Having enjoyed snowy mountains for two consecutive weeks at Mt. Kurofu and Nikko’s Iori Falls, I was planning to take it easy this week. However, I was inspired by the breathtaking views of Mt. Kisokoma posted by my friends, so I started looking for a good spot and found Mt. Azumaya (Azumayasan). It was a last-minute decision, but since it was a Sunday, there was space on the first Shinkansen and I managed to secure a car-share, so I promptly set off.
There are several trailheads leading to Mt. Azumaya, but for a day trip in a snowy mountain, the options are limited. This time, I decided to ascend via Ko-Azumaya and Naka-Azumaya from the trailhead at Sugadaira Ranch. Passing through Sugadaira Kogen Snow Resort on the way brought back a strange sense of nostalgia, perhaps because I had visited it during my student days.
During winter, the parking lot near the Sugadaira Ranch trailhead is closed, so I parked at the winter parking lot a bit before and walked to the trailhead. Already at this point, a magnificent panoramic view of the Alps stretched out before me, so much so that I felt like I could just call it a day and go home, completely satisfied.
The trailhead for Mt. Azumaya at Sugadaira Ranch was right at the edge of the pasture, and for a while, I walked alongside it. There was plenty of snow from here, so I decided to put on my 12-point crampons right from the start and begin the climb.
Snowy mountains are wonderful because there are fewer people, allowing you to truly enjoy the quiet. In the cold hours of early morning, even in March, the snow is firmly packed, making for a satisfyingly crisp walk. But looking closely, I spotted a few post-holing spots here and there, so I’ll need to be careful on the way back…
The path was relatively easy to climb, and before I knew it, I arrived at Ko-Azumaya. Looking back along the way, I could see the Alps, and Mt. Nekodake was visible to my left, making for an enjoyable hike while taking in the scenery.
By the time I reached Naka-Azumaya, Mt. Asama came into view as the right side of the trail opened up. Looking at Mt. Asama from this side, it didn’t quite have that “gateau chocolat” look, but the way the white snow clung in streaks was quite different from other views.
In some places along the trail, there were areas covered with sparkling white clusters. It felt great to crunch through them, but I wonder if they were “ebi no shippo” (rime ice formations) that had fallen from the trees? They almost looked like candy.
The trail to Mt. Azumaya, as you can see in this photo, has many open sections, and it’s not just open in one direction, but quite wide, so you can truly enjoy the hike while taking in the magnificent scenery.
Mt. Azumaya’s summit seems to pop out a bit, and there was a slightly steep climb right at the very end. That said, there weren’t any knife-ridge-like sections, so overall, I’d say it’s a relatively easy snowy mountain to climb.
I reached the summit more easily than I expected. There’s a small shrine at the top, and a trail continues beyond it, but that route had steep drops on both sides, making me reluctant to venture further. Glad I came from the Sugadaira Ranch side, haha.
The air was perfectly clear that day, and there were no clouds, allowing me to enjoy a truly breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view. While climbing snowy mountains is fun in itself, the beauty of snow-capped peaks is truly exceptional, reminding me once again that this is what I climb for.
The views from the summit were so incredible that I spent some leisurely time enjoying lunch. However, it was a day trip, and I didn’t have a huge amount of time, so I started my descent. It had gotten quite warm, and I noticed the snow starting to soften, which was a bit concerning.
So, as expected, on the way back, I post-holed several times, with one foot sinking all the way up to the thigh, making it quite a struggle to get out… That’s the tricky part about early spring mountain hikes.
If I had more time or energy, I might have considered a loop route descending from Mt. Azumaya and visiting Mt. Nekodake, but I was tired, so I didn’t push it and opted for an out-and-back trip. I got to enjoy the spectacular views of Mt. Asama and the Alps to my heart’s content, making it a very satisfying snowy mountain adventure.
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