Lake Toya - Hokkaido

Lake Toya (洞爺湖) is a volcanic lake on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. It is inside the towns of Toyako and Sobetsu.

洞爺湖
Lake Toya

Lake Toya Details

Lake Toya has a maximum depth of 179 meters and a surface size of around 70 square kilometers, it is Japan's third-deepest lake. The lake was produced by volcanic activity some 110,000 years ago and is flanked by various volcanic mountains, notably Mount Usu and Mount Showa-Shinzan.

Lake Toya (洞爺湖) - Toyako & Sobetsu

洞爺湖

洞爺湖

Toya - Usu UNESCO Global Geopark map

Eight Views of Lake Toya - Toyako Onsen

洞龍の湯
Toron Foot Spa

Toyako Onsen 100th Anniversary Monument

Lake Toya is a well-known tourist attraction due to its scenic beauty and hot springs. The lake is part of the Toya National Park, which also contains Mount Usu and other adjacent attractions. Tourists may participate in a variety of leisure activities such as fishing, boating, and hiking. There are also other hot spring resorts and hotels built around the lake that provide breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and lake.

Lake Toya Cruise












One of Lake Toya's primary draws is its annual fireworks celebration, which takes place throughout the summer months. The celebration showcases breathtaking fireworks displays set against the stunning background of the lake and mountains.

Lake Toya Gurutto Sculpture Park





Toyako Pokemon Manhole Cover

Aside from the natural beauty of the lake, there are also numerous sculptures installed around the lake. These are collectively known as the Lake Toya Gurutto Sculpture Park. There are a total of 58 sculptures made by different artists. Also inside the park is the Toyako Pokemon manhole cover featuring Vulpix and three Swinubs.

Team Nicerio visits Lake Toya




My family and I visited Lake Toya last August 21, 2022, which was the 3rd day of our “From Osaka with Love” Road Trip with our Japanese family. During our trip, we rode on a ferry going to Nakajima Island in the heart of the lake. It was an amazing experience and a few hours wouldn't be enough to fully explore it. Sadly, we weren’t able to stay for the day as we still have a lot of places to visit in our itinerary. Regardless, my family and I enjoyed the beauty of Lake Toya and Nakajima Island. I also got to take a photo of the Toyako Pokemon manhole cover for my collection.


Overall, our visit to Lake Toya was a very memorable trip. Given the chance, I would want to revisit Lake Toya and stay for the night in one of the hotels near it or camp in one of the lakeside camping grounds.

Lake Toya Entrance Fee

Although it is generally FREE to explore the lakeside, you need to pay parking fees in most places. You also need to pay around 1420 yen per adult / 710 per child if you wish to board a sightseeing boat to explore Lake Toya.

If you wish to see a scenic view of Lake Toya for free, then head to Ukimido Park, Eboshiiwa Park, or Lake Toya Gurutto Sculpture Park in the town of Toyako or Chikaraiwakansatsu Park in the town of Sobetsu.

Lake Toya Cruise Schedule

Although you can visit and explore Lake Toya any time of the day, the Lake Toya cruise departs on a specific schedule. 

Lake Toya Cruise schedule

Why visit Lake Toya?

Lake Toya is a stunning natural marvel that provides tourists with visual splendor, outdoor enjoyment, and relaxation. It’s a great place to bring your family and friends and even go for solo trips.

Getting to Lake Toya:

 

From Sapporo Station, walk to Sapporo Station Square (札幌駅前) bus stop and board the Higashimachi Sun Palace (via Gonohara/each stop) bus of the Donan Bus Co., Ltd. Board down at Sakuramachi (さくらまち) bus stop in Toyako. 

Travel Time: 2 hours 44 minutes
Fare: 2,830 yen

Ratings:

Crowd

Cleanliness

Overall rating

Location: Lake Tōya, Hokkaido, Japan

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