Lake Toya

Lake Toya is a caldera lake formed by a volcanic eruption about 110,000 years ago. It features a circumference of about 40 km and plunges to 179.2 m at its deepest point. Four islands collectively called ”Nakajima” form a cluster close to the middle of the lake. The active volcano Mt. Usu stands to the south of the lake, and the whole area is registered as the Toya Caldera and Usu Volcano Global Geopark. The varied terrain and beautiful scenery make this a particularly rewarding place to visit. Venturing lakeside, you'll find the Lake Toya Gurutto Sculpture Park, which is dotted with 58 monuments.
The lakeside also features the Toyako Onsen (hot spring), which offers day-trip bathing as well as a place to soak your hands and feet. The hotel is ideal for lodging, with an open-air onsen offering a panoramic view of Lake Toya.

Access Info
From JR Sapporo Station, take the Super Hokuto Limited Express for 1 hour 56 minutes and get off at JR Toya Station. Alternatively, from Sapporo Station Bus Terminal, take the Donan Bus headed to Toyako Onsen (advance booking required) for 2 hours and 45 minutes, and get off at Toyako Onsen Bus Terminal.

Lake Toya Steamboat
Lake cruises circle the Nakajima island cluster, taking about 1 hour, and offer views of Lake Toya, Mt. Yotei, and Mt. Usu. You can alight from the boat midway to walk on Oshima, one of the Nakajima islets, and may even be lucky to meet Yezo deer (getting off the boat is only possible in summer.)
There are three boats plying the waters, including a huge vessel named Espoir with a capacity for 700 passengers. It's modeled after a medieval castle. The other boats are named Kofuku and Yotei.
The boats run 8:00am–4:30pm in summer (every 30 minutes), and 9:00am–4:00pm in winter (every hour). Tickets cost 1,420 JPY for adults and 710 JPY for elementary school children.
* The timetable may change based on weather conditions and the time of sunset.
A boat tour runs together with the Lake Toya Long-Run Fireworks Show in the summer. The boat sets off around 8:30pm every night when the show is held, offering a spectacular view of the fireworks from the lake. Tickets cost 1,600 JPY for adults and 800 JPY for elementary school children.

Lake Toya Long-Run Fireworks Show
This fireworks show runs every year between April 28 and October 31. About 450 fireworks are launched from a ship moving over Lake Toya every evening from around 8:45pm to 9:05pm.
Other special events include the 108 Water Fireworks Show on July 21, and the 5 Water Fireworks Show on September 1 with huge original water fireworks set off.
What's more, the Toyako Onsen Summer Festival runs between late July and mid-August, offering target practice, ring toss, and other games to play at stalls on the fete square by the lake.