Mt Usu: Taking the Usuzan Ropeway to the volcano Summit

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Mt Usu is one of 60 active volcanoes out of 200 total found in Japan. Located 2 hours southwest of Sapporo near Uchiura Bay, Mt Usu is home to viewpoints over the Bay and the breathtaking Lake Toya.

One of the best ways to enjoy what the volcano has to offer is by taking the cable car (called Usuzan Ropeway by locals) from the base of the mountain to the summit, for a peaceful journey overlooking the natural landscape of the geothermal region.

What makes this region so magnificent is the everchanging landscape due to regular eruptions and new formations taking shape every few years. Spending time in the area you’ll get to see everything from stunning lakes, and volcanic peaks and enjoy the geothermal activity in the form of wellness spas and retreats.

So, whether you’re planning a day trip from Sapporo, only visiting Lake Toya or exploring multiple places on your Hokkaido trip, make sure you stop by Mt Usu and enjoy the Usuzan Ropeway to marvel at the views below. You can visit at any time of year and get to enjoy the various colours each season brings.

Country:	Japan
Currency:	Japanese Yen / JPY
Do you need a visa to visit as tourists?	Check here

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How to get to Mt Usu

I’d recommend getting an eSim before you travel so you can stay connected for getting around during your trip. I use Airalo because I appreciate the convenience of just being able to purchase and download a SIM directly to my device instead of needing to collect one in person or have it delivered.

By car

Location: Showashinzan, Sobetsu, Usu District, Hokkaido 052-0102

When visiting Mt Usu and the Usuzan Ropeway you can park in the car park above. For a small cost of 500 JPY (£2.50/$3.35 USD) you can park there all day, just make sure you display your receipt on the dash of your car.

The easiest way to get around Hokkaido is by driving, in which case you will either need a Japanese driving license if you’re a resident, or you’ll be required to show an IDP (international driving permit) along with your driving license from your home country.

If travelling from Sobetsu it’ll take 7 minutes by car.

If travelling from Noboribestu it’ll take you 35 minutes by car.

From Sapporo, it is much further but it is still a popular day trip location, but be prepared for the drive to take almost 2 hours from the city.

If you need a rental car, The company I had the best experience with during my trips was surprisingly Klook since both of my go-to brands had no cars available when I needed one. To rent a car through Klook click here, otherwise, if you book further in advance you might have luck with Rental Cars or Discovery Cars which I usually use.

Travelling by public transport

Not able to rent a car for some reason? Fortunately, there are public transportation options, although these will take more than double the length of time to get around. For example, if you are travelling from Sapporo by bus you can expect the journey to take around 3.5 hours.

Get on the purple 札幌洞爺湖線 bus at the bus stop: Minami 1 jo towards 東町サンパレス（洞爺水の駅 経由). The bus stop is located on the opposite side of the road to the Jimmy Choo Marui Imai Sapporo Store.

This journey will take 2 hours 37 minutes approximately until you get off at 洞爺湖温泉.

Next, get on the light blue 洞爺湖線 bus at the Toyako Onsen Bus Terminal and stay on for 15 minutes before getting off at 昭和新山 bus stop and walking the final 2 minutes to Usuzan Ropeway.

Entry Costs for the Usuzan Ropeway

Please note: Currency exchange rates fluctuate on a daily basis. The costs in GBP and USD were accurate at the time of writing. So if in doubt, go by the JPY (local) currency rate.

If you are unsure of your itinerary, you can purchase your tickets on the day of arrival at the ticket booth. If you’d rather have everything planned in advance before arriving just for peace of mind, you can purchase your tickets here instead.

Individual Ticket Buyer	Cost
Adult (Junior high school and above)	1,800 JPY / (£9.25 / $12 USD)
Child (Elementary school or below)	900 JPY (£4.62 / $6 USD)

For those travelling in large groups, the ticket prices are slightly different offering a discount. All prices are dependent on the group having at least 15 persons purchasing tickets. If this is relevant to your upcoming trip, please see the official site for the updated prices.

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History of Mt Usu

Toya-Usu geopark was listed as the first UNESCO-grade geopark in Japan. It is officially labelled as an active stratovolcano located in the “Nasu Volcanic Zone” in Hokkaido.

Since 1900 it has erupted just 4 times, two of which created two famous peaks that we still see today. In 1910 an eruption formed Meiji-shinzan and between 1944-1945 its eruptions helped form the neighbouring peak of Showa-Shinzan. This is the huge peak you can see clearly from the car park so you can’t miss it!

Both peaks of Showa-Shinzan and Mt Usu are huge tourist attractions in the area and draw many visitors each year.

The last official eruption of Mt Usu was between March 2000 and September 2001.

What to expect at the top of Mt Usu & the Usuzan Ropeway?

One of the largest appeals to the Mt Usu summit and Usuzan Ropeway are the views offered of the geothermal region below. The volcano is split into two halves for those looking to make the most of their experience.

After taking the 6-minute ride on the cable car from the base near Showa-Shinzan to the volcanic summit, you can either turn left towards the crater walking trail or turn right towards the Mt Usu terrace.

Mt Usu crater Walk

If you choose to turn left towards the crater, you’ll have about 5 minutes walking uphill to get to the first viewpoint. This is mostly through the use of stairs, but is not very strenuous so most abilities would be fine with this.

Once you reach the top of the stairs you’ll see some views of the southern coast and Uchira Bay. You will not be able to see Lake Toya from this side of the volcano as the peak restricts your view.

If seeing the volcanic peak close up isn’t enough from this area, you can take a short walk down to the crater which will allow you to see another side of the volcano. The walk doesn’t take long so you can be back before you know it to enjoy the views over on the terrace.

Mt Usu Terrace / Observation Deck

The Mt Usu Terrace is a large decked area on the north side of the volcano, next to the Usuzan Ropeway cable car route. From here you can enjoy the uninterrupted view of the eastern side of Lake Toya below and even see Mt Yotei in the distance.

At the terrace, you’ll see a large selection of deck chairs for visitors to sit in and enjoy the views. There is also a cafe where you can purchase sandwiches, light snacks and beverages. What a beautiful place to eat a sandwich. I can certainly admit there are worse views than this one.

If you were to enjoy both the crater walk and the terrace you can expect to take 60 minutes at minimum depending on how long you choose to hang around and enjoy the scenery. You would only need 40 minutes to enjoy the Ropeway and Terrace.

Usuzan Ropeway opening times

The Usuzan Ropeway is open year-round no matter the season. Typically the business operates from 8 am until 6 pm each day although this can fluctuate a little bit.

For example, the business and ticket booth with open at 8 am ready to serve customers who haven’t bought their tickets already, and the first cable car will be on its way up to the summit by 8:15 am.

The last cable car leaving the summit and heading back down to the lower level aims to leave around 4:30 pm. The gift shop and other small stores down by the car park remain open for a while longer.

Tours that visit Mt Usu

Taking the Usuzan ropeway cable car is just one way to enjoy the volcano and the views on offer, but what if you want to enjoy it from a different perspective altogether?

Hiking up to the Summit

Well, if you’re up to the physical challenge there are some hiking tours available with experienced guides that can help you do just that.

• Mt. Usu: Hike to the crater and see the stunning Lake Toya!
• Guided Hiking on Active Volcano in Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark

Other tours & Itineraries

If you’d like to join a tour to visit Showa-Shinzan and the Usuzan Ropeway along with other attractions on a popular Hokkaido day trip, here are two of my suggestions that show you the best of the region. These tours are perfect if you’re short on time and unable to drive or rent a car. The tours take the planning out of your hands so you can just relax and enjoy being a tourist for the day.

• Noboribetsu and Toya Full-Day Tour: This tour takes you to Showa-Shinzan, Mt Usu, Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Hell Valley), Lake Toya Onsen Town, The Showa-Shinzan Bear Farm, The Silo observation deck and cafes that allow you to enjoy the region’s favourite Toyako Caramel Pudding.

• Lake Shikotsu & Toya Bus tour: This tour usually only runs during selected months!! You’ll visit Lake Shikotsu, Lake Toya, Mt Usu and the Ropeway, and the Silo Observatory and during the winter months, you’ll also experience the Hyoto Ice Festival.

Accommodation near Mt Usu

If you are planning to visit the ropeway independently then you will likely need to find accommodation before and after your trip. There are no options for hostels in the Lake Toya vicinity, so you’ll either need to stay at Noboribetsu Guest House AKA & AO in Noboribetsu (35 minutes away) or in the Haku Hostel in Shiraoi (55 minutes away).

If you do have a bigger budget and want to stay closer the Mt Usu, Booking.com has many, many options depending on what amenities you’re looking for. Everything from guesthouses, hotels, Ryukyus and more.

For those on a luxury budget, I would highly recommend staying at the Windsor Hotel Toya Resort & Spa which is located on top of Poromoi Mountain. This spot is one of the best locations to see the sunrise over Lake Toya and to see Mt Yotei poke through the clouds. If the budget fo this 5-star resort is too much for you, you’ll be pleased to know that visitors can come up to the hotel viewing platform to see the sunrise without being a paying guest – you’ll just be required to use a separate car park.