Tokachidake Hill Climb Loop

Routedetails

This ride starts at the [Furano Winery](http://www.furanowine.jp/index.asp) where you will have good views of the Daisetsuzan National Park across the other side of the valley. The southern area of the park is called ‘Tokachidake’ and is named after the highest mountain, which is also a live volcano. This is the toughest hill climb in Hokkaido and will give you a sense of achievement upon reaching the top.

You will warm up by riding the flat valley through Naka-Furano and then on to Kami-Furano. There is [Goto Sumio art gallery](https://gotosumiomuseum.com/) in Kami-Furano just before the climbing starts. During his lifetime, Goto Sumio was one of Japan’s top artists and the gallery features some of his prized art work. There are washrooms here.

In the entrance to the gallery on the left side, there is a photo from the 1926 volcanic eruption. Hope the photo doesn’t put you off the hill climb as the volcano is still active.

The climb starts off gently for @slice[9 km](d,17985.76,25961.25) until you enter the national park boundary. Once you are in the park @slice[the first part of the climb](d,26226.06,31865.83) will average around 7 % gradient. The last@slice[ 3.5 km](d,31865.83,34294.49) of the climb become quite steep; between 10-14 %.

Once you arrive at the top, enjoy the views. You have earned them!  Around the back of [Ryounkaku Accommodation](https://www.ryounkaku.jp/) there are nice views of the surrounding mountains and on the front side you can see down to the valley bottom where you ascended.

I would recommend having lunch at Ryounkaku. They have a good menu that will refuel you for the remainder of the ride.

The descent is broken up with a short and sharp @slice[ascent](d,42821.64,43475.68) up to the @poi[Tokachidake Observatory](48265541). There are good views of the smoking volcano from the carpark and there are washrooms and vending machines here.

Continue the descent to Shirogane Hot Spring village and @poi[Shirahige Falls](48265542), which you can view from a bridge. The sulphurous turquoise waters cascade from inside the rocks and out of the cliff face. The hot spring waters are fed by these hot thermal waters.

A little further down the road is the ‘@poi[Aoi-Ike](48265544),’ blue pond. Park the bike in the car park and walk up to it. A photo of this pond has been used by Apple for one of its screen savers. The views are great.

Another few kilometres descent will take you to ‘@poi[Biruke no Mori](48265545)’ which is a good rest area. You can fill up your water-bottles here and take a rest room break.

There is a @slice[short climb](d,53861.44,55282.97) afterwards and then you will descend back into the valley, going through Kami-Furano once more.

You may not need another rest room break before Kami-Furano, but there is a @poi[monument](48265546) which was erected just after the 1926 volcanic eruption. It is a large boulder which flowed down with the lava and mud- flow. There is an English explanation.

There is a good viewpoint of the mountains and the hill climb from Naka-Furano. This is at the top of the @poi[Naka-Furano ski hill](48265548), which is also a lavender farm in the summer.

It is fairly easy riding back to the @poi[Furano Winery](48265549) where you started. If you have time, stop in to @poi[Rokkatei](48265550) on the left for a soft-cream or have a free coffee. There is a large veranda that has spectacular views of the valley and Tokachidake. This is a great final stop before the short ride back to the start of the ride.

Watch a [vlog](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqLk1OttaY4&t=134s) of the ride.

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Tokachidake Hill Climb Loop

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Tokachidake Hill Climb Loop

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