Lake Toya Hokkaido: Outdoor Wonderland

The picturesque Lake Toya in Shikotsu-Toya National Park has activities for those who love nature, sports, luscious landscapes and even a little pampering. It’s on Japan’s second largest island of Hokkaido, about a 2-hour drive south of Sapporo, and makes the perfect nature escape.

For recommendations on when to visit and what to do, read on.

Lake Toya lies within easy reach of Hokkaido’s largest city, Sapporo, so there’s no excuse not to include it in your itinerary! The most cost-savvy way to get there is with a Hokkaido Rail Pass from Klook, entitling you to unlimited travel throughout Hokkaido on trains and buses operated by JR Hokkaido. The one-way train ride from Sapporo to Lake Toya will only take up an hour and 40 minutes of your day – enough time to soak up the views and plan your Lake Toya visit.

If you’d prefer to leave the travel plans to someone else, sit back and relax on a Lake Toya excursion with pick-up and drop-off in Sapporo, like a day trip that also includes a tour of the crystal-clear Lake Shikotsu. This seasonal option is available in winter only.

The island of Hokkaido is distinct from the rest of Japan. You may even feel like you’re on a different planet with all those unspoiled rugged landscapes and volcanic craters. The temperature is also different, and generally cooler than across the rest of the country. So even in April when the cherry blossoms are budding on the mainland, it can still be freezing in Hokkaido. Sakura hunters take note – if you want to catch them in Lake Toya, you’ll need to come in May.

In complete contrast to spring but equally scenic, winter is a great time to visit, particularly to make the most of the area’s world-class ski resorts and to explore Frozen-style landscapes. If you love bundling up in cosy layers, there’s plenty to do from November to early April. Plus, in January and February you can also experience the Winter Festival, a snowy celebration with food stalls, shows and fireworks displays. It’s worth bearing in mind that some activities are season-dependent, so excursions like the Nishiyama Crater Walking Trail will be closed early November to mid-April. If you’ve always wanted to see Japan’s famous burst of autumn colours, October is the time for you. In fact, it’s so popular that there can be loads of visitors and it can get busy, so make sure that you book any trips in advance.

Thinking about a winter getaway in Japan? Read Klook’s recommendations for the best seasonal activities.

All those volcanoes sure do make for some impressive sights. One of our favourite ways to check them out is to ride the Mount Usuzan Ropeway up to near the volcano’s summit for awe-inspiring panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. A second observation deck gives views of the ocean and Mount Usu's largest crater so you can marvel at the power of the earth. Depending on the time of year, you’ll see the lush volcanic area or the stark snow capping everything with a bright white layer.

For easy access to the ropeway, as well as the Silo Observatory with its panoramic views of Lake Toya, you can book a day tour of the area on Klook. It includes an audio commentary to tell you about the unique geography everywhere you look.

Once you’ve seen the lake from a fab vantage point, it’s time to get up close and personal! Klook a Lake Toya cruise to enjoy the tranquillity of the water itself as well as the nature all around it. If you’re eagle-eyed you might spot wild ezo deer as you pass Nakanoshima Island so make sure you have your camera ready. A selfie with the Yotei and Usu mountains behind you is also a great memento of your time.

Lake Toya onsen (hot springs) are one of the many benefits of the volcanic landscape. At the foot of Mount Usu, you’ll find this resort town along the shore of Lake Toya, with several luxury hotels right next to the lake. Gaze out onto the water as you relax in the indoor and outdoor hot spring baths.

Luckily, you don’t have to be staying in one of the hotels to make the most of the baths as some offer day passes. You don’t even have to go inside a building to get in on the relaxation action – there are foot baths (ashiyu) along the promenade in front of the hotels for a mini spa moment. And if that wasn’t fun enough, there are also daily firework displays here from May to October.

Once you’ve experienced an onsen, you’ll understand why Japanese people and visitors alike are such big fans. There’s even a hot spring theme park in Odaiba near Tokyo Bay! It’s obviously quite different from the typical adrenaline rush of a standard theme park, as you stroll around the 13 different baths with naturally heated water from 1,400 metres underground. You can book an Oedo-Onsen-Monogatari Admission Ticket on Klook to get it straight to your phone.

The people of Lake Toya certainly know how to make the most of the riches of the land around them, especially for one of the best times of the day. Food time!

At Sobakura, they use Hokkaido buckwheat flour in their handmade soba noodles, and we’d almost swear we could taste the richness of the earth and the freshness of the air! Either way, they’re delicious, especially in the form of deep-fried shrimp noodles. And they don’t mess about here when it comes to the freshness of their food. Service stops as soon as that day’s noodles sell out, so make sure you’re there nice and early!

If you’re a carnivore and have never tried yakiniku you're missing out. It’s basically a Japanese-style barbecue with loads of delicious grilled meat. Yakiniku Kinjo uses local Lake Toya Wagyu beef for extra deliciousness.

You might not expect to find a gelato shop in the middle of the Japanese countryside but this close connection to the land is exactly how Lake Hill Farms make such delicious ice-cream! The shop and café are on a ranch nestled in a peaceful valley overlooking the lake, with the cows right there. The perfect place for a slice of pizza or fresher-than-fresh ice-cream, in traditional flavours as well as ones you might not have tried before. Blue salt and sweetcorn gelato anyone?

To make sure you don’t miss out on the best local bites, check out Klook’s packing list of Hokkaido’s best food souvenirs.

With endless views, hot springs and tasty treats, there’s so much to do in Lake Toya. Make it part of your trip with the help of Klook’s dedicated Hokkaido page.