Hokkaido II Day 4: Mount Usu

After our usual onsen and breakfast that morning, we requested for the front desk to arrange for a taxi to take us to Mount Usu (Usuzan in Japanese). 

Our original plan was Noboribetsu Marine Park since the Hubby and I enjoyed our experience in 2012. However, we had to remove it from our itinerary as it would be challenging to get there without a car (we couldn't rent one as planned)😢

Our taxi driver was very friendly and communicated with us using a translator device.
We responded using Google Translate, which we used a lot in Hokkaido!

The jumbo taxi was able to accommodate all of us

Our taxi dropped us off at the carpark between the base of Mount Showashinzan and the base station of the Mount Usu Ropeway, aptly called Showashinzan Station.

Mount Showashinzan from the base

We had learnt from our visit to the Volcano Science Museum the day before that Mount Showashinzan was created in 1943-1945. You can still see steam emerging from the peak!

As Mount Usu is one of the most active volcanoes in Japan, it's predicted that the next eruption would happen between 22 and 50 years after the last eruption on 31 Mar 2000 (24 years ago)! This meant that it could erupt while we were in Toya (thankfully it didn't)! 😬

Mount Usu Ropeway

We headed to the ticketing counter to buy tickets. With our 10% discount coupon from our hotel, we paid ¥1620 per adult and ¥810 per child (7-12 years old). 

Bought our tickets and prepared to board the ropeway

View from the boarding platform and the ropeway

Inside the ropeway cabin

It was a relatively short journey up the mountain

Approaching the top station

Most people ascend Mount Usu to see the volcanic steam from the Mount Usu Crater Basin. However, it was closed during the winter season.

Sign informing guests of the closure of the Mount Usu Outer Rim Boardwalk

One of the signboards at the peak

We spent our time at the peak admiring the view and playing in the snow!

It was -7°C but felt colder especially when the wind blew!

Kids having fun in the snow!

Walking on the snow was challenging as it can be very slippery!

Climbing up the steps to the viewing platform

At the Mount Usu Crater Basin Viewing Platform

The gate to the boardwalk was locked during winter

You can still see the crater and volcanic steam if you look closely

At the highest point that we can reach;
Littlest started to complain that she was feeling unwell

Strong winds blowing onto us! 

It was getting too cold to hang around so we started our walk down the steps. It was more slippery going down than up!

Sudden heavy snow!

Super love this photo taken by the Boy

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It was like being in a snowy drama!

The kids had so much fun making angels in the snow!

The Boy had the best time and was happy to pose for me in all the pictures

We headed to Lake Toya Observation Deck and it's my favourite viewing point of all! 😍

Mount Showashinzan in the background

Another lovely photo of us by the Boy (well-trained by me!) 🤭

I would have stayed at the viewing platform for an hour if not for the Littlest's complaints of feeling unwell.

We returned to the comfort of the ropeway station and got hot chocolate for the kids. Then we descended down the mountain and explored the little village at the base.

Shopping at one of the shops near the base station

When we were ready to leave, we called for the same taxi to send us to a cafe near our hotel for lunch. Unfortunately it was not open so we had lunch at a nearby izakaya restaurant instead.

海鮮ダイニング龍
(Address: 40-10 Toyakoonsen, Toyako, Abuta District, Hokkaido 049-5721, Japan)

We were so happy to relax in one of the booths of the restaurant and enjoy the yummy food!

Salmon Don

Ikura and various sashimi

The meal wasn't cheap but we got quality for what we paid! It was a very enjoyable lunch.

We had to return to the hotel early as the Littlest was still unwell. We found out she was having a fever when I took her temperature with our digital thermometer back in our hotel room! Thankful that I'd always bring a thermometer and medicine when we travel!

The Littlest took a long nap after I fed her some liquid paracetamol and we all decided to sleep until dinner as well. It was actually really great! We're hardly ever all in the same room so it was a blessing to be able to spend so much time together! 😄🥰💖

The Littlest woke up feeling much better and we headed to the restaurant for dinner.

Special scallop dish each for guests who stay more than 1 night

After dinner, we took turns going to the onsen as at least one person had to stay with the Littlest in the room. 

I really can't believe it was our last night in Toya! 

Continue to >> Hokkaido II Day 5: Train to Kutchan & AYA Niseko
<< Back to Hokkaido II Day 3: Toya Visitor Center & Volcano Science Museum 

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