Popular Mount Hakone tourist site reopens after volcanic alert level drops

Nov 16, 2019 | News On Japan

Nov 16, 2019 (Japan Times) - A popular tourist site on Mount Hakone was reopened Friday, ending a six-month closure caused by an increase in the volcanic alert level in the hot spring resort area, local authorities said.

The Owakudani valley district, famous for its sulfur vents and geothermal hot springs, had been closed to visitors since the Meteorological Agency raised the alert level for Mount Hakone to 2 on its 5-point scale on May 19, warning people not to approach the crater.

Restrictions on entry were lifted after the agency lowered the alert level to 1 on Oct. 7, deeming that the mountain still had potential for volcanic activity but was basically safe.

The town of Hakone decided to reopen the Owakudani area about a month after the warning was lifted due to the completion of repairs on volcanic gas detectors that were broken by the violent weather caused by Typhoon Hagibis last month.

The Owakudani site is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. but some walking routes remain closed due to the possible danger of volcanic gas releases.

From Friday, Hakone Ropeway passengers were permitted to alight at Owakudani Station. The ropeway resumed operating in late October, but the station was only used for transfers and visitors were not allowed outside.

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