When visiting lake Toya you can see a funny looking mountain on the Southern side of the lake. This is Mount Usu (有珠山 Usu-zan), a quite active volcano (it has erupted 4 times since 1990!) in the Shikotsu-Toya National Park. Most people take the gondola up the mountain, but this area also makes for a good hike!
To get to the entrance of the trail you will have to have your own four wheels. The parking lot is just underneath the overpass of the highway (if you don't have a car you can alternatively catch a taxi from the train station
You will walk a couple of minutes though a forest and hit a gravel road. Once you crossed this road, the actual hike starts. It's not too difficult. At some of the slightly steeper parts there are ropes to hold on, but mostly you don't really need them. After about an hour, you will come to another dirty road, where you can have a nice view (if it's not too cloudy). Now, you are almost at the top.
You will reach the Outer Rim Boardwalk Trail after about 20min. If you choose to go to the left, you will come to the Usu Outer Rim Observation Deck an a pick-nick area. You can see the steam rising from the volcano and catch a glimpse of the Gin'numa Great Crater.
Where the hiking trail meets the boardwalk, you can also turn right. This will lead you to other observation points and in the end to the gondola station. WE didn't choose to go that way, and instead hiked back to the car.
If you start your hike in the morning, you will have enough time to also see the beautiful Lake Toya and give your tired feet a t rest at the free foot baths in Toyako Onsen.
By the way, Toyako has a couple of beautiful camping spots to pitch your tent!
Highly recommended!
Written by Irene
More Hiking? Read this:
