Lake Toya Tour
A pristine lake at the base of an active volcano
Lake Toya is a picturesque caldera lake in the Shikotsu-Toya National Park. In addition to Lake Toya itself, the Toyako region features hot springs and an active volcano called Mt Usu that stands proudly above the little town with white smoke and steam rising from it. It has eruptions on a cycle of between 30 and 50 years and its most recent eruption was on March 31, 2000.
On this tour we will take you to the volcano site where you can closely observe the craters and the remains produced by the volcano eruption. We will also show you the lake’s edge, where you can admire the sculpture park that spans the length of Lake Toya and hopefully get photos with the snow white Whopper Swans.
Depending on your tour preferences, we can add in a visit to Ukimido Park, the home of a two‐storied pagoda; learn more about the area at the volcano and wildlife education centres; stop at one of the many delicious local restaurants for lunch; or get a fresh ice cream (almost straight from the cow!) at the local dairy farm on the way home. We will take photos of you and your family along the way, or we can teach you some better techniques with your own camera to capture what is sure to be an unforgettable day.
- 4 HOURS
- ¥65,000for up to 6 people
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- Includes transport
- Photography add-on = Extra ¥10,000
- Video add-on = Extra ¥20,000
- 6 HOURS
- ¥85,000for up to 6 people
-
- Includes transport
- Photography add-on = Extra ¥10,000
- Video add-on = Extra ¥20,000
Contact us if you have more than 6 people in your group for a custom quote.
Who does this tour suit?
ALL AGES
This tour is perfect for groups of any size and any age. Adults will enjoy the scenery, food, art and education, while little ones will love frolicking in the snow on the shores of Lake Toya, seeing a live volcano and learning about volcanoes at the education centre. However, it is a 45 minute drive there and back, so be prepared if you have very young children. This tour is also a photographer’s dream, with many stunning landscapes to capture, and maybe even some wildlife along the way.
Time
Tours normally leave at 9.00am, but we can be flexible for the Lake Toya Tour, so please choose a time that suits you and we will do our best to accommodate. It takes around 45 mins to get to Lake Toya, but we can stop at sights along the way. Please note that in winter, it can get dark by 4.00 - 4.30pm.
Photography
All of our guides are also professional photographers and if you wish, you can add photography or video to you tour and get magazine-quality photos of the day or a professionally produced short film with music. These will be delivered within one week of your tour.
Transport
We'll pick you up from your accommodation and drop you home at the end of the day. Please let us know in advance if you have infants and we can arrange a car seat for them.
What to Bring
If on a winter tour, please dress in warm waterproof clothing and footwear. Boots or gumboots are best so that you can easily walk in the snow. Please also bring water, snacks and money to buy lunch.