Best Japanese Volcanoes to Visit

Japanese Volcanoes

The Asozan volcano (Mt. Aso) is situated in the center of the Aso Kujuu National Park in Kumamoto and Oita prefectures. The Aso caldera area measures about 350 square kilometers, and the Aso five mountains (Mt. Takadake, Mt. Nakadake, Mt. Nekodake, Mt. Eboshidake, and Mt. Kishimadake) are located within the caldera.

• Mt. Nakadake Crater (600m in diameter and 130m depth)
  Location: Aso-city, Kumamoto prefecture
  Access: 40 minutes by bus from JR Aso Station to Asozan-nishi Station. Take the Mt. Aso Ropeway to the crater.
• Access Map

Mt. Aso Live Cam

Sakurajima is a peninsula connected to the Osumi peninsula in Kagoshima and consists of active volcanoes.
Access: Takes about 15 minutes by the Sakurajima Ferry from the Kagoshima Port to the Sakurajima Port.

• Karasujima Observatory
  Access: 30 minutes by walk from the Sakurajima Port
• Sakurajima Live Cam
• Sakurajima Access Guide

Mount Kusatsu-Shirane is located in Kusatsu-town, Gunma prefecture. Kusatsu is a well-known Japanese hot spring and snow resort.

• Yugama (Shirane Volcano Crater Lake)
  Access: Takes about 30 minutes by bus from JR Naganohara Kusatsuguchi Station to Kusatsu Onsen, or takea about 80 minutes by bus from JR Karuizawa Station to Kusatsu Onsen. Takes 35 minutes by bus from Kusatsu Onsen to Shiranekazan (Shirane Rest House). 20-minute walk from the Shirane Rest House to Yugama.
  *The Shirane Rest House is open mid. April through mid. Nov.

Mt Usu is located about 30 miles southwest of Sapporo-city near Lake Toya in Hokkaido and belongs to the Shikotsu Toya National Park which consists of spectacular crater lakes, hot springs, and mountains formed by volcano eruptions.

• Mt. Usu Crater Observation Deck
  Access: Take the Usuzan Gondola from the Sanroku Station to the Sancho Station.
• Mt. Showa Shinzan
  It's created in the early 20th century during an eruption of Mt. Usu. The name means "new mountain of Showa-period".
  Location: Soubetsu-town Usu-gun, Hokkaido
  Access: 15 minutes by bus from JR Toyako Station to Toyako Onsen. 15 minutes by bus from Toyako Onsen to Showa Shinzan.

The Unzendake volcano (Mt. Unzen) is located in the Shimabara Peninsula, Nagasaki prefecture and belongs to the Unzen-Amakusa National Park. Mt. Heiseishinzan and Mt. Fugendake are the main peaks of the volcano.

• Myokendake Tenboudai (observatory)
  Location: Unzen Obama-town Unzen-city, Nagasaki
  Access: It takes about one and a half hour to Unzen from JR Isahaya Station. Go to Nitadouge by bus or taxi, and take the Unzen Ropeway from Nitatouge Station to Myokendake Station

Mt. Asaka is located on the border between Nagano and Gunma prefectures in Karuzawa-town, Miyota-town, and Tsumagoi-town.

• Onioshidashi Park
  Location: 1053 Kanbara Tsubagoi-mura Agatsumagun, Gunma
  Phone：0279-86-4141
  Access: 30 minutes by bus from Shinano Railway Nakakaruizawa Station or 40 minutes by bus from JR Nagano Shinkansen Karuizawa Station or 25 minutes by bus from JR Agatsuma Line Manza Kazawaguchi Station

Mt. Tokachi (Tokachidake) is situated in Biei-town, Kamifurano-town, and Shintoku-town, Hokkaido and belongs to the Daisetsuzan National Park.

• Tokachidake Bougakudai Observatory
  Location: Biei-town, Hokkaido
  Access: 45 minute drive from JR Biei Station
  *It's closed during the winter.