Mount Yoichi (Yoichidake, 1,488 m) sits on the border of Akaigawa Village and Sapporo City in Hokkaido, and is one of Japan’s 300 Famous Mountains.
The highest peak in Sapporo City, it is counted with Asaridake and Shiraidake as one of the “Three Peaks of Yoichi,” and its appeal lies in the wide views of Mount Yōtei and the peaks around Sapporo from the creeping-pine zone near the summit. Using the Kiroro Resort as a base, the summer gondola leaves about 100 minutes of walking to the summit, an intermediate route.
To reach the trailhead, access centres on an overnight stay at Kiroro Resort with the summer gondola, or a taxi from Otaru.
The base for the hike is Kiroro Resort (Akaigawa Village, Hokkaido), where the gondola runs in the summer green season. The main route is the gondola summit station → Mount Yoichi (1,488 m), about 100 minutes and 4 km one way, an intermediate route. Without the gondola, you walk about 3.9 km of forest road from the resort before joining the trail.
The best season is summer to autumn (June–October), and there is a climbing register at the entrance gate. Always check the gondola’s summer operating days and the latest trail conditions before you go.
*Last checked: June 7, 2026
How to access the trailheads
1. [There & Back] Otaru Station / Kiroro Resort ⇄ Mount Yoichi trailhead (taxi + gondola)
Otaru Station and Otaru-Chikkō Station on the JR Hakodate Main Line are your gateway. It is most practical to combine the trailhead at Kiroro Resort with a stay.
① Overnight at Kiroro Resort + summer gondola
In the summer green season the Kiroro gondola runs, leaving about 100 minutes from the summit station to Mount Yoichi. Staying at the resort lets you start with time to spare.
— Kiroro Resort 0135-34-7171.
② Otaru / Otaru-Chikkō Station → Kiroro Resort (taxi)
For a day hike, it is reliable to take a taxi from Otaru or Otaru-Chikkō Station to Kiroro Resort (about 40 minutes by car).
— Otaru Tsubame Kotsu, Yoichi branch 0135-23-3111.
③ Tourist shuttle bus: in summer a free tourist shuttle (reservation required) runs between Otaru and Kiroro on some days, but as it starts and ends at the resort and the timing does not suit hiking, it is meant for staying guests. Check the operating days and times in advance.
By car: there is parking at Kiroro Resort, about 40 minutes from central Otaru via National Route 393.
References: [Kiroro Resort (summer access)] ／ [Hokkaido Tourism: Kiroro Resort]
Trail Guide and Safety Notes
Route: the main route is an out-and-back from the Kiroro gondola summit station to Mount Yoichi (1,488 m), about 100 minutes and 4 km one way, an intermediate route. Without the gondola you first walk about 3.9 km of forest road from the resort, making for a longer day.
Weather and brown bears: the ridge is windy and prone to mist and sudden changes, so take care. The area is brown-bear country, so carry a bear bell, make noise, and avoid going alone. Always file the climbing register at the entrance gate.
Views and nature: near the summit a belt of creeping pine opens up wide views of Mount Yōtei, Mount Muine and the peaks around Sapporo. The autumn colours are lovely, and in winter Kiroro becomes a powder-snow ski area.
Equipment and emergencies: carry rain gear, warm clothing, a headlamp, a map/GPS, plenty of food and a bear bell. In an accident or emergency call 110 (police) or 119 (fire/ambulance).
・Yoichi Police Station 0135-23-0110
Photo by 禁樹なずな / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments