| 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.
| 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.
| 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!
| Admission | Free |
| Opening Hours | All day |
| Closed | - |
| Contact | - |
| Notes | Light walking trails, photography spot, parking available |
| Location / Getting There | On the southern side of Lake Toya. The crater itself is a 15 minute walk from the entrance. Toyakoonsen, Toyako, Abuta District, Hokkaido 049-5721 |
Lake Toya, being a caldera volcanic lake, is surrounded by land that has seen its fair share of volcanic activity. The area is home to a few craters, half a dozen monuments related to the ever shifting geography, and the active volcano Mt. Usu! Among the craters formed over the the southern area of Lake Toya there are some walking trails that make for a nice hike taking in the surrounding landscape. The entrance to the path, called the ‘Kompirayama Walking Trail’ can be found behind the Toyako Visitor Centre. It is also here you can find the parking lot.
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The walking trails are numbered from one to seven. You can find a map of these trails at the small hut at the base of the stairs that lead to start of the hike. The walk leads up into the hills where you can view the Ari-kun crater. Simply follow the sign mark T-7 and this will lead you to the crater. Along the way, you can see the steel barriers that were erected to protect the town from the hot mudflow after the 1977 eruptions. The trail is a circuit that also leads past the Sakuragaoka Housing Complex Ruins. Not only can you enjoy the views, but you also learn about the interesting history of the impact of the volcanoes in the area!
