Mt. Usu is an active volcano in Hokkaido, and the fact that it could blow up at any time is a reminder issued prominently as one lines up to go up via ropeway. The four eruptions since 1900 were in 1910, 1944-45, 1977 – and most recently in 2000. The ticket prices for the ropeway is ¥1,600 for adults, half that for children in elementary school. The ropeway ascends quite steeply, and you get a close-up view of Mt. Showa Shinzan along the way. This mountain is apparently one of Japan’s youngest mountains and rose quite recently between 1943 and 1945. The picture I took below also shows that it’s still venting sulphur fumes, something that you can also smell at the ropeway base station too.
The ropeway brings visitors to the upper station, and there are two viewing areas. Coming out of the station, you can turn right, walk for just a minute to reach the platform where you get a look of Lake Toya and Mt. Showa Shinzan. Turning left at the T junction is about 600 meters walk away and uphill, but it’s also supported by a solid set of gentle steps, and there are also guard railings on one side too. The views you get on the second platform, including that of Mt. Usu’s crater, is spectacular, though it was also freezing up on the summit!
Pictures:
Continued in the next post where the kids got a great opportunity to enjoy snow!
Recent comments