Meakan-Dake 1499m The trail starts...
Meakan-Dake 1499m
The trail starts from Meaken Onsen. To get there we opted for 20 minute taxi ride from Akanko. An early start to avoid afternoon cloud is recommended, we started out at 8.30 and already Japanese hikers were descending.
The starting point is easily recognized as there is a large collection of warning signs and a hikers register. Initially the trail winds through forest that becomes shorter and shorter until only dwarf pines remain. The last section zigzags up red volcanic rock taking around half an hour to arrive at the crater's edge.
In my opinion this is an easy volcano to climb, only 2hrs from trailhead to crater, not too steep and very little volcanic scree. But it is certainly rewarding, active with clouds of stream and sulfurous gases, the classic volcanic landscape and views of lakes Onneto, Akan and Kussharo.
