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265 views

Mt. Showa-Shinzan is a lava dome which arose in the middle of farm land in 1943-45. Lake Toya, Hokkaido.264 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.238 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.238 views

Showa-Shinzan closeup. Still steaming.215 views

Mt. Usu's Ginnuma Crater, one of the largest. It was created during the 1977 eruption. 銀沼大火口212 views

Usuzan Ropeway terminal on the left.182 views

G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit merchandise: T-shirts178 views

Lake Toya's bald spot.171 views

Usuzan Ropeway car holds over 100 people.169 views

G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit merchandise: Pins166 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.159 views

A tourist village called Kazan-mura (Volcano Village) has developed at the foot of Showa-Shinzan. 火山村155 views

The Usuzan Ropeway terminal has gift shops selling a variety of G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit merchandise. T-shirts, bags, candy, etc.155 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.151 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.148 views

We cannot climb Showa-Shinzan.147 views

Usuzan Ropeway, Lake Toya.144 views

There's a large parking lot full of tourists.141 views

Leaving the ropeway terminal.138 views

Toyako lookout deck on Mt. Usu, near the ropeway terminal. 洞爺湖展望台135 views

Park at the foot of Showa-Shinzan which means "New Mountain of the Showa Period." Showa-Shinzan is adjacent to Mt. Usu.134 views

Lookout deck on Mt. Usu, near the ropeway terminal.133 views

Showa-Shinzan gets smaller.125 views

Statue of Masao Mimatsu, a post office worker who observed and documented the development of Showa-Shinzan. His records are valuable.123 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.123 views

Statue of Masao Mimatsu.122 views

G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign at Usuzan Ropeway terminal.121 views

After a long walk uphill with a bicycle, Showa-Shinzan is in sight. Showa-Shinzan is in the town of Sobetsu.120 views

The closest we can go is this park at the foot.115 views

Mt. Showa-Shinzan as seen from Mt. Usu.115 views

View of Lake Toya from the ropeway car.113 views

Mt. Usu Crater lookout deck on the top of the hill. 有珠山火口原展望台113 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).107 views

Lake Toya as seen from Mt. Usu.106 views

Ropeway terminal106 views

Lava dome on Mt. Usuzan104 views

Mt. Usu Crater lookout deck on the top of the hill. 有珠山火口原展望台104 views

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Another hiking trail goes closer to Ginnuma Crater for a better view.102 views

Lake Toya as seen from Mt. Usu.100 views

This lookout point is for viewing the Ginnuma Crater.100 views

Going back down on the Usuzan Ropeway.100 views

Heading back to the ropeway terminal.100 views

Path to Ginnuma Crater98 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.98 views