This was my first trip to Hokkaido in northern Japan, and I really wanted to visit at least one mountain. But traveling close to Winter season, with bears actively on the hunt for food and me going solo for the first few days, I decided to skip the hiking trails. Thankfully, there's a great option near Sapporo with ropeway access, Mt. Moiwa, a 531-meter tall mountain that can be seen from downtown.
From Susukino station, I took a tram to "Ropeway Iriguchi station" (Google map link here). Though it was only 30+ minutes away, I immediately felt the change in temperature. It was twice as cold! Back in my hotel, the air conditioning was centrally controlled - only had the heater on so I had to open the windows because it can get a bit too warm for me.
 |
| Mt. Moiwa as seen from Nakajima Park |
Thankfully, the ropeway entrance was only 600 meters away on foot. There was a free shuttle that takes visitors to the entrance but at the time of my visit (last week of November), it only operated starting at 5:00PM. Along the way, there was a Family Mart so I was able to buy heat packs to keep me warm.
I arrived at the ropeway entrance at 11:00 AM. As Mt. Moiwa is more popular for its night views, there wasn't any queue for the tickets. I bought round trip tickets for both the ropeway and a smaller cable car that takes you close to the summit (2,100 Yen).
The first ride starts near the base of the mountain and only takes 5 minutes. As soon as we left the station, we were rewarded with scenic views of Ishikari bay and the city. From where we got off, there's a short trail leading to the summit so it's possible to buy tickets just for the ropeway, then hike a bit to reach the top. I'm guessing the trail takes about 15 minutes, but it can get very slippery during winter.
After getting off the smaller cable car, I climbed a few flights of stairs to reach the observation deck. At the top, I was greeted by a gloomy, overcast sky but with the wonderful view still visible and the playful jostle of chilly winds, I couldn't have been any happier!
Signboard at the observation deck featuring the major sights that
can be seen at the top of Mt. Moiwa
While we were there, staff were busy fixing up the monument with Christmas lights. I imagined it would look amazing at night!
The summit marker is just below the observation deck with a hiking trail on its left. I had to take a peak! Right away, I was welcomed by the lush foliage that is part of the primeval forest. Wearing only running shoes, I almost slipped several times and though I could have hiked down to the ropeway, I had to turn back. My shoes weren't suited for the slippery trail - a combination of melting snow and dirt. It would have been a delight to hike in its beautiful forest. There are 5 beginner-friendly trails (hiking guide here) and even on a weekday, I could spotted a couple of hikers making their way to the summit.
Taking a peek at the hiking trail in Mt. Moiwa
Near the observation deck, there's a snack stand, souvenir shop, some chairs and tables. I hanged out a bit, enjoying the view with coffee before making my way back to Susukino, where I was staying.
