| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | Open 24 hours |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | Sightseeing spot , historical landmark, parking available |
| Location / Getting There | Located on the southern shore of Lake Toya. Toyakoonsen, Toyako, Abuta District, Hokkaido 049-5721 |
On July 7th to July 8th of 2008 the 34th G8 Summit was held at Lake Toya. This unofficial annual forum saw the leaders from Canada, the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, The United Kingdom and the United States. The 34th G8 summit was the very first summit for British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and the then Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev. The summit was also first and only summit for Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, and the last for U.S President George W. Bush. This was the first G8 summit ever held in Hokkaido.
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In July 2008, a monument decorated with flowers stands at the place where the Hokkaido Toyako Summit (Main Summit) was declared . The monument can be found in the Lake Toya Onsen district on the southern shoreline, and is part of the Funsui Hiroba Fountain Square, which is a nice promenade to walk along. The leaders stayed at the Windsor Hotel Toya Resort & Spa which can be found on top of the hill overlooking the lake. The summit was one of the largest ever with more than 2,000 delegates attending. Other delegates included leaders from African nations and Australia and South Korea.
| Cost per night | ¥4,110 Large camper site ¥3,080 Camper site ¥2,570 Bungalow ¥610 Camping (per adult) ¥240 Camping (per child) |
| Open | May to September |
| Contact | 0167-52-3132 http://www.minamifurano-hokkaido.jp/kousya/camp/camp.html |
| Notes | Lakeside campsite, 500 camping spots, 7 bungalows, washing area, toilets, parking, 3 cooking spots, no direct fires on lawn or bonfires, no fireworks, outdoor stage available to rent Kanayama Lake Water Festival (July: last Sunday) |
| Location / Getting There | From Sapporo, it is a 2 and a half hour drive north east. From Furano it is a 43 minute drive south. There are no train stations. Higashishikagoe, Minamifurano, Sorachi District, Hokkaido 079-2411 |
The Kanayamakohan Camping Ground is part of the beautiful and scenic Kanayamako Forest Park. This a huge campground on lush lawns overlooking Lake Kanayama. The campgrounds are well managed and kept, with plenty of facilities to make your stay or visit more comfortable. There are five hundred camp spots so its easy to find a private spot if needed, and there are seven small bungalows. On entering you are given some garbage bags plus a a cart so you can carry your camping gear around with ease! Simply find your spot, set up camp, and enjoy the scenery of the lake and mountains.
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The campgrounds are the prefect stop over if you are driving from Sapporo to Furano. The park is located just south of Furano and even if you are not camping here you can stop in and check out the lake, the Lake Kanayama Lavender Fields (which are a must see in summer), and Kodokara shrine. The lake is huge and is a fishing spot for some, and there is a canoe activity that can be rented. The management staff are on site from 8:30 to 18:00. The campsite is open 24 hours a day, so if there are no staff, simply check in the next morning. For groups of thirty or more, there is a discount system.
| Admission | Free entry Volcano Museum ¥600 Adults - ¥300 Children |
| Opening Hours | 9:00 - 17:00 |
| Closed | December 31 to January 3 |
| Contact | 0142-75-2555 http://www.toyako-vc.jp/en/volcano/ |
| Notes | Museum, parking available, local information. Volcano Theater show times are held every 30 minutes from 9:30 to 16:30 |
| Location / Getting There | Located on the southern shore of Lake Toya. A 2 minute drive up the hill from central Toya Onsen district. 142-5 Toyakoonsen, Toyako, Abuta District, Hokkaido 049-5721 |
The Toyako Visitor center is a beautifully designed building that was established in May of 2007. The facility was made by the Ministry of the Environment. It is an information center that focuses on the environment and the interesting biodiversity of Lake Toya. Through exhibitions and displays, the facility helps visitors get in touch with the area, and introducing various eco-museum projects. There is also a fantastic Volcano Museum inside, which looks at the volcanic activity of the area, both past and present!
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The volcanic science museum can be found at the Toyako Visitor Center. It is an interesting small museum that focuses on the eruptions at Lake Toya that occurred in 1977, and in 2000. Through exhibitions, and experience devices you can get a real feel for the impact of these volcanic eruptions, and introduces the history of Mount Usu. There is a theatre inside which is fascinating and definitely worth a visit. The 13 minute documentary delves into the eruptions with sound and visuals which leave a strong impact. The audio device has translations into English, Korean, Chinese, and Thai.
| Opening Hours | 10:00 - 21:00 |
| Closed | – |
| Contact | 0167-22-4340 |
| Notes | Supermarket, Japanese restaurant, ATM on site, parking |
| Location / Getting There | Located in central Furano 2 Shintomicho, Furano, Hokkaido 076-0033 |
The Forest Shopping Centre is convenient spot that can be found in the centre of Furano. In the city of Furano there are many great restaurants to visit, but if you are camping in one of the many campgrounds in the area and looking to stock up on some supplies, or even just some snacks for the road, then the Forest Shopping Centre is extremely convenient. The centre is made up of two stories. The ground floor is the main supermarket. It is here you can grab supplies and groceries. During the warmer months, they have a lot of local produce including delicious melons.
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The top floor has a few stores including a Japanese restaurant. The restaurant, Shiki No Megumi, is a delicious place where you can stop in and have a delicious lunch after shopping. The menu includes some Japanese dishes of soba noodles, tempura, and seafood, all at a fair price. The Forest Shopping centre, also has an ATM on the ground floor which is very handy and can be set to English if need be. There is ample parking at the centre for 250 cars. Also, if you are looking for cooking gear, outside supplies, or even household items, there is a Homac right next door!
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | All day |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0142-76-2121 |
| Notes | Historical sight, photography spot, parking available |
| Location / Getting There | On the southern side of Lake Toya. The housing ruins are a 5 minute walk from the entrance. Toyakoonsen, Toyako, Abuta District, Hokkaido 049-5721 |
On March 27, 2000 Lake Toya was hit by volcanic activity and a number of large earthquakes causing some fault lines and the evacuation of the local residents. 4 days later, Mt. Usu erupted for the first time in 23 years. This followed with the eruption of Mt. Konpira which spewed forth volcanic rock and steaming mud towards the Toya Hot Spring district. This deadly mudslide swallowed bridges and houses in its wake. Now, a few of these buildings known as the Sakuragaoka Housing Ruins can be visited and you can get a first hand look at the destruction that was caused.
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The outcome included the destruction of 234 homes and damage to a further 217. Fortunately, due to the evacuations there were no casualties. These buildings are fascinating to walk around and to peer into past events. In the quiet of the countryside, they serve as a spooky reminder to the power of mother nature. The path to the building ruins is easy to follow and it is recommended to follow it further up to the Ari-kun crater. Since the eruption, safeguards have been put in place to help protect the Toya Hot Spring district, including sandbanks plus steel barriers. These can be seen along the way.
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | Grounds open all day 7:00 - 19:00 for temple |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | 0167-22-2731 |
| Notes | Shinto Shrine, sightseeing spot, photography spot, parking for 8 |
| Location / Getting There | Located in central Furano. It's a 15 minute walk from Furano station. 17-6 Wakamatsucho, Furano, Hokkaido 076-0032 |
Furano Shrine is a Shinto shrine can be found in central Furano along route 38. It was originally constructed in 1902 by the pioneers who had settled in the area. The grounds are a peaceful place to walk around and enjoy the architecture and the many trees. To one side of the main shrine, you can find two smaller shrines, Konpira Shrine and Inari Shrine. The path to these two small shrines passes under three red torii (Japanese gates). This area is a good spot to get some great photos of some Japanese culture, especially for those traveling!
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The grounds are a nice spot to walk around as they have various statues including the lion dog guardians (komainu) plotted around the shrines. There is also a dirt sumo ring that is interesting to have a look at and to get some more photos, plus a chōzubachi (water basin to wash hands). It is conveniently located whether walking from the station or for driving, as they have a small parking area. While in the town of Furano, why not stop in to Furano Marche which is close by, pick up some lunch and take a walk down to the shrine!
