| Unzen | |
 | |
| Information | |
| Country |  Japan |
|---|---|
| Area | 206,92 km² |
| Population | 48 123 hab. |
| Density | 232,57 inhab./km² |
| Spindle | UTC 09:00 |
| Location | |
 32 ° 50 ′ 6 ″ N 130 ° 11 ′ 15 ″ E | |
| Official site | |
The very active volcanic complex of Mount Unzen, the Unzen-dake, is located in the peninsula of Shimabara of the prefecture of Nagasaki, on the island of Kyushu at Japan. It is part of the national park ofUnzen-Amakusa.
The city of Unzen, which stretches on the side of the volcanic complex of the same name, was founded in 2005 by the agglomeration of the neighboring towns of Aino, Azuma, Chidiwa, Kunimi, Mizuho, Obama and Minamikushiyama.
Understand
The earliest chapters of Unzen's history date back to the Nara period, at the very beginning of the 8th century, when the Buddhist priest Gyoki-Daijyoin built there Manmyo-ji. The temple has become over the centuries a very famous retreat for Buddhist monks in Japan.
Hot springs heated by the activity of the volcano began to be exploited for profit in 1653 when Zenzaemon Kato built the onsen ofEnreki-yu. In 1693, Tadafusa Matsudaira, the local lord, ordered the protection of the environment of the Unzen region: he prohibited hunting or gathering plants.
Influenced by the presence of Western missionaries, especially in the port city of Nagasaki, many Japanese in the region had converted to Christianity. During the Edo era (1600-1868), the Japanese authorities banned the practice of this religion and persecuted those who kept their faith. Unzen was the scene of execution for many Catholics during the Edo era.
In 1792, a lava dome that had formed within months collapsed over the coastal town of Shimabara which extends at the foot of the volcano and violently crashed into the ocean, generating a tsunami. More than 14,000 victims lost their lives in what was the largest volcanic disaster in Japanese history. The mark of this circus-shaped collapse overlooking Shimabara can still be seen today. The volcano then fell asleep for 198 years.
The unspoiled nature of Unzen-dake as well as its unusual geothermal activity made it a tourist destination of choice for Westerners residing in East Asia from the Meiji era. In 1912 the country's first golf course was built there and in 1934 Unzen became part of Japan's first national park.
The last awakening of the volcano dates back to November 1990, when the volcano erupted at Fungen-dake after a series of earthquakes lasting a period of one year. Lava domes formed at the top of the volcano before collapsing, causing fiery clouds and material damage, especially in the city of Shimabara where certain entire neighborhoods were buried. The , a stronger than expected fiery cloud destroys several homes and kills a group of vulcanologists who came to study the eruption, including Katia and Maurice Krafft. This eruption officially ended in 1996 and the volcano has since fallen back to sleep.
However, it remains a constant threat to the region and is among the most watched volcanoes in the world.
To go
- Since Nagasaki
Take a JR train from Nagasaki to Isahaya (~30 min, regular traffic), from there you can take a bus (timetables available at this address, 島 原 駅 前 means "Shimabara station", 島 原 港 means "Shimabara port", 雲仙 for "Unzen" and 諫 早 駅 前 for "Shimabara station") in the direction of Shimabara. Stop at Unzen.
- Since Shimabara
Take the bus that connects the port of Shimabara at the station Isahaya, it stops at Unzen. The timetables are also given on the site indicated in the previous section.
Note: There is a pass that you can get in the bus stations of the line that connects Shimabara at Isahaya allows you, for 1 500 JPY, to take the bus as many times as you want on this line. The pass costs less than doing Isahaya-Unzen then Unzen-Shimabara or even the round trip Isahaya-Unzen. On the other hand, if you want to make a Unzen-Shimabara round trip the pass will not be profitable.
See
City of Unzen
- Jigoku
You will not be able to miss the jigoku ("hell") which are right in the middle of the town of Unzen. Many paths pass through this desolate land, steaming and bubbling, blowing hot sulfur vapors, lined with rusty pipes pumping hot water and ruins of old buildings trapped by the birth of new mouths. It is in the toxic vapors at more than 100 degrees celcius of the most active mouths that were plunged several Christians during the Edo era. A monument in their memory was erected in the middle of the underworld as well as a church, making Unzen a place of Christian pilgrimage in Japan.
- Mount Kinusaga - Shirakumo Pond
An easy hike of 2 hours by dragging allows you to go around it. The Kinusaga is a small mountain of 849 m high to the southwest of the Jigokus at the top of which you can enjoy a nice panorama over the city and the Shimabara peninsula. The pond of Shirakumo which rests to the south of the mountain is a haven of tranquility around which it is possible to camp.
- Mount Takaiawa - Hobaru
An accessible hike from 2 h 30 allows you to walk around it.
Nita Pass
The Nita Pass is a small hill station near the main and active peaks of the Unzen-dake. It is only a few kilometers from the city center of Unzen but the ascent but as much the descent of the Nita Pass towards Unzen is easy and takes an hour, as the climb in the other direction is more strenuous. Three daily buses can help you get to this station: 9 h, 11 h and 14 h since Visitor Center ofUnzen and 10 h 20, 12 h 20 and 15 h 20 since Nita Pass to go down. The journey costs 430 JPY (220 JPY for children) and you must book at Tourist Information Center. Finally, if you are driving, be aware that the road leading to the Nita Pass is chargeable, but you can park at the entrance and walk the last kilometers.
Of Nita Pass you can access the highest peaks of theUnzen-dake either on foot by the hiking trails, or by taking a cable car.
- The Fungen-dake
Summit of 1 359 m, Fungen-dake is the name of the volcano which erupted at the end of the 20th century. Now that the volcano has returned to its sleep it is possible to reach its summit and have a magnificent view of the entire Shimabara peninsula, Nagasaki bay and the still smoking lava dome formed by the last eruption, the Heisei shinzan (1 486 m). Access to the dome, which is too dangerous, is prohibited. Since Nita Pass the ascent takes 45 min.
- The Myoken-dake
Summit next to Fungen-dake which culminates in 1 333 m. It is a short walk from the cable car stop and also offers superb panoramas of the whole region. the ascent of the mountain from the Nita Pass without going through the cable car takes 30 min.
- Kunimi-dake
Third of the high peaks of the complex which culminates in 1 347 m, once again offers a breathtaking view of the surroundings. 30 min of walking are enough to connect this summit to that of Myoken-dake and 45 min to that of Fungen-dake.
