Lake Toya
From World travel guide
Lake Tōya (洞爺湖 Tōya-ko) is a volcanic caldera lake in the central part of Hokkaido, Japan. The main town is Tōyako Onsen (洞爺湖温泉), on the western shore.
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Understand
52 kilometers in diameter, Lake Toya is famed for the clarity of its water, and it never freezes in winter thanks to the geothermal activity of the region. Along with nearby Lake Shikotsu, it forms a part of the Shikotsu-Toya National Park.
Get in
By train
Toya Station is located along the main Hakodate-Sapporo line, but it's another 20 minutes by bus from there to Toyako Onsen.
By bus
Buses connect Toyako Kohan to Sapporo (¥2700, 2.5h) and other major destinations in the vicinity.
Get around
As in much of Hokkaido, buses are infrequent, so your own wheels or hitchhiking are the best ways to get around. Sightseeing boats departing from Toyako Onsen offer cruises around the lake.
See
The area around Lake Toya is volcanically extremely active.
- Mt. Usu (有珠山 Usuzan, 737m) is the most active of the lot, with 4 major eruptions in the last 100 years. The latest in 2000 showered much of the neighboring town of Toyako Onsen with ash and debris. The mountain has quieted down now, and there are trails leading to newly created craters on the west side of the mountain.
- Shōwashinzan (昭和新山), literally "Showa New Mountain", popped out in a local farmer's field in December 1943 and, two years later, had reached a height of 402 meters.
Do
In season, you can rent boats for tours out on the lake. Fishing is also popular.
Being a volcanic lake, there are a number of hot springs in the vicinity, particularly in Toyako Onsen. From May to October there are nightly fireworks.
Buy
Eat & Drink
Toyako Onsen has the usual array of Japanese restaurants.
