JP · Hokkaido · 42.58°N 140.85°E

lake toya

Volcanic caldera lake with lakeside onsen, island views and summer night fireworks.

Best time
Late April to October, when there are fireworks over the lake every night. Summer is mild and autumn brings colour to the hills. The lake doesn't freeze, so it's pretty in winter too, with snow all around.
How long
1–2 days
Getting there
Fly from KL to New Chitose Airport near Sapporo, usually via Tokyo or another hub. From there it's about 1.5–2 hours by car. By train, take the limited express to Toya Station, then a short bus to the onsen town.
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JP · Hokkaidolake toya42.58°N 140.85°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Volcanic caldera lake with lakeside onsen, island views and summer night fireworks.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingLake ToyaJP, Hokkaido
KLlake toya
≈ 5,851 km from KL, as the crow flies
Lake Tōya view from The Windsor Hotel Toya Resort & Spa in Toyako, Hokkaido prefecture, Japan.

Photo: 663highland · CC BY 2.5

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A round volcanic caldera lake in southwest Hokkaido, with a hot-spring town on its southern shore and the active Mount Usu right beside it. It's an easy stop between Sapporo, Noboribetsu and Hakodate, good for a night at an onsen hotel with lake views.

Things to do

  1. Lake Toya fireworksShort fireworks shows over the lake every night from late April to October.Map ↗
  2. Usuzan RopewayA cable car up Mount Usu for views over the lake, the crater and Showa-shinzan.Map ↗
  3. Showa-shinzanA steaming lava dome that rose out of farmland in the 1940s.Map ↗
  4. Lake cruiseBoats cruise out to Nakajima, the forested islands in the middle of the lake.Map ↗
  5. NoboribetsuThe steaming Hell Valley and a famous onsen town, about an hour's drive away.Map ↗

Good to know

  • A car makes it much easier to combine Toya with Noboribetsu and Niseko. Malaysians drive on the left too, but you need an International Driving Permit from JPJ to rent a car in Japan.
  • Many onsen and public baths don't allow visible tattoos. Check first, or look for a private bath.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.