Location:
Starting and stopping point:
Asama Sanso Trailhead Restroom
Peaks bagged:
Nokogiri Sennin Jakotsudake Kurofu Tominoto Yarigasaya
Getting there/getting around:
There is parking at the Asama Sanso/Tengu Onsen. JR has a bus that runs to the Asama Tozanguchi on the Cherry Park Line. If you took the bus there, it is still another 4 km up a gravel road before you get to the trailhead at the Asama Sanso/Tengu Onsen.
Map:
山と高原地図 浅間山 軽井沢・長野原の山々 2024 **If this link becomes obsolete, try searching on Mapple's website
Weather Information:
Time:
Total: 6:26 Break time: :39 Distance: 13.6km
Elevation:
Lowest: 1,410m Highest: 2,404m Total Ascent: 1,183m Total Descent: 1,183m
Technical considerations/difficulty:
First and foremost, it's important to remember that this is an active volcano and there are usually restrictions on where you can go. Depending on the air quality, you may not even be able to climb it at all. The authorities have 5 levels of caution. 1=no restriction, 2=the fewest restrictions, 3=climbing nearby allowed with more restrictions, 4=local residences are in danger and should prepare for evacuation, 5, Run you fools!
You can check the current levels on this page from Komoro City's web page. It's in Japanese but you can figure out the level by finding something that looks like this near the top of the page:
火口周辺警報(レベル2:火口周辺規制)(令和5年3月23日)
火口周辺警報=caldera area warning
(レベル2:火口周辺規制)=Level 2: restrictions around the caldera
(令和5年3月23日)=Reiwa Year 5, May 23
Other than the volcanic aspects of the hike . . .
As is often the case, it's quite likely that you'll see grandmothers and little kids on these trails. I even saw a large poodle. There is not much in the way of ropes or chains but there are several steep, exposed spots. The ridge is quite high and can be a bit dizzying. Caution is necessary but it's not an especially dangerous place--except for the poison gas, the possibility of the earth exploding beneath you and the occasional falling rocks, of course. For myself, the thing that offers me the most fear is a simple trip and fall scenario.
Facilities:
The onsen is an onsen. If you're into getting naked in front of strangers and sitting in scaldingly hot water, it's the place for you! There is lodging there, too. There is even horse riding. Tengu no spa/Asama Sanso web site Up the trail a bit from there is the 火山の館 ("Kazan no kan"--"Volcano Hall"). There is free water there, a pay toilet and a free rest spot. Make sure you take care of nature's call there. There are no more restrooms for several hours.
Thoughts/observations/recommendations:
What an absolutely perfect day for a hike! We have really lucked out this Golden Week weather-wise. Unfortunately, it looks like Saturday will be cloudy but you can't win them all.
You will notice that I placed an asterisk in the title. Mt. Asama is one of the 100 Meizan but, due to the volcanic situation, I wasn't able to get to the top and tick Mt. Asama off of my list. Drats. Foiled again. I'll have to watch the restriction levels and go back again. I'm glad it's not far away.
Lots of laughs in this post. :^D
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