オススメ度
外国語対応
About Lake Toya
Lake Toya is a caldera lake (=crater lake) created by volcanic activity about 110,000 years ago.
With a circumference of 43 km, it is the ninth largest lake in Japan, with a maximum depth of 179 m. There are four islands floating in the center.
Legend has it that a beautiful goddess lives here, and the deep cobalt blue color of the lake is very impressive.
The landscape is magnificent and has been registered as one of the “100 Landscapes of Japan.
On the lakeside to the south of Lake Toya is the very popular Lake Toya Onsen Hot Springs, where visitors can enjoy the magnificent nature and high quality hot springs.
The hot spring resort attracts more than 3,000,000 tourists a year.
The “Toyako Long-Run Fireworks Festival,” held every night from the end of April to the end of October, has become a new specialty of Lake Toya, as it can be viewed from anywhere in the hot spring resort, and visitors can enjoy the fireworks while bathing in the hot springs.
To the south of Lake Toya are active volcanoes such as Usuzan (Mt. Usu) and Showa Shinzan (Mt. Showa Shinzan), which are still smoking.
If you take the ropeway up to the mid-slope or halfway up Mt. Usu.
The Windsor Hotel Toya Resort & Spa, an ultra-luxury hotel located on the summit of Mt. Poromoi at an elevation of 625 meters, became world-famous in 2008 when it hosted VIPs from around the world as the main venue for the 34th G8 Summit.
The name “Toya” is derived from the Ainu word “to-ya,” meaning “lakeshore, land around a lake.
Lake Toya is relatively close to Noboribetsu Onsen and Niseko, and direct buses are available, so it would be more efficient to visit them together.
Recommendations and special notes
Enjoy nature, hot springs, and gourmet food.
Nature
The natural scenery centering on lakes and volcanoes can be enjoyed from the summit (summit) and from sightseeing boats.
Onsen
Many of the inns at Lake Toya Onsen have open-air baths overlooking Lake Toya.
In addition, you can use the baths at more than a dozen hotels and inns without staying the night.
The cost is reasonable, ranging from 400 yen to 1,000 yen.
Gourmet
If you want to enjoy gourmet food, go to the ultra-luxury hotel “The Windsor Hotel Toya Resort & Spa”.
It offers a wide variety of high quality food (restaurants, cafes, bakeries, etc.).
Access to Lake Toya/Data
There is no train service around Lake Toya, so buses are the main means of transportation.
Buses are not frequent, so it is advisable to check the bus schedule in advance.
The following is the website of Donan Bus, the main bus company in the area, which includes a fare schedule and timetable.
From Sapporo
By bus
Take the Sapporo Toyako Line of the Donan Bus from JR Sapporo Station to the Toyako Onsen Bus Terminal.
The trip takes 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Reservations are required.
By train
From JR Sapporo Station, take the Express Super Hokuto train to JR Toya Station, get off at Toya Station, take the Donan Bus bound for Toyako Onsen, and get off at Toyako Onsen Bus Terminal. The trip takes about 2 hours and 30 min.
From New Chitose Airport
Car/approx. 100 min.
Sightseeing
Sightseeing Boat
Lake Toya Pleasure Boat
A 50 min cruise on large boats such as the “Espoir” — designed to look like an old castle from the Middle Ages. The natural scenery of the lake and mountains seen from the ship is wonderful and healing. The boat cruises around the four islands, and visitors can disembark and go for a walk […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 29 Toyako Onsen, Toyako, Abuta–gun, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | – From JR Muroran Main Line t[…] |
| Tel | 0142-75-2137 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Volcanoes
Mount Usu (Usuzan)
Usuzan is a 737-meter-high active volcano located south of Lake Toya.
It was formed on the south side of Lake Toya about 20,000 years ago, and was inactive for a long time after the collapse of volcanic edifice about 8,000-7,000 years ago, but suddenly began erupting in 1663. In 1663, the volcano suddenly resumed its eruptive activity and has been active ever since.
It has been quite an “active” volcano, erupting four times in the 20th century alone, much to the chagrin of the people of Hokkaido.
The most recent eruption occurred in 2000, creating more than 50 craters in the surrounding area.
A ropeway takes visitors up to the mid-slope (midslope, halfway) of Mount Usu at 550 meters (summit station).
There are three observation platforms near the summit station.
The first is the Lake Toya Observation Deck, located right next to the summit station.
The view of Mt. Showa Shinzan and Lake Toya below is very good.
The second is the Usu Crater Basin Observation Deck, a 7-minute walk from the summit station.
From here, you can see the big crater, which erupted in 1977 and is still emitting white smoke of vapor and steam, and the “Eruption Bay” that connects to the Pacific Ocean.
The third is “the outer rim of a crater, somma” observatory.
The third is the “outer rim of a crater, somma” observatory, located about 40 minutes further along the trail from the “Usu Crater Basin Observation.
From here, you can see the crater more closely, which is very impressive.
If you do not have the stamina or time, give up the walkway.
The trail to the “outer rim of a crater (somma)” observation deck is closed in winter (November-April).
The temperature on the mountain is about 3°C lower than on the ground, and the wind is strong, so it is advisable to bring warm clothes.
Usu Ropeway
[ See details ]
| Address | 184–5, Showa Shinzan, Sobetsu–cho, Usu–gun, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | Bus: – From Toya Station on t[…] |
| Tel | 0142-75-2401 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Entertainment
Onsen
The history of Toyako Onsen is relatively new.
The first hot spring resort was established in 1917.
1929 saw the opening of the railroad line, which started the formation of the hot spring resort, which has since developed into the present.
Lake Toya Onsen is highly regarded for its abundance of hot spring water and hot spring water quality (hot spring water quality, hot spring type), and is one of the largest onsen in Hokkaido in terms of the number of hotels and inns.
In various hot spring rankings, Toyako Onsen is usually ranked in the top 3 to 5 in Hokkaido.
At Lake Toya Onsen, it is possible to use only the baths without staying the night at more than a dozen hotels and inns.
The fees are reasonable, ranging from 400 yen to 1,000 yen.
The following are recommended facilities.
Toya Sun Palace Resort & Spa
Bathe in a variety of baths at this luxury hotel. The open–air bath overlooking Lake Toya offers a great view and a sense of freedom. It’s like an infinity pool, where the surface of Lake Toya and the surface of the bath seem to merge into one. The large indoor bath is like a “semi–open–air […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 7–1, Toyako Onsen, Sobetsu–cho, Usu–gun, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | From Toya Station on the JR M[…] |
| Tel | 0142-75-1111 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Toyako Manseikaku
Toyako Manseikaku has two large baths. One is “Hoshi–no–yu,” a large bath with an open–air view on the top floor. From here, you can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of Lake Toya and the blue sky. Like the Toya Sun Palace Resort & Spa, the baths have an “infinity” design that allows you to see […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 21 Toyakoonsen, Toyako, Abuta District, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | From Toya Station on the JR M[…] |
| Tel | 0142-73-3500 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
Restaurants
The Windsor Hotel Toya Resort & Spa, an ultra-luxury hotel, is a collection of high-level food (restaurants, cafes, bakeries, etc.).
The Windsor Hotel Toya Resort & Spa is located atop Mt. Poromoi, 625 meters above sea level, overlooking Lake Toya and Uchiura Bay, and was the main venue for the 34th G8 Summit in 2008.
Unfortunately, the hotel has two Michelin stars.
Unfortunately, Michel Brasstoya Japon and Arashiyama Kitcho, both Michelin-starred restaurants, have closed, but the one-star teppanyaki restaurant Windsor Out of Africa is still alive and well.
The other restaurants are also of a very high level, and the prices are very high.
The prices are also very high.
*Lunch can be enjoyed for 3,000 to 5,000 yen.
Here is a list of restaurants.
Among these restaurants, “Boulangerie Windsor” (bakery) and “Café Z” (lobby lounge) are reasonably priced and easy to use.
Windsor Hotel Toya Resort & Spa
The ultra-luxury Windsor Hotel Toya Resort & Spa has a collection of excellent dining establishments to choose from(restaurants, cafes, bakeries, etc.). The Windsor Hotel Toya Resort & Spa is located atop Mt. Poromoi, 625 meters above sea level, overlooking Lake Toya and Uchiura Bay, and was the main venue for the 34th G8 Summit in […]
[ See details ]
| Address | 336 Shimizu, Abutagun Toyakocho, Hokkaido |
|---|---|
| Access | |
| Tel | 0142-73-1111 |
| URL | [ Click ] |
