Even from far away, you can see a bare, dark red peak suddenly rising out of the vast green forest, with thick white steam constantly billowing from all around its slopes. This is the incredibly impressive Mt. Showa-Shinzan! The story behind this mountain is unbelievable. This area was originally just a flat wheat field, but during the Showa era, a series of powerful earthquakes and volcanic crustal activity caused magma underground to forcefully push up the surface. In just two years, it grew into an active volcanic lava dome nearly 400 meters tall. Looking up from the trail at the foot of the mountain, the rough reddish-brown rock face is completely barren. Up close, you can see white steam continuously hissing out from cracks in the rocks and even smell a faint hint of sulfur. Seeing the powerful vitality of the earth pulsing from within with your own eyes feels just like witnessing a miracle of nature!
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Mt. Showa-Shinzan
A new active volcano receiving worldwide attention.
Showa Shinzan, in Shikotsu-Toya National Park, was once a wheat field that was uplifted by Mount Usu's volcanic eruption in 1943. Showa Shinzan is a volcano that has received worldwide attention for its status as a national special natural monument, one of Japan's top 100 geological sites, a Japanese Geopark, and a UNESCO World Geopark, among other things.
It is a new volcano that was created in the 20th century and is still active, so you cannot enter the mountain, but you can feel the energy of the earth simply by looking at it.
Tourist attractions such as the Usuzan Ropeway, Showa Shinzan Bear Ranch, and the Masao Mimatsu Memorial Hall, as well as restaurants and souvenir shops, are located around the parking lot at the foot of the mountain. Taking the Usuzan Ropeway to the top of Mt. Usu, visitors can get a close-up view of the magnificent Showa Shinzan.
Highlights
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It’s an active volcano located in the Shikotsu-Toya National Park.
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The Mimatsu Masao Memorial Hall, located at the foot of Showa Shinzan, houses valuable materials that document and observe the history of Showa Shinzan.
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There are many tourist attractions and souvenir shops around the parking lot at the foot of Showa Shinzan.
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The ropeway takes visitors to the summit of Mt. Usu for a close-up view of Showa Shinzan.
Photos
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Showa-Shinzan from the Mt. Usu Lake Toya observation deck.
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Showa-Shinzan from the Usuzan Ropeway.
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Showa-Shinzan in winter
Reviews
Some reviews are AI-translated.
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Walking into the Showa Shinzan Bear Park next to Mt. Showa-Shinzan, the most exciting part is getting an up-close look at these huge yet incredibly clever Ezo brown bears! Looking down over the park from above, I saw the bears waving, stretching, clasping their paws together as if begging, and even lying on the ground acting cute to encourage visitors to toss them apples or bear cookies. My heart melted instantly. It completely changed my stereotypical image of brown bears as fierce and imposing.
I bought special bear cookies at the entrance shop and tried tossing them to the bears in the park. Watching them catch the cookies accurately and look satisfied brought constant surprises and laughter. Although the park’s concrete structures feel a little like an old-fashioned zoo, watching these adorably clumsy brown bears playfully beg for food was still a fun, interactive, and memorable little experience. It is definitely an entertaining attraction you shouldn’t miss when visiting Lake Toya and Mt. Showa-Shinzan!
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Japan Showa-Shinzan Bear Park | Hokkaido Travel Notes
When I arrived at Showa-Shinzan Bear Park in Hokkaido, before I even entered the park, I was drawn to the eye-catching wooden “WELCOME HOKKAIDO” sign at the entrance. The cute bear statues and large brown bear sign immediately created a strong Hokkaido travel atmosphere.
What I looked forward to most, of course, was seeing Hokkaido brown bears up close. Through the secure fences and feeding windows, I could clearly see the bears leisurely moving around and waiting for food. A few even came right up to the fence and curiously interacted with visitors. When they looked up at us, the feeling of both excitement and nervousness made me keep reaching for my camera to capture the moment.
Sunlight poured over the park, and the bears against Hokkaido’s natural scenery created an interesting travel scene. This visit to Showa-Shinzan Bear Park wasn’t just about seeing bears; it also became a Hokkaido memory filled with surprises, laughter, and childlike fun. -
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Mt. Showa-Shinzan is a very unique volcano. Seeing its towering shape and reddish-brown rocks in person made me feel that nature is truly fascinating. While walking around and enjoying the scenery, you can see the spectacular traces left by the volcano. It's completely different from the mountains you usually see. This visit left a deep impression on me and gave me an even greater sense of the power of Hokkaido's natural landscape.
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Seeing it in person is really pretty mind-blowing. The fact that a whole mountain just popped up like that is wild.
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Details
- Name in Japanese
- 昭和新山
- Postal Code
- 052-0102
- Address
- Showashinzan, Sobetsucho, Usugun, Hokkaido
- Directions
- From JR Toya Station on the Muroran Main Line, take the Donan Bus bound for Toyako Onsen for 20 minutes, and get off at the last stop. Then take the Donan Bus bound for Showa-Shinzan for 15 minutes, get off at the last stop and walk a short distance. (not operated during the winter)
- Official Website
- Official Website (English)