Mt. Showa-Shinzan & Mt. Usu 昭和新山・有珠山

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Most viewed - Mt. Showa-Shinzan & Mt. Usu 昭和新山・有珠山

Lake Toya lookout deck on Mt. Usu, near the ropeway terminal. Showa-Shinzan clearly in sight.　洞爺湖展望台271 views

Mt. Showa-Shinzan is a lava dome which arose in the middle of farm land in 1943-45. Lake Toya, Hokkaido.270 views

Road to Showa-Shinzan. That's the Showa-Shinzan Youth Hostel on the right. Best way to get to Showa-Shinzan is by bus from Toyako Onsen bus terminal.242 views

Mt. Usu is on the left, Showa-Shinzan on the right. In the background is the conical Mt. Yotei. Between Usu and Showa-Shinzan is the tourist village and the Usuzan Ropeway terminal.242 views

Showa-Shinzan closeup. Still steaming.221 views

Mt. Usu's Ginnuma Crater, one of the largest. It was created during the 1977 eruption. 銀沼大火口218 views

Usuzan Ropeway terminal on the left.186 views

G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit merchandise: T-shirts183 views

Lake Toya's bald spot.177 views

Usuzan Ropeway car holds over 100 people.173 views

G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit merchandise: Pins170 views

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Distance-wise, Showa-Shinzan is not very far. But the killer slope will get you... At least the return bike ride was a thrill and very quick.163 views

A tourist village called Kazan-mura (Volcano Village) has developed at the foot of Showa-Shinzan. 火山村159 views

The Usuzan Ropeway terminal has gift shops selling a variety of G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit merchandise. T-shirts, bags, candy, etc.159 views

Buses from Toyako Onsen don't run very often, so check the bus timetable beforehand. I opted to rent a bicycle and rode to Showa-Shinzan. Unless you like to push a bicycle up a very long slope for about 30 min., take a bus.155 views

This box of cookies show all the G8 Summit leaders bathing in a hot spring and scrubbing each other's backs. They also say, "Ii yu!" (great hot spring) which is pronounced "EU" as a pun.152 views

We cannot climb Showa-Shinzan.151 views

Usuzan Ropeway, Lake Toya.148 views

There's a large parking lot full of tourists.145 views

Leaving the ropeway terminal.142 views

Toyako lookout deck on Mt. Usu, near the ropeway terminal. 洞爺湖展望台139 views

Park at the foot of Showa-Shinzan which means "New Mountain of the Showa Period." Showa-Shinzan is adjacent to Mt. Usu.138 views

Lookout deck on Mt. Usu, near the ropeway terminal.137 views

Showa-Shinzan gets smaller.129 views

Statue of Masao Mimatsu, a post office worker who observed and documented the development of Showa-Shinzan. His records are valuable.127 views

The ropeway distance is 1370 meters. It takes only 6 min. to reach Mt. Usu. The roundtrip ropeway fare is 1,450 yen for adults, 730 yen for kids.127 views

Statue of Masao Mimatsu.126 views

G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign at Usuzan Ropeway terminal.125 views

After a long walk uphill with a bicycle, Showa-Shinzan is in sight. Showa-Shinzan is in the town of Sobetsu.124 views

The closest we can go is this park at the foot.119 views

Mt. Showa-Shinzan as seen from Mt. Usu.119 views

View of Lake Toya from the ropeway car.117 views

Mt. Usu Crater lookout deck on the top of the hill. 有珠山火口原展望台117 views

Lava dome on Mt. Usu. This volcano has erupted four times in the 20th century: 1910, 1943-45, 1977-78, and 2000 (on the west side called Nishiyama).111 views

Lake Toya as seen from Mt. Usu.110 views

Ropeway terminal110 views

Lava dome on Mt. Usuzan108 views

Mt. Usu Crater lookout deck on the top of the hill. 有珠山火口原展望台108 views

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Another hiking trail goes closer to Ginnuma Crater for a better view.106 views

Lake Toya as seen from Mt. Usu.104 views

This lookout point is for viewing the Ginnuma Crater.104 views

Going back down on the Usuzan Ropeway.104 views

Heading back to the ropeway terminal.104 views

Path to Ginnuma Crater102 views

During the last eruption in 2000, Toyako Onsen was damaged by the debris. But no one died because everyone had been evacuated. A series of tell-tale earthquakes prompted the evacuation.102 views