Eruption in 2000 and the Nishiyama Crater Basin At 1:08 p.m. on March 31, 2000, an eruption event began in an area located along National Route 23, about 3.5 km away from Mt. Usuzan, as a number of townspeople and media crew looked on. The eruption had been predicted to occur, since volcanic earthquake signals were recorded three days earlier. The eruption immediately escalated, emitting smoke to a height of 3,000 m in the air. Although several houses were located nearby, residents had evacuated beforehand and thus there were no human casualties. The eruption continued on, slightly changing its position over time, and eventually more than 50 craters were formed in its path. Today, the area is open to the public and is called the Nishiyama-Kogen. Here, visitors can witness the astonishing volcanic landscape. There is a 1.6-km walking course, made using old railroad ties, that has been completed for visitors. The course takes about 40 minutes to walk through. It is located just seven minutes by car from Toya-ko Onsen Town. For inquiries please contact: Abuta-cho Tourism Promotion Section Tel: 0142-75-4400