Iwanai-dake
岩内岳42°55′ N 140°31′ Eadvanced1,085 mGuide recommended
Iwanai-dake rises straight above the fishing town of Iwanai, and tourers climb it from the cat-ski resort or along its northeast ridge for long runs down toward the sea.
Photo Rob Thomson (hokkaidowilds.org) · Publisher's own site · CC BY-SA 4.0 and others, credited in the gallery
Read the terrain
The mountain rises straight above the town of Iwanai with the sea behind it. The summer trail from the resort climbs past marked stations to the summit, and the NE Ridge gives a longer line from the forestry road with east-facing descents.
Watch for these hazards
- Wind loading and cornices near the summit
- The deep Ichinosawa gully
- The main northern bowl is an active cat-ski zone and closed to tourers
- Coastal storms off the Sea of Japan
Pick a route that suits the dayルート
Iwanai Resort route
875 m ascent · intermediate
From the resort lodge the route follows the station-marked summer trail to the summit. Sign in at the lodge first and stay out of the cat-ski bowl to the north.
NE Ridge
950 m ascent · advanced
From a forestry road at 98 m the ridge climbs 9 km round trip to the summit in about four and a half hours. Expect wind loading near the top and keep clear of the Ichinosawa gully.
Follow the published lines in 3D立体地図
2 trip reports
What riders report from the hill山行記録
2022-02-12 · Hokkaido Wilds trip report
After several sunny days the south aspects had baked and the north aspects stayed dry, which is why the party chose Iwanai. The uptrack starts under the abandoned chairlifts on the western edge of the resort and opens onto sea views within an hour.
Read the source2023-01 · Hokkaido Wilds trip report
In a report published in January 2023, the author describes a warm spring day when the river crossing went on rocks and concrete blocks with skis off and boots on, and tight trees low down gave way to playful terrain. He turned about 100 m below the summit at 2 pm as cloud came down, and hikers are kept out of the cat terrain north of the top.
Read the source
Iwanai-dake stands 1,085 m over the harbour town of Iwanai at the western edge of the Niseko area. Its main route leaves from Iwanai Resort and follows station markers up the old summer trail, and people ski down from the top in winter.
The resort runs cats on the big bowl north of the summit, so tourers sign in at the lodge before setting off and keep out of that zone. Iwanai town has asked the resort to lead search and rescue on this side of the mountain. The NE Ridge is the quieter choice. It climbs 950 m from a forestry road east of the resort over 9 km and takes about four and a half hours, and its descents face east and northeast.
Watch the wind. The summit catches storms straight off the Sea of Japan and builds cornices near the top. Below it the Ichinosawa gully cuts deep into the slope.
Quick answers about Iwanai-dakeよくある質問
How long is a tour on Iwanai-dake?
A typical tour on Iwanai-dake climbs about 875–950 m and takes 4–5 hours.
When can you ski tour Iwanai-dake?
The touring season on Iwanai-dake runs february to April.
Do you need a guide for Iwanai-dake?
We recommend a certified guide for Iwanai-dake unless your group can read the snowpack and run its own rescue.
Where do you check avalanche danger for Iwanai-dake?
Read the day's bulletin from Japan Avalanche Network (https://nadare.jp/) before every tour on Iwanai-dake.
Within 30 km
Hot springs nearby温泉
Within 40 km
Ski resorts nearby山
Within 80 km
Backcountry zones nearby山スキー
Within 35 km
Places to stay nearby宿
Within 35 km
