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So, I planned a 7 day trip to Hokkaido with a friend in a few weeks. We plan to fly to Obihiro to check out Shikaribetsu, the kotan, ice bars, etc for day one. Day two, we plan to go airboarding at Sahoro Ski Resort, then bus down to Furano (the accommodation is pricey at the ski resort). Day three, we plan to go snowmobiling for half a day, then bus to Sounkyo for the Ice Waterfall Festival. Day four, we are not sure what to do because day five and six we will be in Asahikawa. Day five we will go to Asahikawa Zoo mainly to see the Penguin Parade and later we will visit Asahikawa Ramen Village. Day six, we plan to go dogsledding for half the day and then we will bus back to Asahikawa, then fly back to Tokyo at night.
For day four, we have considered going snowshoeing at Daisetsuzan. Here are a couple links I came across:
http://www.outdoorjapan.com/magazine/story_details/131
"Winter: Daisetsu-zan in winter is a formidable place and not for the inexperienced. It can also be paradise for those who love getting deep into and freezing your butts off. Asahi-dake, the highest peak in Hokkaido, is just less than 3,000 meters. Because of the way the weather works in the park, doing Daisetsu-zan in winter is like doing a mountain twice the height. I have been up there in mid-winter when the temperature was below –30C. Daisetsu-zan has some great winter alpine trekking and backcountry skiing, but you must treat her with utmost respect, because she can have a very nasty bite."
This website makes it sound really harsh and dangerous, but maybe only for those planning on being at high altitudes.
http://www.hokkaidonaturetours.com/snowshoeing.html
We were planning in a low altitude hike because we both have never been snowshoeing before. I'm hoping for a scenic route, where we could take photos of some volcanic steam vents such as this:
Hopefully some of these can be seen on the low altitude trails. I'm researching more on that now.
Has anyone been snowshoeing in this area during winter? How was it?
We have heavy winter outfits, jackets, goggles, hats, gloves, etc. We can rent out the snowshoes, but just wondering if it is even worth going it is as dangerous as the first website makes it out to be.
I would appreciate any help or advice.
For day four, we have considered going snowshoeing at Daisetsuzan. Here are a couple links I came across:
http://www.outdoorjapan.com/magazine/story_details/131
"Winter: Daisetsu-zan in winter is a formidable place and not for the inexperienced. It can also be paradise for those who love getting deep into and freezing your butts off. Asahi-dake, the highest peak in Hokkaido, is just less than 3,000 meters. Because of the way the weather works in the park, doing Daisetsu-zan in winter is like doing a mountain twice the height. I have been up there in mid-winter when the temperature was below –30C. Daisetsu-zan has some great winter alpine trekking and backcountry skiing, but you must treat her with utmost respect, because she can have a very nasty bite."
This website makes it sound really harsh and dangerous, but maybe only for those planning on being at high altitudes.
http://www.hokkaidonaturetours.com/snowshoeing.html
We were planning in a low altitude hike because we both have never been snowshoeing before. I'm hoping for a scenic route, where we could take photos of some volcanic steam vents such as this:
Hopefully some of these can be seen on the low altitude trails. I'm researching more on that now.
Has anyone been snowshoeing in this area during winter? How was it?
We have heavy winter outfits, jackets, goggles, hats, gloves, etc. We can rent out the snowshoes, but just wondering if it is even worth going it is as dangerous as the first website makes it out to be.
I would appreciate any help or advice.
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