Hokkaido Shrine after sunset!

by Kazu

Hokkaido Shrine accommodated many food stands during the season of cherry blossoms blooming on the premises. We visited there late in the afternoon so called magic hour.  

Japanese Magnolia Kobus and a variety of cherry trees were fully blooming. Some visitors were savoring the typical feast sold in those food stands. During the summer festival held for the shrine and the season of cherry blossoms, kitchen cars and vendors are allowed in the premises.    

 

The Volcano is living !

by Kazu

It was like a dream to see a ship going to north leaving white line on the blue ocean over the ragged lava rocks like the surface of the Planet Mars.The contrast of "Barren" and "Fertile" was so amazing.

I found the hole on the ground emitting steam of sulfur and carbodioxide beside the trail.　The smell was the one from directly from the planet. 

The sulfur gas crystalized near the hole on the ground. This planet is living and watching us human beings killing each other. They are urged to hate and battle each other to make money for the share holders of weapon manufacturing companies. 

 

The round surface of the Earth !

by Kazu

The eastern coast line of Oshima Peninsula, Hokkaido.From the peak of Mt. Esan, the beautiful landscape of the southern part of Hokkaido Island could be seen so clearly. 

The barren and rocky surface of the peak made a curious contrast with the green forest and blue ocean. You can recognize the round shape of the sphere, watching the horizon. 

A small port of Esan could be seen from the peak of the mountain. This territory of the ocean is called "Eruption Gulf", in Japanese, "Funka Wan". It produces quality seafood such as scallop, Hokkaido surf clam, haired crab and snow crab.

 

The Contrast of the Ocean Blue and the White Ash !

by Kazu

The blue ocean and the white rocks created by the eruption of the volcano made a great contrast with the green hills around the crater. 

The trail from the crater to another peaks of the mountains could be seen from the hillside of the lava dome of Mt. Esan. It was so fine on that day that the coastline of Oshima Peninsula was so fascinating. 

The huge rocks on the lava dome continued to be carved by the winds and rainfalls. I hope the mountain continued to be safe for trekkers to stroll around. 

 

Rocks of the volcano !

 

by Kazu

The higher we went up, the cooler the winds from the ocean turned to be but the reflection from the ragged surface of the ground made us heat up and thirsty.  

The shapes of the rocks were so intriguing and curious. The nature created those artistic works. No fossils could be found because the mountain was made by the eruption of the volcano.

I found the steam erupting from the ground that brought the smell of sulfur. So far no danger was announced about the activity of the volcano. Many tourists visit this mountain. Soon the tourists from overseas will visit this volcano. 

Like the back of of Godzilla !

by Kazu

The ragged rocks made by the eruption and winds with  rainfalls was like the back thorns of Godzilla energized up with radioactivity. The peaks of other mountains near Mt. Esan seemed to be lower than the one of Mt. Esan.  

The stairs seemed to have been made of wooden logs but in fact, they had been made of resin resistant to the heat of the volcano and sunshine.

A little shade was beside the trail to the peak of the mountain but The body of the mountain seemed to unable to keep the moist inside but little plants were struggling to survive beside the trail.

 

Near the peak !

by Kazu

We were getting closer to the peak of Mt. Esan. The lava dome that created the peak was much hotter on the ground but I could find some plants there.

We were at the altitude of 618 meters high. No trekkers other than us around the peak of the mountain on that day.The wind from the ocean blew up to the peak of the mountain and go down to the flat place on the hillside.

The edge of the peak seemed to be flaky and dangerous to step in. It may be difficult to envision the scenery of the eruption eight thousand years ago but only sticky lava could make such dome-shaped rocks.  

 

Lava Dome of Mt. Esan !

by Kazu

We went up to the peak of the lava dome of Mt. Esan under the bright blue sky, watching around outside of the crater of the volcano. The smell of sulfur drifted in the air.     

The heat from the ground and the bright sunshine continued to raise the temperature of the ground but no sign of another eruption on that day, fortunately.  

Getting closer to the peak of the lava dome of Mt. Esan, we could not find any green plant nor creatures. Even seagulls could not be found around the peak and hillside.

 

Who should take care of the volcano ?

by Kazu

The opposite side of the coast in the direction of east could be seen from the hillside of Mt. Esan on that day. It was so fine and the view was so clear that the fishermen's ships also could be seen on the ocean.

The temperature of the ground was too high for plants to grow and cover the surface of the hillside. The ash on the hillside contains a variety of mineral but the fluctuation of the temperature of the ground seemed to prevent the plants from flourishing. 

Approximately it took thirty minutes to reach the peak of the mountain from the parking lot at the altitude of 300 meters high. Hakodate Branch Office of Forestry Bureau of the central government maintains the National Park and the facilities.   

 

The crater of Mt. Esan !

by Kazu

This flat space of Mt. Esan is the crater created by the eruption of the volcano of 618 meters height. Automobiles including buses are available to the parking lot at the altitude of 300 meters.   

When the active volcano erupted approximately eight thousand years ago, the lava dome was created followed by other eruptions five thousand, three thousand, two thousand an five hundred yeas ago and six hundred years ago.

The stairs to the peak of the lava dome of Mt. Esan was made of ferro-concrete. The gap of the temperature of the ground in summer and winter must be so tough for natural materials.  

 

The flat area of Mt. Esan !

by Kazu

This comparatively flat space on the hillside of the active volcano Mt.Esan might have been made by the eruption of the volcano and rainfall. For a  crater, it is not so large but considering the height of the volcano, the crater seemed to be too large, I think. 

The flat space was surrounded by small hills.The temperature of the ground looked comparatively higher than the lower place near the volcano.

The contrast of the volcano and Pacific Ocean was so fascinating. Hot spring spa area Yunokawa Onsen is near the volcano. The trekking course is what I recommend to the visitors to southern part of Hokkaido.