My memories of the big pyroclastic flow are still vivid, but…
When I decided to go see Unzen Jigoku, I suddenly wondered what had become of Mt. Unzen-Fugendake. I still have vivid memories of the many people who lost their lives in the big pyroclastic flow, but it’s hard to believe that was already 33 years ago. I found that many people now enjoy hiking there and gaze at Heisei-Shinzan, the new peak formed back then, from the summit of Unzen-Fugendake. I wanted to see it with my own eyes, so I quickly climbed it before the weather turned bad.
Hiking Gear is Still Super Important
I hadn’t even thought about hiking, so naturally, I had no hiking gear. My shoes seemed okay for a light hike, but my top was a no-go… It was muggy and hot that day, and my cotton clothes wouldn’t dry, making me feel really uncomfortable. I realized again just how crucial hiking gear really is.
Through the Dense Forest Belt and Suddenly at the Summit
The hike to the summit went through a rather dense forest belt. The distance wasn’t long, but the muggy heat really got to me. Along the trail, I spotted *mamushigusa* (Japanese jack-in-the-pulpit), which looks a bit like a carnivorous plant. Its bulb is quite poisonous, and the entire plant is toxic, so you really have to be careful with it.
A sign along the way warned, “Danger of falling rocks etc. during earthquakes, heavy rain, strong winds, or unusual noises. Turn back.” Given the cloudy weather and somewhat dim trail, the phrase “unusual noises” was particularly eerie…
When I started climbing, there were still some clear skies, but by then, gas had begun to cover everything, and unfortunately, there was hardly any view from the summit of Fugendake. I couldn’t really make out Heisei-Shinzan, which I had wanted to see. The weather forecast didn’t seem to indicate rain yet, so I decided to head to Muhyozawa, which gets you closer to Heisei-Shinzan.
Even though it was still foggy, for a moment, when the mist cleared, I caught a glimpse of Heisei-Shinzan. It’s truly hard to believe that something like this suddenly erupted, surpassing Fugendake’s elevation to become Nagasaki Prefecture’s highest peak…
The Disaster Was Tough…
After descending, I was relaxing for a while next to the Unzen Ropeway station, which also serves as an observation deck, when an old man came up and asked, “Did you climb it?” He told me how massive the past eruption was and that the area visible below from this observation deck used to be completely devoid of greenery, covered entirely by black lava.
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