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Hidakasanmyaku Erimo Tokachi NP, Hokkaido
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Mount Rakko is named for the Rakko River. An Edo-era account says a sea otter drifted ashore there; a Tokachi Ainu place-name guide renders the river’s name as rakko-pet, “otter river.”
In 1932, Hokkaido University alumnus and future mountain painter Naoyuki Sakamoto climbed Rakko in winter with one companion. Their round trip from the foothills took 19 hours.
A Hiroo councillor recalled hiking Rakko with Sakamoto as a high-school student. Back then, reaching the trail entrance meant repeatedly crossing the Satsurakko River and spending half a day on the approach.
Rakko kept returning to painter Naoyuki Sakamoto’s canvas: a Hokkaido museum catalogue lists 6 Rakko-themed works from 1960 to 1978, including views from Mt. Daimaru and a “Remaining Snow” scene.
During a Ministry of the Environment field survey, staff spotted an Ezo deer mother and fawn in the cirque near Rakko’s summit—and heard a pika calling nearby. The glacial landform is also wildlife habitat.
Near Rakko’s summit, white iwaume (rock flowers) grow among dark-and-light speckled tonalite. An Apoi Geopark field guide identifies both there—a lovely pairing of alpine bloom and distinctive rock.
On a clear day, Rakko’s summit view stretches north to Daisetsuzan and south to Toyoni-dake near Cape Erimo; a Ministry of the Environment survey team also saw Enrumu Cape to the west.
