Walking the 2000 Eruption | Nishiyama & Konpira Disaster Trails

The most globally unusual experience in the Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark is walking the remains of the 2000 eruption. In March 2000, Mount Usu erupted right beside the Lake Toya onsen town. Thanks to early evacuation there were no casualties, but the scars were left across the roads and the neighborhood. Not hiding that damage, but preserving it and making it walkable, is the heart of this geopark. A pond in the middle of a highway, buckled asphalt, buried buildings—you can trace the reality of disaster and recovery on your own feet. Kamonoya, a lodging operator on Lake Toya, guides you along the two disaster-remains trails.

Around the Nishiyama crater trail (Google Street View) — Near the Nishiyama foothills crater trail (image: Google Street View)

Nishiyama foothills crater trail | where an eruption swallowed a highway

The most famous is the Nishiyama foothills crater trail. The 2000 eruption pushed the ground up across National Route 230 and opened several new craters. The trail is laid out with railway sleepers, letting you see the scene much as it was left.

A huge pond that formed in the middle of the highway (from the ground subsiding and rising)
Asphalt buckled into steps by faulting
Heavy machinery left behind with no time to move it

Few places let you walk “crustal movement” from a textbook so vividly. With every step, you sense how the volcano reshaped the town.

Konpira foothills route | a town buried by hot mudflow

The other is the Konpira foothills route. Here you tour the aftermath where hot mudflow from the 2000 eruption struck a public bathhouse and public housing. The damaged buildings are preserved just as they were, within a sediment-control facility, conveying the sheer force of the mudflow.

Around the Konpira disaster-remains trail (Google Street View) — Near the Konpira foothills route (image: Google Street View)

Extend the walk a little and you can reach the rim of a large crater. It is overwhelming to realize a crater this size opened right behind the town. Being close to the center of the onsen town, it is easy to reach as an extension of a stroll.

Before you go | opening period and notes

Opening period: both routes are usually open late April to mid-November; closed in winter.
Footing: there are sleepers and unpaved sections—wear comfortable walking shoes.
Volcanic activity: access may be restricted depending on conditions. Check the latest opening status on site or on the official Toya-Usu Geopark website.

Learning the mechanics of the eruption at the Lake Toya Visitor Center & Volcano Science Museum beforehand makes the meaning of the remains many times deeper. We recommend visiting it too.

Lake Toya Visitor Center & Volcano Science Museum (Google Street View) — Lake Toya Visitor Center & Volcano Science Museum (image: Google Street View)

Walk and learn, from a base in the onsen town

The Konpira route is within walking distance of the onsen town center, and the Nishiyama trail is a short drive away. With a Kamonoya property in the onsen area as your base, you can walk the remains in the cool of the morning and spend the day at the onsen or on a lakeside stroll. See the complete hiking guide and the practical guide for more.

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