Hiking on Mt. Soranuma in the Urban Outskirts

So beautiful!

Hiking on a suburban mountain!

From the summit is this stunning panoramic view of the city below!

What I love about this mountain is that the city is right there.

This abundant nature is right next door to us.

We'll join a mountaineering expert!

Let's have tons of fun and learn some tips for everyone

as we explore an oasis of nature at the city's doorstep!

Wild Hokkaido!

Sapporo is a large city with several mountains

reaching over 1,000 meters in elevation.

That's why this mountain, Mt. Soranuma,

is perfect for the peak autumn foliage in October.

Let's look at all the ways to have fun hiking up this mountain.

Morning, everyone!

Mt. Soranuma is 40 minutes by car from the city's center.

Arriving at the foot of the mountain

is an American residing in Sapporo, Jon Mott.

He knows exactly what's needed for a hike.

I have bear spray here,

and then also the bear bell.

It's good to have this just in case.

Also, there's a little whistle here.

So, these are essential when you are hiking.

Let's take our time and enjoy a beautiful mountain. Let's go!

Jon is an avid hiker,

having spent five months trekking over 3,000 kilometers

across the Appalachian Mountain range in America.

His hike today won't be quite so treacherous.

Instead, Jon will show us how to enjoy nature

while taking a much more leisurely hiking trip.

That's the exciting part about hiking in the fall,

is that you get such a variation in the color.

He's already come across something that has caught his eye.

It looks so cool.

Just like a shelf, you can put things on it,

and it's strong enough to hold.

These are a type of mushroom.

In Japan, they're called a Monkey's Chair because of their shape.

Well, we've got a big stream.

This is our first crossing today.

There's a bridge up there.

A stream flows alongside the hiking path on Mt. Soranuma,

and needs to be crossed multiple times.

Jon demonstrates a safe way to walk by the water's edge.

So, there's a little bit of a rock slab here.

It's going to slip,

so before I step, I want to make sure that my foot is in a good position,

and I'm using my hiking poles for balance.

Here,

here, here.

The stream's flow brings plenty of fresh air

and provides a relaxing hiking soundtrack.

Jon leaves the stream and heads up the mountain.

He also has a tip for skillfully walking on a steep mountain path.

So, the trail's gotten a little narrower,

steeper as well.

But there are some simple tips to make hiking easier.

So, by simply taking smaller steps,

you're conserving energy.

Slowly and consciously is the best way to move up the trail.

This handy tip is important to remember as fatigue builds.

The sound of flowing water is gradually getting stronger.

What could be up ahead?

Wow, look at that!

This is why I came here.

One of the reasons I came here is to see this beautiful waterfall.

And every time I come here, it's beautiful.

And yeah, it's a really special place here.

Beyond the waterfall, an even more spectacular sight awaits.

I have to say, this is probably one of my favorite places in Hokkaido.

Look at that.

Wow, look at that.

It's beautiful.

This is known as Bankei Pond.

Situated at an elevation of 910 meters,

it's nearly halfway up the hiking trail.

The shores of the pond are covered in trees,

which burst with color during autumn.

It's not so windy right now, but there's a light breeze across the water.

And, so you can see the ripples and the reflections.

And yeah, it's the perfect season, I think, to come here.

It's not too hot, it's not too cold.

Yeah, no one else is around right now,

so I'm really lucky that I get this place all to myself.

The naturally-occurring conditions combine to create a picturesque scene.

Another chance to snap a great picture.

The trees on the shore reflect in the water

for an almost perfect mirror image.

Here's a tip from our "SENSEI"!

These are Jon's photos with the water showing nearly mirror image reflections.

Aim for days with good weather.

These offer the best opportunities, especially during the morning or evening

when there is no wind.

Hokkaido's many lakes, ponds and marshes

provide the perfect chance to easily capture a beautiful, artistic shot.

Give it a try!!

There's a mountain cabin by the side of the pond

free for hikers to use,

and Jon will stay here tonight.

The sun has peacefully set.

It's night time, and Jon heads outside for a magical scene.

Wow, look at that.

Look at all those stars up there.

The crystal-clear night sky is filled with stars.

Yeah, you can't see this in Sapporo.

You have to come to the mountains to see such a beautiful starlit sky as this.

This is great. This is beautiful.

Even though this mountain is located on Sapporo's outskirts,

there's not a city light to be seen.

Jon's day ends under the starry sky.

Morning arrives at Bankei Pond.

Clear sky, beautiful weather today, too.

Alright!

Jon departs the cabin at 7am.

The temperature is a very chilly four degrees.

There's even frost on the ground.

Today, he plans to visit a very special landscape.

What kind of scenery will it be?

About 150 meters further up the mountain from the cabin,

we come upon another large body of water.

So here we are at Mamisu Pond,

and it's a pretty large pond.

A mysterious landscape appears before him.

Large black rocks cover the shore of the pond.

All of the rocks that comprise the shore are covered in frost right now,

and they're actually quite different from

the rocks that we saw down at Bankeinuma, and below.

These rocks are big and chunky.

Mt. Soranuma was formed from gushing lava

almost 800,000 years ago.

Solid lava becomes brittle from weathering,

and large landslides occurred,

which are thought to have created the mysterious landscape of Mamisu Pond.

Jon feels inspired by his rocky surroundings.

And I think I'm going to start with this one, 'cause it's nice and big.

Jon decides to make some artwork and capture it in photos.

This is known as rock balancing,

which consists of stacking rocks found in nature.

He carefully balances the rocks, one on top of the other.

Alright, there we go. We have the family!

The father, the mother, child.

They look pretty good.

I'm going to take a few pictures.

The rock family is enjoying the view, too.

And I've taken my pictures,

and so now it's time to return the scene to how it was before I came.

He returns the rocks to their original spots,

putting things back to a natural setting.

Jon leaves Mamisu Pond behind,

and heads for the mountain summit.

The track leading to the peak has become a little steep.

He carefully climbs the rocky path.

Oh, there's the peak of Soranumadake,

so, yeap, just a little further to go,

and I'm already tired and I'm already sweating.

But, the last... the final push, here I go!

The closer he gets, the steeper the path gets.

His legs are getting tired and he breathes a little harder.

Remember? It's important to take small steps and not rush as you hike.

At last, the vegetation clears, signaling the peak is very close.

So beautiful!

I've made it.

It's the 1,251-meter-high summit of Mt. Soranuma.

A 360-degree panoramic view stretching

as far as the eye can see opens up before him.

It's a completely clear day, so there's a lot to see.

Over there is the Ishikari Plain and all of Sapporo.

Below him is the urban sprawl of Sapporo.

When looking south of Hokkaido's capital city of Sapporo,

you can see a caldera lake formed by a volcanic eruption

about 40,000 years ago.

This is Lake Shikotsu.

It's also surrounded by a ring of peaks exceeding 1,000 meters.

If you pan around in this direction,

you can see Sapporodake,

and straight ahead is Mt. Yotei.

The beautiful conical peak in the opposite direction of Sapporo

is Mt. Yotei.

It's also known as the Mt. Fuji of Hokkaido.

Around Mt. Yotei, you can see the world-famous ski resort mountains.

The views from Mt. Soranuma are impressive,

no matter which direction you look.

So one of the great things that I love about this mountain

is that the city is right there,

and within 45-50 minutes,

you can drive to the entrance of the hiking trail.

And then, yeah, easily on a day trip,

you can come up here and enjoy a wonderful view of the surroundings

and still make it home before the sun sets.

Although Jon stayed overnight,

the trip can also be done in a single day.

And with the right gear and careful planning,

the whole family can enjoy a day hike.

Mt. Soranuma is truly an oasis of nature right next to Sapporo City.

Wild Hokkaido!

Discover great activities in the great outdoors of northern Japan.

Join us next time for another beautiful location!