The water flow from the melting snow !

by Kazu

To get over the tough coldness on the hillside of Mt. Asahidake in white winter, such amount of logs are required to burn in the fireplaces of the accommodations. 

I've never stayed in such log cabin on the hillside of Mt. Asahidake before but done in the lower places such as camping site near the hot spring spas.  

For the trekkers, such log cabins must be convenient because they have to leave the accommodations so early in the morning. Their time to stay in the cabin tends to be short. 

 

The Log Cabins on the hillside !

by Kazu

Many aged and seasoned log cabins could be seen here and there on the hillside of Mt. Asahidake. Many accommodations that I've never stayed before also have so nice atmosphere to allure the trekkers and tourists.

The maintenance of those accommodations must be so tough with heavy snow and cold weather. The log cabins and other old wooden ones looked so nice to stay.   

Many companies and entities have their own log cabins for welfare and pleasure of the staff members. They were built when the economy of Japan flourished.

 

Butterburs of Mt. Asahidake !

by Kazu

The hillside of Mt. Asahidake was still covered with snow with black dots of sand and soil. The shade kept the snow in the lower area on the hillside.

The water flow under the snow melt down the snow from the lower side. Butterbur shoots appeared beside the water flow under the snow.  

I've never heard of the brown bears strolling around the hotel area of Mt. Asahidake but the buterbur shoots must be the favorites of the brown bears in Hokkaido. 

 

The Snowmobile Cool !

by Kazu

The snowmobile should have such wide caterpillar to go even on the new powder snow on the steep hillside of the mountain in Hokkaido. It looked so cool and reliable.   

The hot spring area on the hillside of Mt. Asahidake has been called "Yukomanbetsu" derived from the language of the indigenous people in Hokkaido Ainu. It means the river flowing toward hot spring fountain.

The highland including the peaks of the mountains including Mt. Asahidake has been called "Kamuimintara"which means the garden where the deities are romping around. 

 

The Center of the National Park !

by Kazu

Lake Chimikeppu has so mysterious atmosphere on the eastern part of Hokkaido. It takes approximately one hour fom my hometown Kitami City. The design of the hotel is simple but the center part made of stones seemed to have been built first.

The hotel is at the lake side and at the beginning of spring, the fog hid the hotel from the normal living area of the citizens living outside of the forest. 

Compared to the hillside and the trails in the main island of Japan, the ones of the mountains in Hokkaido are mild. But the climate on the hillsides and the peaks of the mountains in Hokkaido  is as tough as the ones at the lower altitude of the mountains in the main island of Japan. That is why we can see the highland flowers at the lower altitude than in the main island.   

 

In the fog, Mt. Asahi-dake!

by Kazu

It was very calm on the hillside of Mt. Asahi-dake early in the morning. No chirps of the birds. The fog moved so slowly on the slope to the upper side. 

The water flow of the small creek beside the road made small sounds but the fog seemed to be absorbing them.We had never used other hotels than Hotel Bear Monte and Hotel La Vista in that area.  

I was tempted to try other hotels on the hillside of Mt. Asahi-dake, watching around the accommodations area. The area may not for long term stay but has the mysterious power to give another wing to the visitors.

 

Stay in The Hotel Bear Monte !

by Kazu

I can not remember how many times we visited and stayed in the hotel Bear Monte and refreshed ourselves to get the wing to fly again.

The hillside of Mt. Asahi-dake was covered with white fog that could be seen as clouds from the lower area. it was still cold and white snow hills could be seen here and there beside the road. 

Some back-hoe and graders were still beside the road to take off the snow. Soon the spring would come but the season of the flowers of highland plants would come soon after the snow melted up.