Is it possible to ascend and descend Mt. Kita-dake in the same day?

by Fabienne
(Luxembourg)

Dear Gary,

Thank you very much for your blog and your book on the Japanese Alps. I want to do the trip to Mount Kita-Dake with my friends in August. We are quite the fit hikers, however I was wondering whether it would be possible to ascend and descend in the same day? I have a feeling it will be tricky because of the bus schedule?

Could you also please send me the bus schedule, because the link in your book is referring to a Japanese website (everything in Japanese). They must have updated something, because I have a lot of trouble finding an English website with a time schedule to get and leave from Hirogawara?

I am looking forward to your answer and thank you very much in advance,

Fabienne