Mt. Poroshiri (幌尻岳, 2,052 m) is the highest peak in the Hidaka range, straddling Biratori and Niikappu in southern Hokkaido. Often called one of the hardest of the 100 Famous Mountains of Japan, it is a peak in Kyūya Fukada’s selection.
Its name comes from the Ainu word Poroshir, meaning “big mountain”; highlights include the Nanatsu-numa cirque (a glacial landform unique to Hokkaido), the alpine-flower fields just below the summit, and the endless ridges of the Hidaka range seen from the broad summit. It is famous as often the last mountain for those completing the 100 Famous Mountains list.
How to access the trailheads
- [Outbound] Sapporo / New Chitose Airport → Furikawa / Toyonuka-sanso (Donan Bus via Tomakomai + taxi)
- [Round trip] Toyonuka-sanso ⇔ Second Gate (Shuttle Bus, reservation-only, ¥10,000 round trip)
- Horoshiri Hut, trail overview, suggested plans, emergency contacts
Standard times (Biratori / Nukapira course, 1 night 2 days, advanced, total ~14 hours)
Day 1 (~7 hours): Second Gate (~460 m) → (2:00) → forest road 7.5 km → Nukapira-gawa trailhead → (3:30) → over a dozen river crossings → Horoshiri Hut (~1,000 m), overnight
Day 2 (~7 hours): Horoshiri Hut → (0:30) → Inochi-no-mizu spring → (2:30) → Mt. Poroshiri summit (2,052 m) → (1:30) → Inochi-no-mizu → (0:30) → Horoshiri Hut → (3:30) → river crossings → forest road 7.5 km → Second Gate
1. [Outbound] Sapporo / New Chitose Airport → Furikawa / Toyonuka-sanso (Donan Bus via Tomakomai + taxi)
Public-transport access to Toyonuka-sanso (Toyonuka, Biratori) — the base for Mt. Poroshiri — is limited. From Sapporo, take Donan Bus “Limited Express Hidaka” (Sapporo Station → Tomakomai → Furikawa), get off at Furikawa, take a Biratori Town Bus from Furikawa Station to Furinai, then taxi or pickup to Toyonuka-sanso. A limousine bus from New Chitose Airport to Furikawa is also available.
Access guide :
Sapporo Station → Furikawa : Donan Bus Limited Express Hidaka about 2 h 20 min, ~¥2,700
New Chitose Airport → Furikawa : Donan Bus about 1 h 30 min, ~¥2,100
Furikawa → Furinai : Biratori Town Bus about 50 min, ~¥800
Furinai → Toyonuka-sanso : taxi about 15 min, ~¥2,500 (or arrange pickup via Toyonuka-sanso)
Note : Toyonuka-sanso (a converted school managed by the Biratori Mountain Association) strongly recommends advance booking for pre- and post-shuttle nights. The realistic plan is to overnight at Toyonuka-sanso the night before to catch the morning shuttle bus on Day 1. Parking is available for self-drive arrivals.
Reference : Biratori Town Mt. Poroshiri ｜ Toyonuka-sanso official
Inquiries : Biratori Mountain Association ☎01457-3-3838 / Donan Bus Tomakomai ☎0144-72-1144
2. [Round trip] Toyonuka-sanso ⇔ Second Gate (Shuttle Bus, reservation-only, ¥10,000 round trip)
From Toyonuka-sanso to the Second Gate (Nukapira forest-road entrance), shuttle bus (reservation-only) is the only access. Service runs 30 Jun – 30 Sep, ¥10,000 round trip. From the Second Gate it is another 7.5 km / ~2 h on the forest road to the Nukapira-gawa trailhead. The shuttle reservation and Horoshiri Hut reservation must be booked together as a set — having only one will not allow you to climb.
Operating period : 30 Jun – 30 Sep (suspended in bad weather / high water)
Travel time : Toyonuka-sanso → Second Gate about 50 min
Fare : ¥10,000 round trip (¥5,000 for junior-high students and below, or with disability certificates)
Reservation : horoshiri-biratori.jp, reservation-only (next-season bookings open at 0:00 on 20 Dec each year)
Frequency : a few runs per day (morning / evening, timed to the climbing schedule)
Toyonuka-sanso → Second Gate (Shuttle Bus, hiker excerpt, 30 Jun – 30 Sep)
| Toyonuka-sanso dep. | Second Gate arr. |
|---|---|
| around 4:00 (early) | around 4:50 |
| around 14:00 (afternoon) | around 14:50 |
Second Gate → Toyonuka-sanso (Shuttle Bus, return, 30 Jun – 30 Sep)
| Second Gate dep. | Toyonuka-sanso arr. |
|---|---|
| around 14:00 | around 14:50 |
| around 16:00 (last) | around 16:50 |
Note : The shuttle can be cancelled on the morning of the run (high water); register your contact details at reservation. The Horoshiri Hut overnight and shuttle round trip are reserved together as a single package. The Chiroro forest-road course (Niikappu side) does not need this shuttle but has its own long-road problems.
Reference : Mt. Poroshiri Reservation System (Biratori / Nukapira course) ｜ Biratori Town Shuttle Bus Guide (PDF)
Inquiries : Biratori Mountain Association ☎01457-3-3838 (8:00–17:00) / Email: biratorisangakukai@gmail.com
3. Horoshiri Hut, trail overview, suggested plans, emergency contacts
Horoshiri Hut (mid-course at ~1,000 m, 2026 information)
– Open: Jul – Sep only, staffed emergency hut
– Fee: ¥1,000/night (paid on site, plus voluntary contribution)
– Capacity: about 60 (reservation-only)
– Reservation: via the reservation system, packaged with the shuttle bus (next-season bookings open at 0:00 on 20 Dec each year)
– Bring: bedding (sleeping bag + mat), food and water, headlamp, warm layers, river shoes (for crossings)
– Toilet: available
– Water: from the Nukapira river (boil before drinking)
– Inquiries: Biratori Mountain Association ☎01457-3-3838
About Mt. Poroshiri
The highest peak in the Hidaka range (2,052 m); the name comes from Ainu Poroshir (“big mountain”). The Nanatsu-numa cirque is a glacial landform unique to Hokkaido. The broad summit looks out over the endless Hidaka ridges. It is famously the last mountain for many who complete the 100 Famous Mountains list, selected by Kyūya Fukada.
Trail summary (2 main routes)
- Biratori / Nukapira course (standard, advanced ★★★★★, 1 night 2 days recommended): Second Gate → 7.5 km forest road → over a dozen Nukapira river crossings → Horoshiri Hut → summit out-and-back
- Chiroro forest-road course (Niikappu side, sub): no river crossings but the forest road is long and escape is difficult
Cautions
– The Nukapira river crossings are the crux: never attempt in high water, river shoes essential, be prepared for multi-day waits
– Dense brown-bear habitat: bells and spray essential, solo travel discouraged
– 1 night 2 days (effectively mandatory): cannot be day-hiked, Horoshiri Hut reservation is essential
– Shuttle and hut must be booked together: holding only one is not enough
– Note: outside Jul–Sep the hut is closed and walking the forest road for a one-night trip is impractical
Emergency contacts and inquiries
- Biratori Mountain Association (reservations, climbing info): ☎01457-3-3838 (8:00–17:00) / biratorisangakukai@gmail.com
- Biratori Town Hall (climbing info): ☎01457-2-2221 / Biratori Tourism Association: ☎01457-3-7703
- Shizunai Police Station (climbing plan, mountain rescue): ☎0146-43-0110
- Toyonuka-sanso (lodging): ☎01457-3-3838 (same as Biratori Mountain Association)
- Biratori Onsen Yukara (post-descent bath): ☎01457-3-3280
Suggested plans
- 2 nights 3 days, Nukapira course (standard, strongly recommended): Day 1 Sapporo → Furikawa → Furinai → Toyonuka-sanso overnight (pre-night). Day 2 early-morning shuttle 4:00 → Second Gate → forest road → Nukapira-gawa trailhead → river crossings → Horoshiri Hut overnight. Day 3 early summit out-and-back → descend → river crossings → forest road → Second Gate → shuttle → Toyonuka-sanso or return same day
- 3 nights 4 days, with buffer: add a second night at Toyonuka-sanso after descent, bathe at Biratori Onsen, return the next day. Strongly recommend reserving one buffer day (in case of high water)
Reference : Biratori Town Mt. Poroshiri official ｜ Mt. Poroshiri Reservation System
Photo by hikimikyou
Comments