Mt. Usu
Mt. Usu
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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4.5
51 reviews
Excellent
29
Very good
17
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5
Poor
0
Terrible
0
hly
Arcadia, CA28 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
When we went here, it was snowing, windy, extremely cold, and slippery. Because of that, we couldn't really enjoy it. However, we can tell that it would provide a beautiful site on a clear day.
Written December 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
William W
Singapore177 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
We are heading to Lake Toya from Noboribetsu, therefore, I planned to visit Mount Usu as a stop while driving to our destination. The place is easy to access via navigating by the car GPS.
The place is awesome when I reach as the place is one of the country national parks and the entire place is well maintained except the shops there is limited I think is maybe the business is hard to sustain.
I missed a lot of nice views as the day I visit have a little rain and very cloudy in the top of the mountain.
Overall I think is a must go if you are a nature lover and want to relax yourselves by hiking and sightseeing.
The place is awesome when I reach as the place is one of the country national parks and the entire place is well maintained except the shops there is limited I think is maybe the business is hard to sustain.
I missed a lot of nice views as the day I visit have a little rain and very cloudy in the top of the mountain.
Overall I think is a must go if you are a nature lover and want to relax yourselves by hiking and sightseeing.
Written July 21, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maurticia51
Aberdeenshire, UK75 contributions
May 2018 • Couples
I say hidden because the morning we visited Mt Usu it was visible only briefly for seconds when the sun appeared, so was in & out of cloud. The Ropeway taken from the car park gave us the best views. Once up, it's an approx 20 minutes walk ( anyone with mobility issues shouldn't even contemplate this ) to the viewing place where sadly for us we hardly saw a thing ! It's possible to walk even nearer to the crater, but since it was drizzly & cloudy we saw little point. That said I wouldn't have missed the tour to Mt Usu & Lake Toya. I can only imagine the views others luckier than us had !!
Written May 27, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Miles527
193 contributions
Dec 2017 • Family
This is an active volcano. There is a ropeway all the way to the top. There is guided mini presentation on the history of this tourist attraction and how the Japanese can detect volcsnic eruptions. There is a hiking trail as well all the way to the top. It takes around 20 minutes hike. Kids can also have the chance to play on the slider. A must visit!
Written December 19, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AsianExplorer
Yokohama, Japan240 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
Once you've arrived on Mount Usu, you can go through a cafe/gift shop and either just enjoy the view from the observation platform or hike for 1-2 hours on one of the trails. The further you walk, the less touristy it will be. Be careful - if you take the long hiking path, there is a bear warning sign at the end (which we weren't warned about before) and the path is quite steep. It's worth walking along the long hiking path as then you can best see the craters. Overall, it was an exciting walk with great volcano views; however, we thought that Hell Valley in Noboribetsu was more spectacular.
Written September 6, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Travelove58
15,589 contributions
Jun 2017 • Family
Just like most people, we made the trip here expecting to get a clear panoramic view of the nearby lake & mountains.
It has been raining for 2 days & we could see heavy fog at the top where the Ropecar literally disappears midway into the mountain top.
At the top, the whole place was totally engulfed in cold thick fog & strong howling winds. We could see nothing of the 360° expected views. Visibility was poor. It was freezing!!
Its like a sci-fi movie setting, where the character walks amidst thick fog & howling winds ahead & disappears into the misty horizon.
Super strong freezing winds engulfed you mercilessly as you walk towards the top viewing point & you risked getting blown off the mountain. We had to walked against the winds.
Scary, to think of it but it's an experience too good to miss!
In fact, we were the only brave ones that did that. The rest who came up with us did not venture that far.
Truly, this was an experience that we never expected but will never forget either. Its indescribable.
Highly recommend this experience if one is lucky enough to come here in similar weather conditions.
It has been raining for 2 days & we could see heavy fog at the top where the Ropecar literally disappears midway into the mountain top.
At the top, the whole place was totally engulfed in cold thick fog & strong howling winds. We could see nothing of the 360° expected views. Visibility was poor. It was freezing!!
Its like a sci-fi movie setting, where the character walks amidst thick fog & howling winds ahead & disappears into the misty horizon.
Super strong freezing winds engulfed you mercilessly as you walk towards the top viewing point & you risked getting blown off the mountain. We had to walked against the winds.
Scary, to think of it but it's an experience too good to miss!
In fact, we were the only brave ones that did that. The rest who came up with us did not venture that far.
Truly, this was an experience that we never expected but will never forget either. Its indescribable.
Highly recommend this experience if one is lucky enough to come here in similar weather conditions.
Written June 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alphonsus Ang
Singapore, Singapore11 contributions
Nov 2016 • Family
As we headed up early, we had the luxury of a private cable car experience and were the only ones at the crater and view points.
If you are seeking good view of the entire/large area of the lake, and Mt.Uzu crater, this is worth the time.
If you are seeking good view of the entire/large area of the lake, and Mt.Uzu crater, this is worth the time.
Written November 27, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GraftonRiverguide
Grafton, Australia516 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
Mount Usu is accessed from the top of the Usu-san ropeway. It is an active volcanic area with a fascinating history having erupted four times since 1900, the most recent being 1977 when it wiped out large areas of the township on the shores of Lake Toya. It erupted in 1944-45 but the Japanese Government kept it secret fearing that it would create panic in the Japanese population in the midst of WWII being considered a very bad omen. Fortunately a dedicated postmaster living in the area kept a very accurate record of the eruption which later won acclaim for thoroughness and accuracy in the world volcanism community. The trail starts with a steep descent, from memory there are 640 stairs, there is then a short stairway ascent and then you make your way around the crater rim. The stairs are mostly round logs holding back soil treads but these have eroded so it is quite uneven and unsuited to anyone with mobility issues. There are toilets and some bench seating halfway round the rim. There are great views of the current volcanic activity and stunning views from the topmost point both back over the coast and down to Lake Toya. The climb back out is very steep and you are likely to need an ice-cream at the top or the bottom of the rope-way as an energy restorative. The walk is quite physically demanding but very worthwhile.
Written November 11, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fizzy1991
Nashville, TN5,949 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Not much to see on a rainy day. These two volcanoes are in the same area and worth a look on a nice day. There is also a trail you can take around one side of the volcano on a nice day.
Written May 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
J&S_Singapore
Singapore, Singapore6,205 contributions
Oct 2022
Mount Usu and Shōwa-shinzan are major tourist attractions in the Shikotsu-Toya National Park. A ropeway on Mount Usu takes visitors to viewing platforms overlooking Shōwa-shinzan. Unlike some whom hiked up, we were with a tour gp and took the ropeway up.. Just near the top station there is a Mt Usu café and we followed the crowd to get our hot kohi at 450Yen, to enjoy at the high altitude of 1370m. There is an established Viewing Platform Terrace which is the most elaborate and functional I have came across; there are sofa seats and even some tables, all outdoor. What a way to enjoy the Lake Toya & Shows shinzan at leisure!
Noted that there is a second observation deck a short walk away to view the Usu crater basin, which we did not venture to. we just hang around and chill out at the cold Autumn breezed passed us. Slightly more than 30 mins and we took the ropeway down.
Noted that there is a second observation deck a short walk away to view the Usu crater basin, which we did not venture to. we just hang around and chill out at the cold Autumn breezed passed us. Slightly more than 30 mins and we took the ropeway down.
Written November 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi. May i know if the ropeway still open in winter? Planning to go february 2020.
And how long one would spend time up there?
Thankss
Written August 9, 2019
It was open daily in February 2019. Although the schedule for 2020 is not yet published, we would assume it would be the same as in 2019.
usuzan. hokkaido. jp/en/#SCHEDULE shows the published schedule and times for first trip up.
There is a short hike once you summit as well as beautiful views. Be prepared to see lots of snow in February. I would plan on spending about 90 minutes on top depending on how cold it is when you summit.
Written August 12, 2019
The ropeway to Usuzan departs from "Kazan-Mura", a small town of souvenir shops at the foot of Showa Shinzan. From Toyako Onsen, it can be reached in 10 minutes by car or taxi (about 2000 yen one way) or in 15 minutes by bus from Toyako Onsen (15 minutes, 340 yen one way, one bus every two hours, no service from early November to late April). japan guide's website guide e6726 has more details
Written February 17, 2019
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