Winter has suddenly started to pick up steam in Hokkaido. You may want to stay warm and cozy at home, but one of the charms of Hokkaido is that there are many sights that can only be seen in winter. Dress warmer than usual and head out to see some breathtaking views!

Start from the Murorandake trailhead!

This time, we will introduce "Sudare Falls" in Muroran City. It is said to be a waterfall at the foot of Mt. Muroran, which is 911 meters above sea level, but it is not an athletic waterfall that thunders and crashes down, but rather a modest type of waterfall that trickles out.

Park your car in the parking lot of the Muroran Mountain General Park, also known as "Danpara Park," and enter the hiking trail to Mt. Muroran. (※This has nothing to do with the main story, but apparently "Danpara" is an abbreviation of "Family Paradise.")

After walking a little further and looking at the stone engraved with "God" to your left, you will see a cute mountain hut with a red triangular roof. Starting from this mountain hut, named "Shiratori Hütte," there are two courses to choose from: the "Summer Trail" to the right and the "West Ridge Trail" to the left. However, be careful not to get confused as the waterfall is on the "West Ridge Trail."

Find the pink tape leading to the waterfall!

On the left side of the trail that gradually descends, you will see pink tape in the forest that marks the way to the waterfall. If you miss it, you will end up heading towards the summit of Mt. Muroran, so be careful not to miss the pink tape tied to the tree.

The destination, Sudare Falls, is a hidden spot that is still not visited by many people, and is known only to those in the know. Therefore, the path is often not snow-cleared. Snow often piles up on top of the bamboo thickets, and shoes tend to sink into the snow, wasting energy. In such cases, snowshoes make it much easier to walk.

As we walked along the pathless road, glancing at the scattered fox footprints and trees with peeling bark that must have been eaten by deer, we came across the Petrotul River. Naturally, the river is freezing cold in winter. The river is not very wide, but we will have to cross it several times, so be careful not to fall.