Going Solo in Japan – Lake Toya 1995 Last Updated: July 2, 2024

When we went to Sapporo, Hokkaido for the first time for a conference our new friend from Maizuru had requested a doctor in this area to meet us. We had arrived early for the meeting, so on the very first day afternoon we met him. He took us for a drive in near by Toya Shikotsu National park.

Lake Toya is a large caldera lake located in the Shikotsu-Toya National Park in Hokkaido, Japan.

The lake is known for its stunning scenery, surrounded by mountains and lush greenery.

One of the distinctive features of Lake Toya is Nakajima Island, a small, picturesque island located in the middle of the lake. The lake itself was formed by a volcanic caldera, and the surrounding area is geothermally active, with hot springs and volcanic activity contributing to the region’s appeal.

The lake is nearly circular, being 10 x 9 kilometers in size. Lake Tōya is said to be the northernmost lake in Japan that never ices with competing claim by nearby Lake Shikoku and the second most transparent lake in Japan. Nakajima Island (not to be confused with another island of the same name in Lake Kussharo) is a recursive island in the middle of the lake. We saw one of the lake and he took us to a place named Noboribetsu where we saw Polar bears kept in the cage

There was very little conversation as he didn’t speak English.

During the conference there was a special program – And we were taken for a drive to Lake Toya. It was a scenic location. And we were taken for lunch at a prestigious hotel. Very recently at a G8 Summit a conference was held in 2008 it was held in Lake Toya at this hotel.

Later on we went to Sapporo several times and visited lake Toya again.

Lake Toya is a large caldera lake located in the Shikotsu-Toya National Park in Hokkaido, Japan.

The lake is known for its stunning scenery, surrounded by mountains and lush greenery.

A boat cruise on Lake Toya you can enjoy the stunning scenery and get a unique perspective of the surrounding mountains and Nakajima Island.

Another attraction is  Lake Toya is known for its impressive fireworks displays, especially during the summer months. The displays are often held in the evening and are reflected beautifully on the lake.

This time we stayed at a hotel located right on the shore of lake. There were many tourists.

Lake Shikotsu:

• Lake Shikotsu is famous for being one of the clearest lakes in Japan, known for its transparent waters.
• It is a caldera lake surrounded by volcanic mountains, and the area is popular