Starting from the small parking area beside Route 230 at Koganeyu, the trail enters mature mixed forest and begins a steady, uncomplicated climb along the ridge that separates the Koganeyu valley from the upper Toyohira River basin. The path is well‑defined from the outset, rising gently at first before settling into a consistent ascent through stands of birch, spruce, and sasa. The first ascent is around 300 metres in gain before reaching the first spur and a little rope section up around a large Mongolian Oak. As the ridge narrows after the broad, flat saddle (prime brown bear habitat), the forest thins and intermittent openings offer early views back toward Jōzankei and the Yoichi-dake massif.

  The route continues to gain elevation at a moderate grade, eventually emerging onto the broad upper ridge of Kamui‑dake (小喜茂別岳 / 983 m). The summit is small grassy, with wide views toward Sapporo-dake, Muine‑dake, and the volcanic skyline of Jozankei Tengu-yama. From here, the character of the hike shifts from a straightforward ascent to a pleasant ridge traverse. A short descent leads off Kamui‑dake’s summit plateau before the trail rises again along an airy ridge toward Eboshi‑dake (烏帽子岳 / 1,108 m). This will add an extra 2-3 hours to the day, depending on the pass. The trail can also be quite dense with sasa due to it not being an overly popular route.

  The final approach to Eboshi‑dake steepens slightly, weaving through low dwarf pine and exposed rock patches before topping out on the narrow summit. Eboshi‑dake offers one of the best mid‑elevation panoramas in the Jōzankei area: the deep Toyohira valley to the east, the rugged folds of the Sapporo‑dake range to the south, and the long ridge running toward Soranuma‑dake to the southeast. After enjoying the summit, most hikers return the same way, retracing the ridge back over Kamui‑dake and descending to the Koganeyu trailhead.

Difficulty-6-7/10.

Note: Eboshi‑dake can also be reached from the Jōzankei Dam trailhead, which climbs more directly to the summit from the north/northwest. The Koganeyu approach, however, offers the more scenic ridge traverse and the opportunity to include Kamui‑dake as part of the outing.