The community structure of saxicolous lichens on 73 rock faces within a 4-kilometer radius of the active fumarole of Mt. Tokachi, Hokkaido, Japan, was investigated. Within the 545 samples collected, 89 lichen taxa were recognized. The number of species in each quadrat was highly affected by distance from the fumarole compared to the other seven environmental factors examined. Ordination (canonical correspondence analysis, CCA) also showed that distance from the fumarole was the strongest factor for the first axis, while uncommon species were recognized as being closer to the fumarole. Neighboring species analysis indicated three major colonizing groups: 1) stress endurable or clinging species, 2) transitional colonizers, and 3) later colonizers. Some species such as Micarea sp.1, Lecanora sp.1, and Lecanora polytropa colonize stressful habitats with less competition. The early stage of colonization in these areas appears to be facilitated by locating adjacent to the first colonizer.