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268 views

Mt. Showa-Shinzan is a lava dome which arose in the middle of farm land in 1943-45. Lake Toya, Hokkaido.267 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.240 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.240 views

Showa-Shinzan closeup. Still steaming.218 views

Mt. Usu's Ginnuma Crater, one of the largest. It was created during the 1977 eruption. 銀沼大火口215 views

Usuzan Ropeway terminal on the left.184 views

G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit merchandise: T-shirts180 views

Lake Toya's bald spot.174 views

Usuzan Ropeway car holds over 100 people.171 views

G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit merchandise: Pins168 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.161 views

A tourist village called Kazan-mura (Volcano Village) has developed at the foot of Showa-Shinzan. 火山村157 views

The Usuzan Ropeway terminal has gift shops selling a variety of G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit merchandise. T-shirts, bags, candy, etc.157 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.153 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.150 views

We cannot climb Showa-Shinzan.149 views

Usuzan Ropeway, Lake Toya.146 views

There's a large parking lot full of tourists.143 views

Leaving the ropeway terminal.140 views

Toyako lookout deck on Mt. Usu, near the ropeway terminal. 洞爺湖展望台137 views

Park at the foot of Showa-Shinzan which means "New Mountain of the Showa Period." Showa-Shinzan is adjacent to Mt. Usu.136 views

Lookout deck on Mt. Usu, near the ropeway terminal.135 views

Showa-Shinzan gets smaller.127 views

Statue of Masao Mimatsu, a post office worker who observed and documented the development of Showa-Shinzan. His records are valuable.125 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.125 views

Statue of Masao Mimatsu.124 views

G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign at Usuzan Ropeway terminal.123 views

After a long walk uphill with a bicycle, Showa-Shinzan is in sight. Showa-Shinzan is in the town of Sobetsu.122 views

The closest we can go is this park at the foot.117 views

Mt. Showa-Shinzan as seen from Mt. Usu.117 views

View of Lake Toya from the ropeway car.115 views

Mt. Usu Crater lookout deck on the top of the hill. 有珠山火口原展望台115 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).109 views

Lake Toya as seen from Mt. Usu.108 views

Ropeway terminal108 views

Lava dome on Mt. Usuzan106 views

Mt. Usu Crater lookout deck on the top of the hill. 有珠山火口原展望台106 views

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Another hiking trail goes closer to Ginnuma Crater for a better view.104 views

Lake Toya as seen from Mt. Usu.102 views

This lookout point is for viewing the Ginnuma Crater.102 views

Going back down on the Usuzan Ropeway.102 views

Heading back to the ropeway terminal.102 views

Path to Ginnuma Crater100 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.100 views