JAPAN TOURS | VISIT OWAKUDANI IN HAKONE
Owakudani is a large area created by a crater during an eruption on Mt. Hakone nearly 300 years ago. It's still an active volcano zone which produces many hot springs in the area. The main attraction, where hot sulfur fumes are expelled from the Earth, can be accessed by the Hakone Rope-way at the Owakudani Station. On the rope-way up to Owakudani, you can even get a nice view of Mt. Fuji on a nice clear day. Visit Owakudani on a Japan tours during your visit to Japan.
The latest eruption was in 2015, when a very small phreatic eruption occurred. A phreatic eruption is a steam driven eruption. The water beneath the surface is heated up by magma and lava below which causes the water and pressure to explode. In a phreatic explosion only water, steam, debris and ash come out, with no expulsion of lava. However, the debris is still extremely hot.
The 2015 eruption was minor one with the farthest debris flying only about 30 meters away from the vent. Before the 2015 eruption there is no historical record of an eruption, however, according to carbon dating from the rocks, the last eruption could have occurred somewhere in the 12th or 13th century. Precursors to phreatic eruptions mean almost nothing and are pretty useless and in fact, phreatic eruptions and these types of volcanoes are actually very popular tourist attractions around the world.
Because of a lot of volcanic activity in the region, there are a lot of hot springs in the area. They are created by mixing steam and pumped water from underground. They have special steam production wells to make this. Lots of hot springs are also naturally heated water from the volcano which are then regulated by the hot springs establishment. In Japan, we call this onsen.
Onsen literally means hot spring or hot fountain. Lots of onsen will contain different types of minerals and chemicals that come naturally from the Earth, which are usually displayed in front of the onsen. Depending on what mineral it is, some have very healthy qualities which are believed to aid in healing small cuts, relieving stress, expanding arteries and more.
Location:
〒250-0631 Kanagawa, Ashigarashimo District, Hakone, 仙石原
Hakone Travel: A worker hiking down into the valley for a rot
Hakone travel: The Hakone Rope-way leading up to Owakudani.