Hakkoda Mountain

Hakkoda isn't really a ski resort. Most of the ski resorts in Japan are like miniature U.S. ski resorts. They have lifts and lots of groomed runs. Rather than mountains, Japan is full of Volcanos, active and inactive. Think of the ski resorts as resorts groomed out of a volcano side. Hakkoda looks like a huge volcano that you can see for miles. And it really is a huge volcano. In fact, it is an active volcano, with fumes permeating from the sides of the mountain.

There is one very small 2-person lift and then one gondola that takes you to the top of the mountain. Instead of marked runs, there are two "runs" that are marked with a single line of orange poles. But the beauty of Hakkoda is unlocked when you stray away from these runs and find another way down the mountain. This is both exhilarating and sometimes scary. I went with someone who knows the mountain well and we took backpacks, snowshoes and poles just in case we had to do any walking.

We also hit Sukayu Onsen (hot bath) at the end of the day (you can't take pictures there). It is a natural onsen, meaning the hot water comes directly from the volcano. You can tell this by the horrid sulfur smell that permeates the water. But you quickly forget the smell when you bask in the hot springs.

Anyway, I thought I would post a video this time instead of pictures. I know I am not an editing pro, but I did my best. Enjoy!