Mt. Usu Ropeway: Lake Toya, Showa Shinzan and the Crater Viewpoint

By Chaporo, a Sapporo local Published
Mt. Usu Ropeway: Lake Toya, Showa Shinzan and the Crater Viewpoint

Quick answers

  • The ropeway climbs Mt. Usu, an active volcano, for a view over Lake Toya and Showa Shinzan
  • A 5- to 10-minute walk leads to the crater left by the 1977 eruption
  • 2,000 yen round trip for adults; parking 500 yen a day
  • About 2.5 hours from Sapporo, via Date IC

Mt. Usu is an active volcano (737 m) on the south shore of Lake Toya, and the Mt. Usu Ropeway takes you up to an observatory that looks down on Lake Toya on one side and Showa Shinzan, a young lava dome, on the other. A short walk from the top leads to a second observatory over the crater left by the 1977 eruption. The round trip costs 2,000 yen.

Showa Shinzan, at the foot of the ropeway

Showa Shinzan, the reddish lava dome, behind its sign at the foot of Mt. Usu

When you arrive at the car park, the reddish, bare peak in front of you is Showa Shinzan, a lava dome that rose out of farmland in Mt. Usu's eruptions of 1943 to 1945. Its name means "new mountain of the Showa era" (Japan's imperial era from 1926 to 1989).

The ropeway

The Mt. Usu Ropeway gondola at the station, with visitors boarding

From the gondola you see Showa Shinzan and Lake Toya below you.

Lake Toya, Nakajima Island and Mt. Yotei seen from the Mt. Usu Ropeway gondola in autumn

The view from the top

Showa Shinzan and the farmland around it seen from the top of the Mt. Usu Ropeway

From the observatory at the top you look down on Showa Shinzan and over the whole of Lake Toya, and on a clear day Mt. Yotei stands beyond the lake.

Lake Toya and Nakajima Island seen from the observatory at the top of Mt. Usu
Nakajima Island in Lake Toya with the hills beyond, seen from Mt. Usu

The Usu Crater Observatory

About a 5- to 10-minute walk from the summit observatory is the Usu Crater Observatory, which looks into the crater formed in the 1977 eruption and out to Funka Bay (Uchiura Bay), which opens onto the Pacific.

The Usu Crater Observatory sign, with the crater and the sea behind

Prices, hours and parking

WhatDetails
Ropeway (round trip)2,000 yen adults (junior high school age, about 12, and up), 1,000 yen elementary school children
HoursChanges with the season; in July 2026, first ride up 8:15 and last ride down 17:45. See the operating calendar
ParkingAbout 400 cars, 500 yen a day

Check the official site for the day's schedule.

How to get to Mt. Usu

From central Sapporo: about two and a half hours. Take the Do-o Expressway toward Tomakomai and Muroran, exit at Date IC, turn right and follow the signs for Showa Shinzan.

From New Chitose Airport: a little over an hour and a half on the same expressway to Date IC.

On the way, Tarumae SA and Usuzan SA both have observation decks with good views and are worth a stop.

Near Mt. Usu

Around Lake Toya, the Silo Observatory on the north shore looks across to Nakajima, the hot spring town, Mt. Usu and Showa Shinzan, and in the hot spring town, Toya Kohantei has a ninth-floor bath with a view over the lake, open to day visitors. My Lake Toya guide starts the day with Mt. Usu.

Lake Toya Day Trip from Sapporo by Car: A Local's Route, Viewpoints and OnsenA local's day trip from Sapporo to Lake Toya by car: Mt. Usu, a lakeside lunch, an onsen with a lake view and the quiet viewpoints on the north shore, with tolls, parking and winter tips.

FAQ about the Mt. Usu Ropeway

Q1. How much is the Mt. Usu Ropeway?

2,000 yen round trip for adults and 1,000 yen for elementary school children.

Q2. Can you see Mt. Yotei from Mt. Usu?

On a clear day, yes, beyond Lake Toya.

Q3. Is there parking at the Mt. Usu Ropeway?

Yes, about 400 cars, 500 yen a day.

Q4. How long does the walk to the crater observatory take?

About 5 to 10 minutes from the summit observatory.