Yu-kun crater — Attraction in Toyako

I easily walked this path a short while up and then down starting from the Nishiyama Yuhodo Donan Bus Stop to the south and the place was absolutely gorgeous in early November, with a little breeze coming from the sea and the eruption craters looking like quiet ponds (which they most definitely were not at some point). It is impressive to find them so close to Toyako Onsen and it is only when you reach the abandoned buildings that you realize how much this was not a bucolic place when the whole area started blowing up. The engineering feats protecting the town are quite impressive but not as much as the quietly menacing presence of Usu zan sooo close...

My family and I who are tourists visited the vantage point from where we could see this crater "in all its glory." And as bonus, the said vantage point is also where you can have a magnificent view of Lake Toya and the resort town of Toyako Onsen. By the way, my family and I made our way to the vantage...

There is free parking at the bottom of the hill. It is a 800m walk up hill. There is a ¥1,000 entrance fee - 1-5 persons. If it is hot or you rush for time, you can drive up but it is an additional ¥1,000 per car. Can get near to the Ari-kun crater but it is a good experience and a good view down...