the summit of Mt.Kurodake ~Mt.Pon kurodake
“Arctous alpina var. japonica” is getting more red than 8th report.
But most of leaves are green. (sometimes we find bright red leaves!)
Near the Akaishi river “Sorbus matsumurana” is tuning to red.

*Kurodake ishimuro hut ~Kumonotaira
Most of leaves are green, some leaves are tuning to red.

Snowing in June and in August lets alpine plants (“Sorbus matsumurana”) wither.
But some leaves are still green.
We are worry about typhoon.
The weather forecast says that in this week the temperature stays warm.
We think that leaves won’t turn to red so quickly.

*Akaishi river
The water is not much, and the flow is calm.
When crossing, watch your step.
At the river side “Solidago virgaurea subsp. leiocarpa” bloom in big community.
But we found bear’s trace near the river.
Make sure to bring bells and whistles.

*after snowing in last week , the trail to Mt.Koizumidake was under the snow.
It was really hard to walk.
Ohachidaira ~the junction of Mt.Hokuchindake it snowed 50 cm.
The snow has not melted yet, be careful to walk.