Asakusa-dake is situated on the Fukushima-Niigata prefectural border with the height of 1586 meters. It belongs to Irihirose village in Niigata prefecture. Next to it, there is the Onigatura-san which consists of several spear-like peaks with precipitous rock walls on the east facing slopes.

  These mountains are of volcanic origin and the deep valley between two peaks was a huge crater a long time ago but now volcanic activity is entirely extinct.

  The mountain is covered with virgin forests including beech trees on this lower slopes and alpine vegetation higher up the peak.

  This area is covered with several meters of snow during the winter but has no popular ski resorts. Mountain ski tour using a helicopter has been carried out by Irihirose village in every early spring.

  Nowadays a forestry track stretches out halfway up this mountain of just 1000 meters. Any hikers could easily enjoy hiking this attractive mountain with year round snow patches, green meadows, and great number of alpine flowers. So crowds of hikers often used to be seen at weekends and holidays.

  The car heads up for halfway of Asakusa-dake with a parking place from Oosirakawa station of Tadami line. Gomisawa is the last spot with some inns, a river park and a hot spring in a large cave. You drive your car ahead, leaving most of sightseers behind.

  On the way up to end of the track, you find an open space and a signboard which indicates the other trail to this mountain. This trail joins the main trail at stage nine.

  There is a car park at the end of the track from where the trail starts and climbs gently through a natural forest. Parts of the trail are fairly steep and badly eroded because many hikers have been here since the forestry track was completed.

  After a 1 hour climb the forest becomes short and bushy. The trail climbs steeply through bushes to a peak called Kaheyono-bochi where there is an open space with a great view of mountains around.

  Here is alpine zone already and over this peak it is a wonderful ridge walk to Mae-dake with colorful meadows and alpine flowers, first going down and then up gently.

  Over the shoulder of Mae-dake, soon the trail meets a wide snow patch. Crossing it there is a junction with a trail to the left coming up from the car park on the way, while a less trodden trail to the right leads to Onigatura-san.

  The trail forward continues to bigger snow patches. Crossing it, on the trail are laid wooden planks, and it climbs gently to the flat grassy area with a small pond just beneath the top.

  This is a better place to take a break and lunch rather than at the top which has space large enough to sit only some people.

  About 5 minutes of steep climb through bushes brings you to the top of Asakusa-dake with a first class triangular stone structure.

  From the top, the large man-made lake of Tagokura-ko can be overlooked to the south and Sumon-dake like a western castle can be seen to the north. The crags to the southwest dropping off from the ridge of Onigatura-san are very spectacular.

  The trail divides into two at the top, one continues to Tadami-town via Numano-taira and the other descends steeply to Tagokura-lake with great landscape.