May 21st, 2014
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[Shikotsu-Toya National Park] Many Tourist Attractions and Onsen Can Be Enjoyed

Shikotsu-Toya National Park

Shikotsu-Toya National Park (支笏洞爺国立公園) has Lake Shikotsu (支笏湖), the 2nd largest caldera lake in Japan, and Lake Toya (洞爺湖), the 3rd largest caldera lake in the Japan, in the southwestern part of Hokkaido. In the national park, there are unique mountains such as Mt. Usu (有珠山), Mt. Tarumae (樽前山) and Mt. Showa-shinzan (昭和新山), and here is a tourist attraction on behalf of Hokkaido containing Noboribetsu Onsen (登別温泉) and Jozankei Onsen (定山渓温泉) in the 3 major onsen in the Hokkaido. Because it is easy to access the tourist attracions from New Chitose Airport and Sapporo city, the Shikotsu-Toya National Park gets popularity from tourists. The Shikotsu-Toya National Park is roughly divided into 5 areas, Yoteizan Area, Toyako Area, Noboribetsu Area, Shikotsuko Area and Jozankei Area. The area is 99,473 ha in total, it is very vast. It blows my mind why it adds the Yoteizan Area and the Jozankei Area, but I googled it, but I could not find.

I introduce about the Yoteizan Area and the Toyako Area on the first page, and introduce about the Noboribetsu Area, the Shikotsuko Area and the Jozankei Area on the second page.

Youteizan Area

An leading role of Youteizan Area is just Mt. Yoteizan (羊蹄山). This area is famous for tasty clear water of the Mt. Yoteizan. Tourist attractions that cold mineral spring can be drunk are dotted around the Mt. Yoteizan.

Mt. Yoteizan

Mt. Youteizan is a volcano with 1,898 m in height in Niseko town, and is called another name “Yezo Fuji (蝦夷冨士)”. Of course, its form resembles Mt. Fuji (富士山). In addition, the true name is “Mt. Shiribeshi (後方羊蹄山)”. For some reason, it has 3 names. Hiking is active, too, and hikers go up the mountain from 4 trailheads, Kutchan Course (倶知安コース), Kyogoku Course (京極コース), Makkari Course (真狩コース) and Kimobetsu Course (喜茂別コース). The Kutchan Course is recommended for a beginner. Generally the beginners will reach to the mountaintop for 4-6 hours.

Movie of Mt. Yoteizan Hiking

Spring Water Gushing Places around Mt. Yotei

Fukidashi Park (ふきだし公園) is a park in Kyogoku town, Niseko located in the southwestern direction of Sapporo city, and is well-known for tasty spring water chosen as one of Selected 100 Exquisite and Well-Conserved Waters in Japan (日本名水百選), and around 800,000 visitors come from Japan and oversea. * The Fukidashi means “Gushing out” in Japanese. It is adjacent to road station “Meisui-no-Sato Kyogoku (名水の郷きょうごく)”. Meisui Plaza (名水プラザ), Fukidashi Garden (ふきだしガーデン), shops, Cafe Cafe-mocha (自家焙煎珈琲かふぇもか店), gazebos, BBQ House, 33 statues of Goddess of Mercy (三十三番観音像), public restrooms and parking lots on the site. Meisui Coffee (名水コーヒー) and Meisui Coffee Jelly (名水コーヒーゼリー) are popular. In addition, Kyogoku Onsen (京極温泉), Isshinan (一心庵), a convenience store, Three-you-park Park Golf Course (スリー・ユー・パークパークゴルフ場) and a camping ground are built near the Fukidashi park, too. The visitors may forget daily life and relax. Admission free. The parking lots are free of charge. Read More

Except the Fukidashi Park, Niseko tasty cold springs gush out at Sakamoto Park (さかもと公園), Konbu Onsen (昆布温泉) and Yokouchi Tourist Farm (横内観光農園), Makkari town. Especially, the Yokouchi Tourist Farm has good watering facilities, and a lot of common people come to draw the water. Yusui-no-Sato Tofu Stadio (湧水の里豆腐工房) beside the fcility is very popular, too. Movie of Spring Water Gushing Places around Mt. Yotei Can Be Watched on Youtube

Movie of Fukidashi Park

Movie of Spring Water at Yokouchi Farm Shop

Movie of Kanrosen Spring at Sakamoto Park

Toyako Area

Toyako Area is an earth park that Toyako-Usuzan Geopark (洞爺湖有珠山ジオパーク) has been authorized by the world Geopark. There are Toyako Onsen (洞爺湖温泉), Toya Onsen (洞爺温泉), Sobetsu-cho Onsen (壮瞥温泉), Nakatoya Onsen (仲洞爺温泉), Mt. Usu (有珠山) and Mt. Showa-shinzan (昭和新山) around Lake Toya (洞爺湖), the 3rd largest caldera lake in Japan. My visited places are as follows.

Lake Toya

Lake Toya (洞爺湖) between Toyako town and Sobetsu town located in the northwestern direction of Muroran city is the 3rd largest caldera lake in Japan after Lake Kussharo and Lake Shikotsu, and was born by large-scale eruptions 110,000 years ago. In Shikotsu-Toya National Park, the perimeter of the lake is about 43 km, and 58 sculptures are located around the lake, and those create scenes in accord with the lake. Geographical features of mountains and the lake have been authorized in the World Geopark. The lake is one of major tourist attractoions in Hokkaido, and a lot of international tourists come. Windsor Hotels Toya Resort & Spa that 34th G8 Summit (Hokkaido Toyako Summit) was held at is famous, too. Around the Lake Toya, there are Toyako Onsen Resort (洞爺湖温泉) that is a sightseeing base, Toya Silo Observation Deck (サイロ展望台), Ukimido Park (浮見堂公園), Toya Onsen (洞爺温泉), Nakatoya Onsen (仲洞爺温泉), Nakatoya Camping Ground (仲洞爺キャンプ場), Green Stay Toyako (グリーンステイ洞爺湖), Takarada Camping Ground (水辺の里財田キャンプ場), Sobetsu-cho Onsen (壮瞥町温泉), Mt. Showa-shinzan (昭和新山) and Mt. Usu (有珠山). Read More

Movie of Lake Toya

Mt. Usu

Mt. Usu (有珠山) is an active volcano with 733 m in height between Date city, Toyako town and Sobetsu town in the south side of Lake Toya (洞爺湖), and has been double volcano with Ousu Lava Dome (大有珠), Kousu Lava Dome (小有珠), Mt. Ogari (オガリ山) and Mt. Usushinzan (有珠新山) since 20,000 years ago, and erupted 4 times within 100 years ago, so it is one of very active volcanos in the world, too. In Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Geographical features with the Lake Toya and Mt. Showa-shinzan have been authorized in the World Geopark. It can be said that the Mt. Usu is one of main actors in Toya Caldera and Usu Volcano Global Geopark (洞爺湖有珠山ジオパーク). A ropeway is the most popular way to go up the mountain, but visitors can hike it, too. Admission free. A parking lot is charged for JPY 500. But It is free of charge form December to March. Read More

Movie of Mt. Usu

Mt. Showa-shinzan

Mt. Showa-shinzan (昭和新山) is a volcanic lava dome with about 400 m in height in Sobetsu town located in the south side of the Lake Toya. The new volcanic lava dome has raised or erupted since 1944. In Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Geographical features with the Lake Toya and Mt. Usu have been authorized in the World Geopark. It can be said that the Mt. Usu is one of main actors in Toya Caldera and Usu Volcano Global Geopark (洞爺湖有珠山ジオパーク). It is nearby the Mt. Usu. Tourist facilities such as Showa-shinzan Bear Ranch (クマ牧場), Showa-shinzan Glass Museum (ガラス館), Masao Mimatsu Memorial Hall (三松正夫記念館) and souvenir shops are built near a ropeway station, and the visitors can rise their tourist mood. Admission free. A parking lot is charged for JPY 500. But It is free of charge form December to March. Read More

Movie of Mt. Showa-shinzan

Toyako Onsen

Toyako Onsen (洞爺湖温泉) is a large hot-spring resort located in the south side of Lake Toya (洞爺湖) between Toya town and Sobetsu town, and is one of the 5 major hot spring resorts in Hokkaido together with Jozankei Onsen (定山渓温泉), Yunokawa Onsen (湯の川温泉), Sounkyo Onsen (層雲峡温泉) and Noboribetsu Onsen (登別温泉), and 3 million tourists come every year. The Toyako Onsen is a base for sightseeing of the Lake Toya, and there are 15 accommodations, handbaths, footbaths, restaurants, souvenir shops, convenience stores, Funsui-hiroba Fountain (噴水広場公園), Toyako Visitor Center Volcano Science Museum (洞爺湖ビジターセンター火山科学館), a ferry port in the hot-spring resort, and there are Mt. Usu (有珠山), Mt. Showashinzan (昭和新山), Nishiyama Sanroku Kako Walking Path (西山火口散策路) and Konpira Crater Lookout (金比羅火口展望台) around the lake. A Lake Toya speciality manju Wakasaimo (わかさいも) and Ippontei (一本亭) that got the Bib Gourmand in MICHELIN GUIDE Hokkaido 2012 Special Edition are famous, too. Read More

Toya Onsen

Toya Onsen (洞爺温泉) is a hot spring place in the north side of Lake Toya (洞爺湖). Toya Ikoi-no-Ie (洞爺憩いの家) is built on a hill at around 110 m above sea level, and is beside old Hotel Toya Sunshine. Ukimido Park (浮見堂公園) that is one of 8 beauty spots around the Lake Toya and Akebono Park (曙公園) are around here, and those are well-known as a place famous for cherry blossoms. In addition, Toya Water Station (とうや水の駅), Silo Viewing Platform (サイロ展望台) and Takarada Campground (財田キャンプ場) are relatively near here. Read More

Sobetsu-cho Onsen

Sobetsu-cho Onsen (壮瞥町温泉) is a hot spring place in the south side of Lake Toya (洞爺湖), and is divided into 2 parts. Onsen Ryokan Ikoi-so (温泉旅館いこい荘), Kohan-no-Yado Toya-Kawanami (湖畔の宿洞爺かわなみ), Hotel Nakanoshima (ホテル中の島) are built on the shore of the Lake Toya along Hokkaido Road 2, and Yuai-no-Ie (ゆーあいの家) is built around the center of Sobetsu. There is a boat dock near the Kohan-no-Yado Toya-Kawanami, and there are Yokozuna Kitanoumi Memorial Hall (横綱北の湖記念館) and a park golf course near the Yuai-no-Ie. Both places are near restaurants and a convenience store. Lake Toya (洞爺湖), Toyako Onsen Resort (洞爺湖温泉街), Mt. Usu (有珠山) and Mt. Showashinzan (昭和新山) are relatively near here, too. Read More

Nakatoya Onsen

Nakatoya Onsen (仲洞爺温泉) is a hot spring place in the east side of Lake Toya (洞爺湖). Kimundo-no-Ie (キムンドの家) that is a management office is built along Hokkaido Road 132, and is adjacent to Nakatoya Camping Ground (仲洞爺キャンプ場), and is popular with campers to take a bath. The Kimundo means “a lake in a mountain” in Ainu language. A view from the Nakatoya Camping Ground is one of 8 beauty spots around the Lake Toya. Unfortunately, restraunts, cafes, souvenir shops and convenience stores are not built. Toyako Onsen Resort (洞爺湖温泉街), Mt. Usu (有珠山) and Mt. Showashinzan (昭和新山) are relatively near here, too. Read More

Ippontei

Ippontei (一本亭) is a popular ramen restraunt in Toyako Onsen Resort (洞爺湖温泉) located in the south side of Lake Toya (洞爺湖) and is famous for getting the Bib Gourmand in MICHELIN GUIDE Hokkaido 2012 Special Edition. The ramen restraunt has an atomosphere such as a sushi restaurant, and there are some tables and family customers seem to enojoy. Local people love this ramen restraunt, and there were 4 groups of local people when I visited here around 13:00 on weekdays. Read More

Wakasaimo

Wakasaimo (わかさいも) that everybody knows in Hokkaido is a Japanese cake like taro and has been sold since 1930 at Wakasaimo Honpo. As a souvenir of Toyako Onsen (洞爺湖温泉), it has been standard souvenir from old days. An origin is said to be Wakasayaimo (わかさ屋いも) of Wakasaya-Shinise (若狭屋老舗) in Suttu town. Both seems to be same whole families. I thought that Toyako Onsen was a birthplace. It is Lake Toya Head office that I have been regarding as the birthplace for many years. Read More

La Locanda Del Pittore

La Locanda Del Pittore (ラ・ロカンダ・デル・ピットーレ洞爺) is a popular Italian restaurant on a small hill around Lake Toya (洞爺湖) and is a sister restraunt of the famous Italian restaurant “PIZZERIA La locanda del pittore (ピッツェリアラ・ロカンダ・デル・ピットーレ)” in Niigata. There is a building on the foot of The Windsor Hotels Toya Resort & Spa, and The Windsor Hotels Toya Resort & Spa cooperated with PIZZERIA La locanda del pittore in 2003, and they started a business. There are a gondola lift station for The Windsor Hotels Toya Resort & Spa and Lake Toya Ranch that visitors can get on horses near the building. Read More

Lake Hill Farm

Lake Hill Farm (レークヒル・ファーム) is a ranch at a small hill in the west side of Lake Toya (洞爺湖), and is near Silo observatory (サイロ展望台). They have begun to run the ranch since 1969 here. A gelato shop, a restraunt and a souvenir shop are built on the ranch, and there are beautiful flower gardens and a grass garden around the buildings. There are a goat and rabbits, too. They lend sports equipments for free, so anyone can enjoy. It is one of popular reason that visitors can enjoy a grand view with Mt. Yotei (羊蹄山), too. Read More