Highlights of Mount Tarumae

• Climbing Mount Tarumae
• Volcano information
• lava dome
• Mount Fufusidake
• Flowers on the hiking trail

Climbing Mount Tarumae (altitude 1,041m)

　It's about a 20-minute drive from Lake Shikotsu Onsen, where the visitor center is located, to the Tarumae Mountain 7th Station parking lot, the trailhead.
　From the 7th Station, it's about a 50-minute climb to reach Higashiyama (1,022m), the highest point on the outer rim of the volcano. Although the distance is short, the trail is covered with volcanic rubble, making it easy to fall, so be sure to stretch before starting the climb. The lava dome seen up close from the outer rim is truly impressive!
　The mountain's name comes from the Ainu word taoro oma i (something high on the riverbank), which is thought to refer to the Tarumae River, which draws its water from Mount Tarumae. It is also known as Ofui Nupuri (burning mountain), reflecting its status as an active volcano.

Mt. Tarumae trailhead

mountain trail

Lava dome seen from the outer rim

Volcano information

　The crater of Mt. Tarumae is extremely hot and emits toxic volcanic gases, so entry to the crater floor is prohibited.
　Furthermore, Mt. Tarumae is a volcano where the Japan Meteorological Agency operates an eruption alert level. Please check the latest volcano information before climbing.

• Information for volcano climbers
  (Links to the Japan Meteorological Agency website)

lava dome

　It was formed on the crater cone at the summit following an eruption in 1909 (Meiji 42), and is designated as a Hokkaido cultural property (natural monument). It is 134m high and has a volume of approximately 20 million cubic meters.
　The lava dome seen from Lake Shikotsu Onsen is impressive, as it looks like a giant pudding on top of the mountain. On calm days, you can see many steam rising from the crater.

Fufushidake (altitude 1,103m)

　Mount Fupushidake is the mountain adjacent to Mount Tarumae to the northwest. Like Mount Tarumae and Mount Eniwa, it is a post-caldera volcano formed by volcanic activity after Lake Shikotsu was born. Because it formed earlier than Mount Tarumae and Mount Eniwa, it is now covered in dense forest. The mountain's unusual name comes from the Ainu word hupu-ushi (a place with many fir trees).
　You can climb the mountain from the flower field course opposite the hut at Mount Tarumae's 7th station, or from the outer rim of Mount Tarumae. The summit offers an outstanding view of Lake Shikotsu. There are sections with chains along the way, so be sure to climb with ample space to maneuver.

Flower Garden Course

Fufushidake summit

View from the summit

Flowers on the hiking trail

　Mt. Tarumae may look rocky and barren, but from early summer to autumn, a variety of plants adapted to the rugged environment decorate the mountainside. The rock hyacinth (Iwabukuro) is particularly common on Mt. Tarumae, so it is also known as Tarumaisou.

Rhododendron isophyllum

penstemon

cassiope

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