| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | All day |
| Closed | November to April |
| Contact | 0142-66-4200 |
| Notes | Light walking trails, photography spot, parking available for 20, small shrine at park, plum tree viewing (mid May) |
| Location / Getting There | 12 minute drive east from Toyako Onsen. Heading east, the access road is on the right (with the lake on the left) 〒052-0104 Hokkaido, Usu District, Sobetsu, 町東湖畔 |
huge maps – google map here
Sobetsu park is a beautiful hilltop park that commands some of the best of views of Lake Toya. Not only can you see the lake in its glory, but there are views of the volcano, Mount Usu. And in good weather, you can see Mount Yotei and the Niseko mountain range in the distance. Sobetsu Park is most famous for its views during the spring. During mid May, the three hundred plum blossoms are in full bloom making the park a particularly popular spot for photographers from all over. You can get some great photos of the blossoms with the lake in the background!
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The park is huge and runs up the whole mountain and is adorned with a couple of sculptures. There is a narrow road that leads to the top where you can find parking for about twenty cars. Due to the winding road, it is inaccessible by bus. At the top, there are a few benches and tables and makes for a good picnic spot. Sightseers can also find a small shrine at the top here, which is surrounded, interestingly, by cut out steel swords and knives that have been placed on the fence. In the centre of the shrine, there is a warrior like statue. Sobetsu Park is a great place to take in the views!
| Places of Interest | Kanayama Lavender Fields Kanayama Dam Kodakara Shrine Kanayamo Forest Park Camping Ground |
| Notes | Walking trails, National park, Camping grounds, Canoeing |
| Getting There | Located along route 465 in Minami Furano (South Furano) district. 2 hour drive north east from Sapporo. 40 minute drive south from Furano. Closest station is Higashi-Shikagoe Station, along the Nemuro line. 5 minute walk to the lake from the station. |
In Central Hokkaido located in the district of Minami Furano you can find the impressive Lake Kanayama. This narrow lake stretches for about ten kilometers and is surrounded by wooded mountains. It is formed from the Sorachi River among half a dozen others. It is a very picturesque place to visit, and is a good stop over point of you are driving from Sapporo to Furano via the backroads. On its central northern edge there is the Kanayama Forest Park, which is home to the Kanayamakohan Camping Ground, plus the beautiful Lake Kanayama Lavender Fields. On the eastern edge of the lake, there is the Kanayama Dam.
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Along the lake you can often find a few fishermen, but if you want to get a closer look on the lake , then there is a fun canoeing tour that is available for the public! To rent out the canoes, you can talk to the staff at the Kanayama Camping Ground, as this is where the tour starts. The large canoes fit a maximum of five people (2 adults and 3 children) and the tour is overseen by a guide. Tours are from April to September and run for 1 hour 30 minutes. The canoes are available from 6:00 until 16:00. Guide, insurance, plus equipment is all included in the price, which is ¥5000 per canoe (cash only). There are five canoes so a maximum of up to 25 people!
| 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!
