Take the Mt. Usu Ropeway up the mountain to enjoy the view of Lake Toya and have some ice cream

After visiting the famous Noboribetsu Jigokudani in Hokkaido, we drove to Mount Usu, which is located next to Showa Shinzan. We planned to take the Usuzan Ropeway up the mountain to enjoy the scenery. After about a 40-minute drive, we arrived at the paid parking lot at Mount Usu.

The parking lot is quite large and easy to park in. After getting out of the car, the weather was great, and we could clearly see the reddish-brown rocky surface of Showa Shinzan. Showa Shinzan is designated as a Special Natural Monument of Japan and is also one of Japan’s Top 100 Geological Sites.

We walked to the ropeway station, bought our tickets, and got ready to head up the mountain. The cable car is spacious, and as it ascends, you can gradually see Showa Shinzan, followed shortly by a view of Lake Toya. Hokkaido in summer is beautifully lush and green.

↑ Taking the Usuzan Ropeway to enjoy a distant view of Showa Shinzan and Lake Toya

Inside the upper station, there are displays introducing the steel cables used in the ropeway, along with some educational quizzes. For example: both Mount Usu and Lake Toya were formed by volcanic eruptions—which one was formed first? The answer is Lake Toya. After exiting the upper station, there is a landmark marker showing the elevation of Mount Usu at 733 meters.

Near the exit, there is a sign pointing to two directions: one leads to the USU 360 Mt. Usu Crater Basin Viewing Platform, and the other to the Lake Toya Viewing Platform. We first headed to the USU 360 Mt. Usu Crater Basin Viewing Platform. The path is gentle and easy to walk, making it suitable even for seniors. Along the way, there are also fun educational quizzes. For instance: why does Showa Shinzan appear red? The correct answer is that it contains iron—the same component found in bricks—which turns red when oxidized.

The USU 360 Mt. Usu Crater Basin Viewing Platform is probably the highest point, offering a wide and open view. On the left, you can see Lake Toya and Showa Shinzan, while on the right, you can see the coastline. There is also another path leading down to the outer rim trail, where you can observe volcanic terrain up close, but it takes more than an hour round trip, so we decided not to go.

We then returned the same way, passed the ropeway station, and continued to the Lake Toya Viewing Platform. Surprisingly, it was very close—less than 100 meters away. Next to it, there is a large sign for Showa Shinzan and a shop selling food and drinks, where we bought some ice cream.

The plaza here is spacious, with comfortable seating where visitors can relax and enjoy the sunshine. We found a large reclining seat on the left side and enjoyed the view from above.

Of course, in summer, we had to try the delicious ice cream while admiring the beautiful scenery of Lake Toya and enjoying a relaxing moment with our family.