Ten-Minute Staircase Climb to the Crater Rim: A Circuit Walk Around the Massive Funnel-Shaped Crater
About this spot
At 1,707 meters elevation, this volcano earned its name from its graceful appearance, like a small Mt. Fuji, when viewed from Fukushima city. Just a 10-minute wooden staircase climb from the Jodo Plateau Parking Lot brings you to the crater rim, where a colossal funnel-shaped crater approximately 500 meters in diameter opens before you. The crater rim circuit walk, called Ohachi-meguri, takes 40 minutes to an hour to complete. From the crater rim, you'll see the Fukushima Basin and Fukushima city streets; turning around, the steaming Issetsukyozan and the Azuma Mountain Range ridges unfold, creating a 360-degree panorama. Easy to climb yet offering genuinely impressive views—this is a highlight made possible only by the Skyline drive, which lifts you to 1,600 meters elevation. Walking with friends, exclaiming in wonder, the crater circuit will pass in what feels like no time.
Tips
No mountaineering gear needed, but the crater rim is sandy and slippery, so wear sturdy sneakers. Some sections lack railings, so avoid going too close to the edge. The exposed ridgeline is windy; dress in layers for temperature control. On days with strong wind or poor visibility, skip the rim walk and just do the staircase up and down—it's still spectacular.
Best time to visit
Allow approximately 1.5 hours. Start climbing in the early afternoon before clouds build up.
Access & map
〒960-2151 Sakuramori, Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture
Model course featuring this spot
Bandai-Azuma Skyline: Spectacular Jodo Plateau Drive
Fukushima
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