'''Lake T?ya''' (______ ''T?ya-ko'') is a volcanic caldera lake in the central part of Hokkaido, Japan. The main town is '''T?yako Onsen''' (__________), on the western shore.

Understand

A near-circular lake 10 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. This is a caldera lake, the remains of a very large volcanic eruption that has hollowed out ground, where the water is highly mineral rich.

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. A taxi ride to Toyako Onsen costs about \2200.

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''' (_L___R ''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. The most notable is '''Nishiyama Crater Trail''' (___R_____U___H), where you can see what happens to buildings, cars, roads, etc when a volcano erupts. It is also possible to hike around the southern half of the main crater if one takes the cable car on the east side to the rim.
  • '''Sh?washinzan''' (___a_V_R), 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. It is located right next to the cable car valley station on the east side of Mt. Usu.
  • 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.

    There is an excellent Visitor's Centre in Toyako Onsen, about 100m from the bus station. All sorts of interesting information can be found there regarding the history of the area and explanation of volcanic activity, etc. There is also a separate volcano exhibition in the centre which costs ¥600 to enter.

    Behind the Visitor's Centre is a highly recommended short walk through an area devastated by the eruption of nearby Usu-san in 2000. You can see a former public hot bathing house half-inundated with mud, a block of public housing whose first floor is completely buried on one side, and a part of a former bridge which was pushed by the mud some 300 metres from its original position. Just as you start this walk, there is a small hut with a man inside giving away maps of hiking in the Toyoko region in various languages including English. For some reason, the Visitor's Centre does not have this extremely useful brochure.

    Buy

    Eat & Drink

    Toyako Onsen has the usual array of Japanese restaurants.

    Sleep

    Contact