Active Volcano Erupted 4 Times within 100 Years Ago Can Be Enjoyed Close -Mt. Usu around Lake Toya-

Mt. Usu (有珠山) in the south side of Lake Toya (洞爺湖) is an active volcano with 733 m in height and is double volcano with Ousu Lava Dome (大有珠), Kousu Lava Dome (小有珠), Mt. Ogari (オガリ山) and Mt. Usushinzan (有珠新山), and erupted 4 times within 100 years ago, so it is very active also in the world. It can be said that the Mt. Usu is one of main actors in Toya Caldera and Usu Volcano Global Geopark (洞爺湖有珠山ジオパーク). Admission free. A parking lot is charged.

Tourists can go up to around a summit by a ropeway, and can savor 360 degree view such as Paciffic Ocean and Lake Toya. A round ticket is JPY 1500 for adult and JPY 750 for child. There are tourist facilities such as Showashinzan Bear Ranch (クマ牧場) or Showashinzan Glass Museum (ガラス館) near a ropeway station, and everybody can rise a mood like sightseeing. Except the ropeway, a mountain trail is built, so the tourists can hike along it. In addition, Mt. Showashinzan (昭和新山) is very close from the ropeway station.

There are Toyako Viewing Platform (洞爺湖展望台) and Usuzan-Kakogen Viewing Platoform (有珠山火口原展望台) around Usu-sancho Station (有珠山頂駅), and Mt. Usu, Lake Toya, Mt. Showashinzan and Pacific Ocean can be looked over. The Toyako Viewing Platform and the Usuzan-Kakogen Viewing Platoform are easy to reach on foot relatively. In the Usu-sancho Station, there are a souvenir shop and a movie corner about Mt. Usu.

Usuzan-Gairinzan Boardwalk (有珠山外輪山遊歩道) is built around the outer rim of a crater, and is easy to walk relatively, but it rough terrain, so you must be tired. There are Kakogen Lookout (火口原展望台) and Minami-gairinzan Lookout (南外輪山展望台) along the boardwalk. Green carpet from the Usuzan-Kakogen Viewing Platoform is the boardwalk and the Kakogen Lookout. It takes about 60 minutes from the Usu-sancho Station to the Minami-gairinzan Lookout on foot. I think hikers had better take a water and an insect repellent. In addition, Beware of bears.

A restroom, a gazebo and benches are provided at the Kakogen Lookout. Here can be viewed from the front than the Usuzan Kakogen Lookout relatively.

Minami-gairinzan Lookout has Usu Zenkoji Okunoin Branch Temple (有珠善光寺奥の院) and benches. Mt. Usuzan with another outer rim can be viewed from the front, and the pacific ocean can be viewed from the front, too. The Lake Toya and Mt. Yotei (羊蹄山) can be seen. I think that here is best views. It is worth hiking to here.

Atmosphere of Mt. Usu Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Mt. Usu

Accommodations

Refer to following websites for the accommodations around Lake Toya.

The Windsor Hotel TOYA(ザ・ウィンザーホテル 洞爺リゾート＆スパ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Toyako Manseikaku Hotel Lakeside Terrace(洞爺湖万世閣 ホテルレイクサイドテラス)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Toya Kohantei(洞爺湖畔亭)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Toya Gokirakutei(洞爺湖畔 ごきらく亭)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Toya Kanko Hotel(洞爺観光ホテル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Grand Toya(ホテル グランドトーヤ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hokkai Hotel(北海ホテル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Toya Sansui Hotel Kafu(洞爺山水ホテル 和風)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel New Toyako(ホテル ニュー洞爺湖)	Only Tel:+81-142-75-2818
Toya Green Hotel(洞爺グリーンホテル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Toya Sun Palace(洞爺サンパレス リゾート＆スパ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
The Lake View Toya Nonokaze Resort(ザ レイクビュー TOYA 乃の風リゾート)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Daiwa Ryokan Annex(大和旅館 アネックス)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Toyako Onsen Hotel Hanabi(洞爺温泉 ホテル華美)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Daiwa Ryokan(大和旅館)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Kitsutsuki Canadian Club(きつつき カナディアンクラブ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Petit Hotel Koizumi(西山高原プチホテル恋泉)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Pension Ohno(ペンションおおの)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Cocoa(ホテルココア)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Lakehouse At Toyako(レイクハウスアット洞爺湖)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Nakatoya Onsen Camping Ground(仲洞爺キャンプ場)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Onsen Ryokan Ikoiso(温泉旅館 いこい荘)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Toya Kaawanami(洞爺かわなみ)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Hotel Nakanoshima(ホテル中の島)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten
Showa Shinzan Youth Hostel(昭和新山ユースホステル)	HP	Booking	Jalan	Rakuten

Booking.com

A page of Shikotsu-Toya National Park is here