A Day at Mount Usu: Riding the Ropeway and Walking the Volcano Trail
Visiting Hokkaido is always a good idea, and with the vastness of nature, you don’t have to go far until you come into range with another volcano, mountain or forest, it’s what made us fall in love with the prefecture so much. During a trip in the autumn, we headed down from Sapporo to Mount Usu for the day which was just over a 2 hour journey by car.
On the drive down we met the first snow of the season, and fields that had 5m high walls of potatoes, ready for the winter season. You truly are in the countryside when you drive through the area, and it just made the day out even more endearing to us. The drive is really special, and you never know what you’re going to stumble upon next.
Mt. Usu is the crater of an active volcano that erupted 4 times in the 20th century. Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark was the first site in Japan to receive UNESCO Global Geopark status. Together with Lake Toya—formed by a massive volcanic eruption around 110,000 years ago—it tells the story of the region’s powerful geological past and the forces that have shaped the landscape over thousands of years.
If you’re in the area, this is a visit you don’t want to miss, here’s everything you can expect, along with some hidden gems on the roadside you must check out!
Riding The Ropeway To Mt. Usu
Opening: Late April through mid-November
Location: Usuzan Ropeway base station – 184-5 Showa-Shinzan, Sobetsu-cho, Usu-gun, Hokkaido 052-0102, Japan.
Ropeway cost: 2,000 yen for a round-trip ticket for adults (ages 13+) and 1,000 yen for children
Every season is a treat in Hokkaido, but perhaps autumn might be one of our favourites as the landscape comes alive with fiery reds, oranges and yellows. Catching the ropeway up was a true feast for the eyes, and you get the most beautiful view of the landscape, crater and Lake Toya at the same time.
The ropeway takes around 6 minutes to ascend 1,377 metres to the summit station, and the views are so worth it.
From here, you can take in sweeping views of the crater plain below, watch smoke rising from the volcanic crater, and admire the striking blue waters of Lake Toya, with the wide expanse of Funka Bay stretching out in the distance.
There is also a little cafe at the top which was much appreciated! It was absolutely freezing for the end of October and we didn’t bring nearly enough warm clothes with us! They were the best hot chocolates we ever had, they warmed our hands and our bodies up as we took in the sweeping views.
So many great opportunities for photos and there’s even a little photo spot (shown in the image below!) to share your appreciation for the views, and of course, Hokkaido!
Hiking To The Southern Rim of Mt. Usu
On the other side of the viewing station you can take in the beauty of the volcanic crater, at this point many choose to just take the ropeway back down. But, if you’re feeling adventurous and like a hike, you can get even closer to the crater (Southern Rim) which we would definitely recommend, this is the only route that allows you to climb it!
It wasn’t as challenging as hiking Mount Hakkenzan, but you need to be relatively fit to complete the walk to the southern rim as there is a lot of steps. Not so bad on the way down, but it was a little bit exhausting on the way back up!
Having said that, you can rest as you go and take in the incredible views at the same time. The round walk takes around 2+ hours to complete.
There are even some toilets on route, and as you can see, they are prepared for every eventuality should an earthquake or volcanic eruption happen here. Just be mindful that they are not Western toilets and it’s a hole in the ground!
There were a few walkers on the course, but it was mostly just us for it and it was so peaceful! You really are immersed in nature on this walk and you can get pretty close to the actual crater.
You’ll know when you get to the end as you meet the sign for The Usu Volcano outer. We stopped here for a picnic lunch in nature – crisps, bread and snacks from the konbini, I don’t think you can really beat this feeling!
As the walk to the end point takes just over an hour, make sure you pack plenty of water and food as there’s no vending machines on route here. After lunch, we headed back before taking the ropeway back down to the bottom.
Roadside Foot Spa!
Japan is well known for its hot springs, and Hokkaido is certainly no exception. In onsen towns it is not unusual to find natural foot spas in the area.
We spotted this one after leaving Mt. Usu by car and had to stop by. We had got so cold from not having enough layers on and being out in it all day. There are actually a few in the area, the one we visited was Foot Bath Pocket Park Yakushi-no-Yu. You can even enjoy the cherry blossoms here in Spring whilst bathing your feet.
That naturally heated water was a true treat for our feet and really warmed us up! We must have had our feet in here for around 30 minutes. Don’t worry if you didn’t pack a towel for the trip, there is a little machine next to it where you can purchase a little towel to dry off which was only around 200 yen. (But do pack a small towel at the start of the day trip if you remember, we always try to have a little towel or flannel in any bag now!).
Lake Hill Farm – A Must Visit!
We passed Lake Hill Farm on the way to Mt. Usu in the morning, I mean, it was hard to miss with the beautiful field of sunflowers so we decided we had to stop on the way back through.
This little farm shop cafe was an unexpected find, and I can imagine the first of many trips now we live in Hokkaido. The pumpkins were displayed as we approached Halloween, and it just felt like the cosiest place.
Set on a hill overlooking Lake Toya in southern Hokkaido, this spot also offers clear views of the iconic Mt. Yotei in the distance.
Across the road from the gelato shop and café, you’ll find Lake Hill Ranch on a gently sloping hillside. Dairy farming is at the heart of the ranch, and the fresh milk produced here is used to create the delicious dairy products served on site.
Hokkaido is well known for their incredible dairy products, and yes, ice cream is eaten all year round, and surprisingly it’s even refreshing on super cold days! Lake Hill Farm had a separate ice cream shop, and a cafe you could sit in with plenty of their homemade dairy treats including cakes, cookies, cheese, gelato and drinks to enjoy, or even take away for presents!
They also offer a number of experiences such as gelato making, butter making and even dairy farming, so great if you have extra time in the area!
It was starting to get dark so we didn’t stay, but we picked up some cocoa biscuits and the classic financier cake, they are usually characterised by a rich, buttery aroma, crisp exterior, and moist interior, of course using high-quality Hokkaido butter, milk, and wheat!
We really enjoyed these treats on the drive home, and recommend a visit to anyone who is in the area. It was the perfect way to round up our day trip to Mt. Usu.
Have any questions about Mt. Usu? Have you been before? Let us know in the comments below!
