# Mount Unzen

> The volcanic massif at the center of the Shimabara Peninsula, reached by the one-way Nita Pass road and a 3-minute ropeway to Myokendake. Hikers can climb Fugendake (1,359 m), but Heisei Shinzan, the 1,483-meter lava dome left by the 1990 to 1995 eruption, is off limits.

- Prefecture: Nagasaki
- Type: Mountain
- Address: Unzen, Nagasaki, Japan
- Hours note: Nita Pass road: 8:00 to 18:00 from April to October and 8:00 to 17:00 from November to March. Unzen Ropeway: from 8:51, last car up 17:03 and last down 17:23 from April 1 to October 31; last up 16:51 and last down 17:11 from November 1 to March 31. The ropeway stops in bad weather.
- Official site: https://unzen-ropeway.com/

Nita Pass sits at about 1,040 meters, and on a clear day the car park already looks south over the Ariake Sea to the Amakusa islands. The Unzen Ropeway climbs about 174 meters from here to Myokendake in roughly three minutes, and a short flight of steps from the top station leads to a 1,330-meter lookout, the highest in Nagasaki Prefecture. Across the valley is Heisei Shinzan, a 1,483-meter lava dome that did not exist before November 1990. On June 3, 1991, a pyroclastic flow from the eruption killed 43 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes, and the dome had stabilized by 1998. It is still inside a no-entry zone. Fugendake (1,359 m) is open: the loop from the top station over the summit and back down to Nita Pass takes three to four hours, over narrow ridges and rough rock steps. Unzen was designated one of Japan's first national parks on March 16, 1934. The Japan Meteorological Agency rates Unzendake on its five-level Volcanic Alert Level system, so check the current level and any trail closures before you go. The ropeway company gives only driving times to the pass: about 20 minutes from Unzen Onsen.

## FAQ

### Can I climb Heisei Shinzan?

No. The lava dome and the area around its crater are a designated no-entry zone. You can see it up close from the Fugendake trail and from the Nita Pass observatories.

### How long does the hike to Fugendake take?

Riding the ropeway up and walking over Fugendake back down to Nita Pass takes three to four hours. Starting on foot from Nita Pass adds roughly 40 minutes to an hour. Weather changes fast, so carry water, snacks and a layer, and check trail closures before starting.

### How much is the Unzen Ropeway and how often does it run?

Adults pay 1,500 yen return or 830 yen one way, and children 750 yen or 420 yen. The ride takes about three minutes and runs every 12 minutes from 8:51, but it stops in strong wind or bad weather.

### Is it safe to visit an active volcano?

The Japan Meteorological Agency publishes a Volcanic Alert Level for Unzendake on a scale of 1 to 5, and the areas you may enter depend on that level. Check the agency's current level before going, stay on marked trails and respect any closures.

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Source: Mount Unzen — Japan Voyage