Toya Sun Palace Resort And Spa View at Lobby

Lake Toya Itinerary: Mt Usu, Onsen, Firework And More

by Emily | posted in: Hokkaido Japan | 0

Last updated on May 16th, 2026

Lake Toya itinerary is especially for hot spring and scenic lover. Spend your day at Mt Usu by Usuzan ropeway, enjoy the onsen bath with amazing lake view. It’s more incredible when firework explores over the lake.

Toya (洞爺) is a peaceful and quaint little town that is known for its hot springs and the magnificent view of Lake Toya. Being as part of the Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Lake Toya (洞爺湖, Tōyako) is well renowned for its mesmerizing landscape and natural beauty.

Board a pleasure boat or taking a long stroll at the lakeshore to enjoy the unfrozen Lake Toya. For natural lovers, take the ropeway to the Mt Usu, one of the active volcano in the world. At night, there is a fireworks display over the lake from May to October!

Read more on below Lake Toya travel blog with our itinerary, what to do, and where to stay during our journey to Mt Usu. Hopefully, my Lake Toya travel guide is helpful!

Transportation Guide: Getting To Lake Toya

From Hakodate by JR Train: The rail journey between Hakodate and Lake Toya station, TOYA 洞爺 (JR-MURORAN line) is direct without required any transfer. It’s about 2 hour’s journey which cost ¥5,390. Get off at the station and take the connecting bus to the Lake Toya. Single bus fare is ¥330 while the return is ¥600 for an adult.

From Sapporo by JR Train: Same for traveler from Sapporo. Get off at TOYA (JR-MURORAN) and continue with local bus to Toyako Onsen. Rail fare is ¥5,830 for 110 minutes of the train journey.

Self-driving: Rental car is still the best-recommended transportation for exploring Lake Toya at your own pace. Don’t forget to check your rental car price at RentalCars.com. Best price guarantee and high reputation.

Shuttle Bus from hotel: Most of the hotels at Lake Toya provide free shuttle bus service from Sapporo City. Toya Sun Palace Resort is one of the accommodation provide this daily free shuttle service. Reservation required, please book your seat in advance.

Lake Toya Itinerary: 2 Days 1 Night Stay

Japan is world-famous for its hot spring, so-called Onsen. Ever since my first try on onsen in Hakone, all my Japan itinerary for sure will spare one to two days for this amazing experience. And this also applies for my Hokkaido trip. During my visit to Hokkaido, I am so greedy to put both Lake Toya and Noboribetsu into my Hokkaido itinerary.

My Hakodate Trip was ended after the wonderful city exploring. Next, we proceed with our Lake Toya itinerary for 2 days 1 night stayed at Toya Sun Palace Resort.

Getting To Lake Toya From Hakodate

From Hakodate, we took the JR train from Hakodate JR Station to TOYA (JR-MURORAN) with seat reservations. Enjoy the scenic train journey for 2 hours.

Once reached, we proceed to take the Donan bus to the hotel for check-in. The bus station is located on the right side once exiting from the JR station. Buses from Toya station to Toyako Onsen was very ordinary commute bus. The bus fare is a flat rate with ¥330 in one way. One bus per hour.

Travel Tips: Toya Sun Palace Resort And Spa is just located right in front of Higashimachi station, the last stop of Donan bus route. However, please take note of not every bus will reach this station. Please double-check the bus schedule or ask the bus driver before boarding. The distance from Toyako Onsen Bus Terminal to Toya Sun Palace Resort And Spa required 10-15 minutes on foot. Our room is a double bedroom with a lake facing. Breath-taking.

Wandering in Toyako Onsen

Foot Bath At Toyoko Onsen Town Lake Toya

We took a slow walk to Toyako Onsen. The walking is very nice along the lakeshore. Many lakeside resort hotels and restaurants available at this Onsen town. For visitors dropped by Lake Toya for a short time, you may also enjoy a foot bath, called Ashi-ui with free at here.

Simply choose a restaurant for lunch before heading to our next destination, Mt. Usu.

Take The Ropeway Ride To Mt. Usu

Mt. Usu (有珠山) is located in south of Lake Toya in Shikotsu-Toya National Park. It is one of the active volcano in the world, which erupted four times within 100 years ago. Together with Shōwa-shinzan, Mt. Usu has been authorized in the UNESCO Global Geopark. Both are popular attractions when visiting Lake Toya.

We took the Donan bus bound for Showa Shinzan from Toyako Onsen Bus Terminal to the Mt. Usu. At the foothill, there are various restaurants and souvenir shops at Kazan-mura, the so-called Volcano Village.

Without hesitation, we redeem the return ropeway ticket at the counter. Usuzan ropeway is the most popular and easiest way to reach the summit, but visitors can choose for hiking.

Say cheese to Usuzan Ropeway!

Traveler Tips: Get the Special Discounted Usuzan Ropeway Roundtrip ticket from Klook at ¥1,600 (¥200 cheaper compare with buying onsite). Just show the mobile voucher for redeem from the ticket counter and take the ropeway. (Check Usuzan Ropeway Price)

The 6 minutes short gondola ride on Usuzan ropeway bough us up near the summit. Enjoy the stunning view while getting up to the peak.

Toyako Viewing Platform

Panoramic view of Showa Shinzan — Mt. Showa Shinzan

The view right when you get off the ropeway is spectacular.

At Usu-sancho Station (有珠山頂駅), there are two very picturesque observation decks: Toyako Viewing Platform and Usu Crater Observatory.

Toyako Viewing Platform (洞爺湖展望台) is just outside from ropeway station. This wooden platform offers an amazing panoramic view of Lake Toya and Showa Shinzan. Enjoy the amazing view of Mt. Showa Shinzan with Lake Toya.

Usu Crater Basin Observation Deck

Look Back To The Hiking Path To Usu Crater Observatory

The next observation deck is Usu Crater Observatory (有珠山火口原展望台). It required some hike to this observation deck. Added, the trail is not a flat boardwalk and can be very steep along some parts. It is not too hard and very worthwhile for the best view of craters.

It took us about 20 minutes to the Usu Crater Basin Observation Deck. The observatory has a view of Lake Toya, Showa Shinzan, and the central crater of Mount Usu.

The view is so magnificent and we took countless of photo here.

Last look on the breathtaking view before heading back down via ropeway.

Side note: There is a mountain trail circling the outer rim of the crater. The hiking journey took about 1.1 km with 40 minutes on foot for a closer look at the crater. The largest crater, Ginnuma Crater was created by the 1977 eruption. We did not plan for this due to time constraints. Hiker can consider for this.

Getting to Usuzan Ropeway from Toyoko Onsen bus terminal: Local Donan bus connected between onsen town and Mount Usu. From Toyako Onsen Bus Terminal, take the donan bus bound for Showa Shinzan and get off at last stop. The bus journey takes about 15 minutes with ¥340 for one way. Four buses per day. Parking fee is ¥500 for self-driving.

Ticket Price: Free admission to Mt. Usu. But, the ropeway is cost ¥1,600 to the summit. Get the discounted price for Usuzan Ropeway Ticket from Klook.
Operating hours: 08:15 – 17:30

Fantastic Firework Show

Getting back from Usuzan ropeway to Toya Onsen by donan bus in reserve direction. We have an enjoyable dinner while waiting for the highlight at night.

Lake Toya held the summer event from the end of April to end of October. Started at 20:40 every night, fireworks will explode over the calm and alluring Lake Toya for about 20 minutes.

Enjoy the fantastic front-row views of the fireworks over the lake from the hotel.

Enjoy Onsen Bath With Lake View

Don’t forget to enjoy your time in the renowned water of the Toyako Hot Spring. Take your time to relax in the hot spring with a spectacular lake view.

It is best that choose accommodation with outdoor baths look out over Lake Toya. Imaging enjoy your bath during the evening firework. It was such an incredible way to relax and watch the fireworks explode over the lake.

Where To Stay at Lake Toya

The best stay in Toyaka is the hotel features with lake view. Enjoy the quiet lake in the morning with sun reflection as if time has stopped. While most of the accommodations in Lake Toya feature this spectacular view of Lake Toya. So choose the one best suit your budget and requirement.

We recommended few hotels in Lake Toya as per below:

Toya Sun Palace Resort And Spa: A luxury stay with a lakefront view at Toyoko. Please enjoy your time relaxing while overlooking the beautiful picturesque scenery of Lake Toya. The onsen was one of the best in Toyoko with an infinity pool that overlooked Lake Toya. Free shuttle with reservation from Sapporo and New Chitose Airport by reservation.

Lake View Toya Nonokaze Resort: Another best recommendation in Toyoko provides a panoramic view of Lake Toya from their infinity onsen. Fantastic room with amazing lake view. The bus stop is just opposite to ease for train connection. Added, free shuttle from JR Sapporo Station and New Chitose Airport is available upon prior reservation.

Toyako Manseikaku Hotel Lakeside Terrace: Middle range lakeside accommodation in Lake Toya. Fabulous location in front of the lake which is great to enjoy the firework from the room. Amazing indoor and outdoor onsen available.

Overall: My Lake Toya Itinerary

As compared to Noboribetsu, Lake Toya is more interesting and scenic. We love the scenic view of Lake Toya, especially in the onsen bath. It is a unique bathing experience with a splendid lake view.

So please don’t forgot to stop by Lake Toya or Noboribetsu for your Hokkaido trip. We were traveling from Lake Toya after 2 days in Hakodate.

This Lake Toya travel blog is part of our travel itinerary in Hokkaido. If you are interested, read on our travel post below:

Hakodate Itinerary: Things To Do For 2-Days in Hakodate

by Emily | posted in: Hokkaido Japan | 0

Last updated on May 16th, 2026

A southern gateway to Hakodate, one of the port cities in Hokkaido. Read more on how to plan your one or two days Hakodate itinerary. My itinerary included!

Hakodate (函館市), one of Japan’s most underrated cities. This lovely city boasts a laid-back international atmosphere with mouth-watering fresh seafood. Spend one, two, or three days in Hakodate to wider your destination to southern Hokkaido. You’ll find Hakodate worth your visit.

Below two days Hakodate itinerary is highly recommended. It is ideal for those who love to get a good taste of Hakodate has to offer. My actual visit is one and half-day in Hakodate. After that, we were getting to Lake Toya at noon on the second day.

We have summarized our Hakodate trip with itinerary into this article. This Hakodate travel guide blog will include all the best things to do, food to eat, transportation guide, and money-saving tips. Hopefully, this Hakodate travel guide is helpful to plan on your coming Hakodate itinerary.

Hakodate Travel Tips: We recommended to stay nearby Hakodate Station for easy getting around and food hunting. The Four Points by Sheraton Hakodate is a minute’s walk from JR Hakodate Train Station. A cozy room with excellent service. One of the best-seller and Popular pick in Hakodate.

My Visit: Two Days Hakodate Itinerary

Before this, my visit to Hakodate keeps debating. We will keep changing the plan ever since I start planned for my Hokkaido trip. Compared with Sapporo, Hakodate does not offering a massive amount of things to do. Added, this city is located at southern Hokkaido. It required about 4 hours of express train journey from Sapporo with expensive transportation costs.

However, I am glad that I finally make the right decision. It not a bad idea to explore Hakodate. Most importantly, plan your Hokkaido itinerary properly. It can greatly save you some money.

Here are the best things to do in my Hakodate itinerary:

Arrived Hakodate. Check-in hotel and lunch with Lucky Pierrot Hamburger
Goryoyaku Tower and Park
Kanemori Red brick warehouses
Wandering around in Motomachi Street
Enjoy Night view in Mt Hakodate by Hakodateyama Ropeway
Eat the Hakodate specialty shio (salt) ramen
Next morning: Hakodate Morning Market. Have a seafood donburi (rice bowl) as breakfast.

Day 1: Japan’s Top Three Night View

Getting to Hakodate from Sapporo. Hakodate: Goryoyaku Tower and Park, Kanemori red brick warehouses, Mt. Hakodate

For long-distance travel, JR Pass is one of the important passes to save on the transportation fee. The most important thing to do when reached Sapporo is looked for JR Office.

To maximized on the 3 days JR Hokkaido Pass, we choose to depart from Sapporo in the morning. Thanks to the arrangement, we managed to arrived Hakodate before afternoon. Have a quick refresh after check-in to my accommodation in Hakodate. We are ready and excited exploring around.

Check out my stay in Smile Hotel Hakodate which strategic located nearby Hakodate station for easy moving around.

Lucky Pierrot Hamburger

The first thing to do is looked for my lunch. We choose Lucky Pierrot Hamburger as our first meal in Hakodate. This popular burger shop is Hakodate homegrown fast food chain restaurant, offers unique burger in their menu. Try their Chinese Chicken Burger, served with deep fried chicken with sweet and spicy sauce.

Getting to Lucky Pierrot Hamburger: There are several restaurants in Hakodate. You can find at front of Hakodate station, Goryoukaku Park, nearby Kanemori red brick warehouse and more. Get the one suitable for your itinerary.

Goryokaku Fort: The Star Shaped Vista

Next, heading to Goryokaku Fort after the filling lunch. The old Goryakaku Fort is well known for its western star-shaped fort surrounded by a giant moat for defense. This fortress is built in the 1860s as a military installation.

Goryokaku Fort is now one of the best places to chill out in Hakodate. Moreover, it is also one of the best places for cherry blossom in Hokkaido with 1600 cherry trees surrounded during early of May.

It’s nice to take a stroll around Goryokaku Park. Fresh atmosphere, beautiful trees for green natural. Many locals bring their family or friends gathering at the park.

Hakodate Magistrate Office is the official government office of the Edo Shogunate. It has lots of interesting and informative exhibits on the magistrate and how this building was reconstructed.

Required to pay for ¥500 for the entrance. We did not enter this historical building and choose to wandering around in the park.

For the best view, go to Goryokaku Tower Observatory for the entire perfect star-shaped Goryakaku Park from above. The view of the park is stunningly beautiful. It gives a great view of the fort and surrounding Hakodate.

Admission cost about ¥900 for the access to 98 meters high of bird’s eye view. You can get the Goryokaku Tower Admission Ticket from Klook at cheaper price.

Getting to Goryokaku Fort: Many buses and trams can get you to the Goryokaku Fort. Access to Goryokaku Park from Hakodate station to Goryokaku Koen-mae stop. From there, walk another 10 minutes will get you to Goryoyaku Tower.

Kanemori Red brick Warehouse

Next, we were ready to explore the city center. Hakodate was one of the first ports open to foreign trade. So this explained the western-influenced facade of Kanemori red brick warehouse. It also one of the best places in Hakodate for a leisure visit.

Enjoy strolling along the Hakodate bay with a breathtaking view. Hopped on one of the shops selling souvenirs, fashion apparel, restaurants, and cafe. The famous Pastry Snaffle’s and Petite Merveille can be found at here.

Getting to Kanemori Redbrick Warehouse: From Jujigai tram station and walk for 5 minutes.

Motomachi: Historical Western Neighborhood

If you have time, consider include the visit to the historical Motomachi area. Several historical churches and western buildings are awaiting you to explore. The Russian Orthodox Church, Motomachi Roman Catholic Church, Hakodate Episcopal Church, Old British Consulate represents the Western Historical in Hakodate.

Getting to Motomachi: Take the tram and get off at Jujigai. Walk for 15 minutes uphill walk.

Mount Hakodate: Million Dolar Night View

We proceeded to Mt Hakodate for the unobstructed view of Hakodate. The Hakodate night view is voted as one of the world’s top three-night views. Celebrate your first night in Hakodate with the jewel-like nigh view on top of Mount Hakodate.

Make your way up to Mt Hakodate by the Hakodateyama Ropeway for 1780 yen. It is the most scenic way of getting up the peak at 334 meters. This attraction is extremely popular, so please arrive before the sunset and expected for the queuing time from 30 minutes to 1 hour.

See the breathtaking million-dollar night view of Hakodate from Mt. Hakodate Observation deck. Definitely worth the visit.

Getting to Mt. Hakodate: Access to Jujigai tram stop and walk for 10 minutes to the ropeway station. Take the 3 minutes ropeway ride to summit at ¥1280 for round trip. Alternative, Take the (#4) bus from Hakodate JR station directly to the summit at ¥400 with 30 minutes.

Hakodate Shio Ramen From Ichimonji

Shio ramen from Ichimonji Hakodate Ramen

Hakodate is famous for shio (salt) ramen. One of the must-try food when visiting Hakodate.

Our first day of Hakodate itinerary ended with one bowl shio ramen with home grow noodles. We went to Ichimonji Hakodate Ramen which specialty is shio ramen for our late dinner. The clear soup made from the chicken is very flavoury delicious. What a wonderful day!

Day 2: Hakodate Morning Market

Hakodate: Morning Market. Next, getting to Lake Toya from Hakodate

Begin your second day with seafood donburi (rice bowl) as breakfast. A visit to Hakodate Morning Market is a must-do when visiting Hakodate. The night view at Mt. Hakodate and the morning market are the major attraction for staying one night in Hakodate.

Hakodate Morning Market is located nearby Hakodate station with merely 5 minutes of walking distance. It starts opens as early as 5 a.m. and welcomes millions of locals and visitors every year.

Local produce and seafood such as scallop, sea urchins, salmon eggs, squids, crabs are fill up the whole market. Grab the famous Hokkaido scallop as souvenir. The price is very cheap compare to outside with a similar size and weight.

Squid Catching Challenge

You can try the squid catching challenge from the fishing pond. The chef will prepare the fresh sashimi from your catch.

Donburi Street at Hakodate Morning Market — Donburi Yokocho Ichiba / Donburi Street

Don’t miss the chance to try the local specialties at Donburi Yokocho Ichiba. It is a food alley arcade nearby the Hakodate morning market. Try the best donburi in Hokkaido at one of the seafood specialty shops here.

We choose the Ebisuya Sushi Shokudo at Donburi street. It offers over wide varieties of seafood donburi up to 50 types. The seafood is so fresh and delicious. I start missing my Hakodate trip.

Getting to Hakodate Morning market: 5 minutes walk from JR Hakodate Station

After the filling breakfast, we packed our luggage and proceed for our next destination to Lake Toya. Consider the 4 hours JR train ride from Sapporo to Hakodate, spending one day in Hakodate without overnight maybe too rush. Try to allocate your itinerary by staying one night in Hakodate. Don’t miss the best night view in Mt Hakodate and visit on Hakodate Morning Market at the next day.

Our two days Hakodate itinerary is just nice and cover most of the must-visit attraction in Hakodate. We enjoy the food and attraction in Hakodate.

Where To Stay

Hakodate city view from Goryokaku Tower Observatory

Four Points by Sheraton Hakodate: One of the best sellers in Hakodate. Thanks to its strategic location and classic interior design. Friendly and professional staff are ready to help with any problem.

FAV Hotel Hakodate: Newly open and brand clean with good access to the Hakodate Station and morning market. Spacious and comfortable rooms at a reasonable price.

Hakodate Kokusai Hotel: Mid-range accommodation stays in Hakodate which strategic located nearby JR Hakodate station. Spacious rooms are available for triple or four-person stay. Very suitable for a group of families.

HakoBA Hakodate is highly recommended for mid-budget travelers when looking for where to stay in Hakodate on a budget. It is a historical building that transformed into an affordable accommodation with a sleek design.

More Hakodate accommodation options: Where To Stay in Hakodate: Best Hotels Pick

Transportation Guide: How To Get To Hakodate

First of all, traveling in Japan is not cheap especially for transportation. However, Japan offering a wide range of transportation pass to ease for foreign visitors for traveling around.

Depending on where is your departure city and itinerary planning. The transportation cost to Hakodate is not cheap. The single way from Sapporo to Hakodate already cost about ¥8630. Therefore, it is best to get the JR pass to save on transportation expenses.

From Tokyo To Hakodate

By Shinkansen: Get the JR East-South Hokkaido Rail Pass at ¥26,000 for 6 days flexible usage within the 14 days. This pass allows the Shinkansen usage between Tokyo to Hakodate which greatly saves a lot of money. Added, take the unlimited on the JR Hokkaido Lines (Southern Hokkaido) and JR East Lines (Kanto and Tohoku areas). If Hokkaido is part of your whole Japan visit, it is worth to consider the Whole Japan JR Pass.

The 4-hour bullet train journey from Tokyo Station will get you to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto. Lastly, change to Hakodate station on Hakodate Liner or Super Hokoto Limited Express with 20 minutes.

From Sapporo To Hakodate

By JR train: For long-distance travel, consider get the JR Hokkaido Rail Pass which valid 3, 5, 7 consecutive days or flexible 4 days. This pass included unlimited rides on JR trains (excluding Hokkaido Shinkansen) and JR buses. A single journey of JR train from Sapporo to Hakodate already costs about ¥8630. So this pass will pay off if you plan to travel for long distances and access to major famous attractions in Hokkaido.

Hokuto and Super Hokuto train depart hourly from Sapporo Station to Hakodate Station, with approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes of the train journey.

By Highway Bus: The journey took about 5 and a half hours for the bus journey between Sapporo and Hakodate.

Rental Car: Most of the Hokkaido’s attractions are spreading around. Renting a car and getting around Hokkaido by self-driving is another great option when visiting Hokkaido. Drive at your own pace and exploring the beauty of Hokkaido freely. Visit RentalCars.com for car rental information at Hokkaido.

Getting Around in Hakodate

One day or two-day transportation pass is available for visiting Hakodate. A one day pass for trams is only ¥600. While one or two days pass for both trams and buses will cost you ¥1000/¥1700. Most of the attractions in Hakdote can be reach by walking. We will recommended buy the one-day trams pass if you take tram more than 3 times. We were getting the one-day tram pass for the first day during my two days Hakodate itinerary

Alternative, biking is extremely popular among locals and tourists without spending too much on transportation. Do check with your hotel for free bicycle usage.

Overall: Two days in Hakodate

A day trip to Hakodate is too rush as you might miss the Hakodate morning market and night view at Mt. Hakodate. These two attractions are the must-go when visiting Hakodate.

While Hakodate is not the last stop for our Hokkaido trip after this two days Hakodate itinerary. Keep reading for our next adventure at Mt. Usu and amazing stay at Lake Toya.

Lastly, this 2 days Hakodate itinerary is part of our travel blog post to Hokkaido. If you are interested, please continue to read on for more detail on the best place to visit in Hokkaido.

How To Plan Your Hokkaido Trip On Budget: Travel Guide, Itinerary & Money Saving Tips!

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