Autumn Foliage on the Asahidake Ropeway

Asahidake, Hokkaido's highest peak, welcomes Japan's earliest autumn foliage beginning in early September. Take the Asahidake Ropeway and in about 10 minutes you'll reach Sugata-mi Station at 1,600m elevation. The three-layered autumn foliage below—with rowan trees in red, birch trees in golden yellow, and alpine pine in green—creates an impressive spectacle. A scenic walking trail of about one hour has been developed around Sugata-mi Pond, and the contrast between rising steam from fumaroles and the autumn leaves is also a highlight.