Daisetsuzan Asahidake Ropeway

The ropeway carries you up to the 1,600-meter level of Mt. Asahidake, Hokkaido's highest peak, where a network of boardwalk trails winds through alpine flower meadows, volcanic steam vents, and birch forests. In summer (late June through August), the highlands explode with wildflowers; in autumn (mid-September), this is the first place in Japan to see fall color. The round-trip ride takes about 10 minutes each way, and the summit trail loop at the top station is manageable in about an hour. Bring layers, it's noticeably cooler up here even in midsummer.