Akita Komagatake is a popular spot all year round among hikers and lovers of the backcountry. In the winter you can hike up from the Alpa Komakusa Hot Spring parking lot to the summit area on skinned skis or snowshoes. It takes roughly 3 hours to reach the summit at a casual pace. But be careful of the weather – it can become dangerous on bad days.
Map of Alpa Komakusa trailhead here: https://goo.gl/maps/UNNorrMVLnhbRrHN6
If you’re interested in hiring me to guide you either on a hike or around town, send me an email through this channel or message me on Instagram or Twitter.
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Music used in video was licensed from Artlist (https://artlist.io/William-1544013).
#Akita #adventuretravel #snowshoeing
32 Comments
First – that's sunblock on my nose.. I gotta learn to look in a mirror after I put it on.
Second – This looks dangerous, but it was safe for us for the following reasons: I've done this hike tons of times before, and am familiar with the shape of the landscape, had a GPS map and extra batteries in case I needed to check, the temperature wasn't that cold given our gear, felt warm almost the entire time, and the German guy I was with was younger and stronger than me – an experienced hiker and trail runner that really wanted to go.
So while this is a "don't try this at home, kids" sort of thing – I still thought it was beautiful and worth sharing.
** For added fun, make this a drinking game and take a sip every time I say "white." ***
I'm watching this while sitting back in my comfortable chair having a cup of coffee.
Thank you for the video, I can sit here and Tokyo at 70° and enjoy it!!!!!
Playing your drinking game with some hot chocolate– hope you treated yourself to something warm when this was done, you earned it! ✨️
Wishing I was there
Thank you for sharing this beautiful hike
As a german from swabia I approve that no complaints is normally a high appreciation especially in the German South 😉
Takk!
Danke!
Been a while since I've been able to watch. Love the winter haven't seen much snow in my area of the states (very unusual)
Love this different content of Japan. Keep it up and hope all is well
Great episode! Love the January footage compared to this hike. Wow! What a storm. Question…Has there been a time when the visibility is that bad that you slightly panic?
Thank you for sharing – I do love that mountain and look forward to visiting it again this summer. Good to see how you got a business going through guiding, and sounds like customers are coming through! Alternatives to English teaching are welcome to people like me exploring their options.
Wow, a whiteout when everything was already steeped in snow is really white, isn't it! Still enjoyable to watch. If I were your client I'd feel pangs of frustration at your footage of the blue sky and views that I didn't get to see 😅
Really, really enjoyed the adventure Norm👍👍
Now a days in my age I would not attempt such a hike without some sort of experience. In my younger days I would reluctantly do some sort of training before attempting that kind of hike. Only for the sake of safety and ignorance. Otherwise I was always in good physical condition, adventurous, and afraid of very little. 🙏👍👍
That's no beginner hike but the unusual "white out" scenery is worth the hustle. ☃
Thanks for sharing.
beautiful
Crazy weather but beautiful! Even if I have seen it before on your vlog, your right its different everytime! I enjoyed it.
Amazing
This was cool! Scary to watch, but I know that you'd never put yourself or anyone in danger. I loved the snow on the trees. I'm one of those "not particularly fit" people, but I'd still love to hire you for a beginner's hike when I visit North Japan! Thanks for a great video!
0:20 I love it that you stated the date at the beginning of your video. It enabled me to have a sense of when this kind of scenery or meteorological event can occur!
Greetings from Nürnberg!
Oh funny…my wife & I tried to ski up to Odake from the top of Tazawako ski area on the same day. That vertigo inducing white out was no joke and we bailed early and slowly skied our way down to the trees. I think we saw your tracks since we tried to go to the Alpa Kmoakusa Onsen after but they were closed.
Reminds me of the Peanuts cartoon where Linus says, "It's pitch white outside!" So white and so bright.
Wow that was a total white out! It was nice to see the footage from a clear day too to see what it would have looked like. Looks like a super beautiful area, maybe we'll have to visit in autumn!
The view is really snow ❄️ like the chronicle of narnia countryside in New Zeland .
Those trees caked with snow looked otherworldly.
I had real 'Antarctic explorers' vibes going on there! Being in those whiteout conditions is something I'd be tempted to experience, however being a super novice I'd be extremely nervous to say the very least and would be stuck right up next to you the entire time. The walk through those snow covered trees was utterly gorgeous, and after a winter with zero snow (we hardly ever get any here on England's south coast) it was a real treat for the eyes.
The trees looked beautiful even with a completely white backdrop 🙂
I can't imagine being on a mountain when you can't see in front of you! Haha definitely an adventure!
Were you surprised by this whiteout or did you know it would happen?
Absolutely stunning! Great camerawork, music choice, and presentation! It’s my dream to try snowshoeing like this, or hike the beautiful mountains in Tohoku. Always feel so blessed to receive commentary from the knowledgeable Quinlan. Keep it up!
Wow! Watching this you can see how someone with less experience could easily get lost. I love living vicariously through your adventures but maybe I'll skip this one. 😂
Came to the comments to see if you got a nose ring or not 😂