Kusatsu-Shirane's Yugama Crater Lake Reopens October 13, 2026: Hours, Free Parking, Rules, and What to Expect

This guide is based on Kusatsu Town's notices of October 8, 2026 (Japanese-language pages) and reflects information as of October 2026. The area can close at short notice because of volcanic activity, weather, ice or bears. Check the Kusatsu Town news page (Japanese) before you leave. The town's phone line is not staffed on weekends and holidays, and the website is the main source of updates.

Yugama (湯釜) is the emerald-green crater lake at the top of Mt. Kusatsu-Shirane (草津白根山), a short drive from Kusatsu Onsen. The area around the lake has been closed to visitors for years because of volcanic activity.

On October 8, 2026, Kusatsu Town announced a trial opening starting October 13. It is short (about four weeks), it covers only a limited area, and it comes with many rules. This guide gives the short version first, then the details.

The short version

• Dates: Tuesday, October 13, 2026, 10:00 to Sunday, November 8, 2026, 15:00 (planned). The period may be shortened if roads freeze.
• Where you can go: only the west trail and part of the area around Yumiike pond, outside the 500 m restricted zone around the Yugama crater. You cannot walk to the lake shore.
• Trail hours: entry from 10:00 to 15:00. No new entry after 15:00. The open area and the parking lot close at 16:00.
• Parking: part of the Kusatsu-Shirane parking lot, free, about 240 cars and 20 large vehicles. If it is full you cannot enter, and you must not queue on the highway.
• Public bus: the JR Bus Kanto service between Kusatsu Onsen and Shirane-kazan was suspended on all runs "for the time being" as of October 10.
• Facilities: the shop and food service at the Shirane Rest House will not open. Only a designated part of the toilets can be used. There are no trash cans.
• No guarantee of a view: the viewpoint on the west trail is about 550 m from the crater, so in poor weather you may not see the lake.

Why this opening matters

Kusatsu Town explains that the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) lowered the eruption alert level for the Yugama area from 2 to 1 ("Note that this is an active volcano") on May 15, 2026. The town stresses that level 1 does not guarantee safety, and that the mayor's 500 m entry restriction around the crater remains in force.

The town calls this a trial. It wants to learn about usage, crowding and safety management, and use that to decide how to open the area from next year. Whether it opens the same way next year has not been decided.

Opening rules at a glance

The town asks everyone to leave the open area and exit the parking lot by 16:00. If you arrive in the afternoon, leave enough time.

Getting there

By car: the practical way

National Route 292 is open along its whole length (since May 29, 2026). The parking lot is in front of the Shirane Rest House and opens at 10:00.

• No entry when full. Do not wait on the highway or park on the roadside. If the lot is full, follow the staff and drive on.
• Even if you park, the town may limit entry to the trail when it is crowded.
• The Shiga-Kusatsu Road closes for winter every year from around mid-November (in the 2025 season, from November 12 at 13:00; see Gunma Prefecture, Japanese). Roads at high altitude can ice over from October, so carry winter tires or chains and check road conditions.

By public bus: not available right now

The JR Bus Kanto service between Kusatsu Onsen and Shirane-kazan is suspended on all runs "for the time being because of road conditions" (checked October 10, 2026 on the JR Bus Kanto page, Japanese). Check that page for any restart. The bus between Nagano-Hara-Kusatsuguchi and Kusatsu Onsen is operating as scheduled.

If you join a tour that includes Yugama, ask the operator how it handles a full parking lot or a sudden closure. Kusatsu Town's Q&A document says free parking for about 20 large buses is available without reservations.

On site: what to watch for

Alert level 1 does not mean "safe"

JMA says that within about 500 m of the Yugama crater, very small eruptions of volcanic ash are possible, and that volcanic gas is present around the crater. High concentrations of gas can collect in hollows and valleys. See the JMA volcano page (Japanese). Follow the guides and staff on site.

When the area closes

The town says it will close the open area, possibly without notice, if:

• volcanic activity or volcano information changes,
• a thunderstorm or heavy rain advisory is issued for the area,
• there is snow or ice,
• a bear appears (the town's Q&A says bear bells are installed along the trail, and that bears can be present in a national park), or
• staff judge conditions unsafe because of thunder, heavy rain, strong wind or thick fog, even without an advisory.

If a closure is announced while you are there, leave promptly as staff direct.

The trail and what to bring

The west trail is about 610 m of cobblestone path with bumps, slopes and some steps, at about 2,160 m above sea level. The town estimates about 20 minutes one way for a fit walker.

• Wear non-slip, comfortable shoes. The town specifically asks for this.
• Bring warm clothing, rain gear and drinking water. Weather in the mountains changes quickly.
• The town says people who are unsure about their strength, health or walking ability should refrain. The town's Q&A document says wheelchairs and strollers would be "very difficult" on this path.

Not allowed or not requested

• Crossing fences, ropes or signs, or leaving the designated path (the town says it may call the police if people enter the restricted zone)
• Pets: the town asks visitors not to bring them during the trial (guide, assistance and hearing dogs are allowed)
• Bicycles, e-scooters and similar vehicles, including pushing or carrying them in
• Drones
• Smoking (there is no smoking area)

There are no trash cans. Take all trash with you.

Mt. Motoshirane is a separate area

Mt. Motoshirane (本白根山) is a different crater nearby, and the trails there remain closed according to Tsumagoi Village's information page (Japanese). It is not part of this opening. JMA publishes a separate volcano page for it (Motoshirane, Japanese).

FAQ

Can I walk to the lake shore?

No. Entry within 500 m of the Yugama crater is still prohibited. Only the west trail and part of the Yumiike area outside that zone are open.

Will I definitely see Yugama?

No. Kusatsu Town says visibility depends on the weather and cannot be guaranteed. The viewpoint is about 550 m from the crater.

Do I need to book?

Kusatsu Town's notice does not mention reservations for individual visitors. Reservations are not accepted for large-bus parking. If the lot is full, you cannot enter.

Where are the toilets?

Only a designated part of the Shirane Rest House toilets can be used. The town's notice says they are more than 200 m from the trail entrance, and its Q&A document says about 280 m. There are very few, so use a toilet before you come.

Will it open next year?

Undecided. The town will decide after reviewing how this trial goes.

Summary

• Part of the Yugama area is open on a trial basis from October 13 to November 8, 2026.
• Only the west trail and part of the Yumiike area are open. The zone within 500 m of the crater stays closed.
• Trail entry is 10:00 to 15:00, and the parking lot closes at 16:00. Parking is free, and you cannot queue on the highway when it is full.
• There is no public bus to the site right now, so plan on a car or a tour.
• The shop and food service are closed, toilets are very limited, and there are no trash cans.
• Check the Kusatsu Town website and the JMA volcano page on the day.

References

• Kusatsu Town: Partial opening of the facilities around the Mt. Kusatsu-Shirane west trail (October 8, 2026) (Japanese)
• Kusatsu Town: Q&A on the partial opening (PDF, October 8, 2026) (Japanese)
• Kusatsu Town: Trial opening notice (PDF, October 8, 2026) (Japanese)
• JMA press release: Yugama area alert level lowered to 1 (May 15, 2026) (Japanese)
• JMA volcano page: Kusatsu-Shiranesan (Yugama area) (Japanese)
• JMA volcano page: Kusatsu-Shiranesan (Motoshirane) (Japanese)
• Gunma Prefecture: Reopening of National Route 292 (May 22, 2026) (Japanese)
• Gunma Prefecture: Winter closures of prefectural roads (Japanese)
• JR Bus Kanto: Kusatsu and Shirane area service information (Japanese)
• Tsumagoi Village: Manza Onsen and Shirane area (Japanese)

This article is based on the Japanese-language notices above, which are the official sources. A Japanese guide to Kusatsu-Shirane is also available on this site.

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