 Most viewed - Toyako Onsen Spa 洞爺湖 |
Toyako Onsen Spa is Lake Toya's main town and tourist base on the southern shore. It is a cluster of hotels and ryokans offering hot spring waters.595 views
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Toya manhole showing the Ukimido temple and Nakajima islands. Hokkaido356 views
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Sculpture: Anthem of the Sun, by Machiko Kodera 小寺 真知子「太陽の賛歌」331 views
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Sculpture: by Keiko Amamiya, 雨宮 敬子「洞照」. One problem with the outdoor sculptures, especially human figures, are the birds. Their droppings create unsightly white streaks down the body.321 views
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Lake Toya is decorated with almost 60 outdoor sculptures along the shore all around the lake. This is the first one you will likely see. By Tando Saka. 坂 担道「湖渡る風」309 views
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Sculpture: Light of the Moon, by Igor Mitoraj. イゴール・ミトライ「月の光」308 views
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Sculpture: Anthem of the Sun, by Machiko Kodera. Lake Toya has many nude woman sculptures.293 views
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On the west end of Toyako Onsen are more sculptures and a park. Sculpture by Kan Yasuda. 安田 侃「意心帰」280 views
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Sculpture: At the Lake, by Akihiko Kurokawa 黒川 晃彦「湖畔にて」270 views
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Onna (Woman) by Chizuko Sasado. 笹戸 千津子「女」264 views
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Nakajima islands, Lake Toya243 views
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The Nakajima islands in the center of Lake Toya. There are four islands. Most them have a conical shape.242 views
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Cherry blossoms and the Nakajima islands, Lake Toya. Early May 2008.240 views
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Toyako Culture Center with G8 Summit flags239 views
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Official logo of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit on the Toyako Culture Center.220 views
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The new Toyako Onsen Bus Terminal210 views
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Toyako Onsen bus stop. "Toyako" means Lake Toya, and "Onsen" means hot spring. Lake Toya is within the municipalities of Toyako-cho town and Sobetsu-cho town (east shore).203 views
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A short bus ride from Toyako Onsen is the Nishiyama crater trail. Highly recommended. A series of craters can be seen up close. More photos here.198 views
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Signs in English near the bus stop.191 views
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Windsor Hotel, G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit venue. It would've been great if it were shaped a like a mountain-top castle.180 views
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Going toward the lake. On the right is where you can rent a bicycle for 1000 to 1500 yen. On the left is the tourist office.168 views
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This cruise boat, called Espoir, looks like a medieval European castle. It's a double-hulled boat. The lake cruise fare is 1,320 yen for adults and 660 yen for kids. (Slightly more expensive during Nov.-April.)168 views
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Giant aerial photo of Lake Toya.165 views
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Toyako Onsen has a nice lakefront promenade for pedestrians. Cars no longer travel here so it's pleasant for a stroll.164 views
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Lake Toya in early May163 views
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Hot spring foot bath is also popular with visitors.162 views
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Toyako Onsen lakefront. There are a few cruise boat docks, motor boat docks, and swan pedal boats.158 views
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Sculpture: Anthem of the Sun, by Machiko Kodera 小寺 真知子「太陽の賛歌」154 views
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Sculpture: SHOWEN, by Noriyoshi Matsumoto. 松本 憲宣「SHOWEN」154 views
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Hot spring foot bath153 views
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Sculpture: Traveling Person, by Yoshiro Mineta 峯田 義郎「旅ひとり」150 views
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The Toyako Visitor Center is spacious with a giant aerial photo of Lake Toya and various exhibits introducing the lake which is within the Shikotsu-Toya National Park.150 views
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Toyako Onsen Spa tourist information office with a G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign. Near the bus terminal and center of town.149 views
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Ezo deer sculpture and the Nakajima islands in the lake. The sculptures are called Toyako Gurutto Chokoku Koen (Lake Toya Circular Sculpture Park). The sculpture project started in 1984.149 views
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Sculpture: Muse, by Nobuyuki Akechi. 明地 信之「Muse」149 views
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Lake Toya is a caldera lake, or crater lake. The mountain blew its top forming a huge crater. Later, volcanos erupted at the center to form smaller mountains which are now islands in the water-filled crater.147 views
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Hot spring foot bath on the lakefront promenade. It's called "Toron no Yu." 足湯147 views
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Sculpture: Onna (Woman) by Chizuko Sasado. 笹戸 千津子「女」147 views
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Lake Toya and cherry blossoms blooming in early May.143 views
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Windsor Hotel and lake cruise boat.142 views
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Hot spring foot bath, great especially after taking a long walk.141 views
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During Nov.-April, it operates every hour from 9 am to 4 pm. The cruise takes 50 min. if you don't get off to visit the Nakajima islands. Otherwise, allow 80 min. if you want to get also step foot on the Nakajima islands.140 views
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The lake cruise boat heads back to shore as the Windsor Hotel (G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit venue) can be seen on the hill above. More boat cruise photos here.138 views
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The Ekimae Sanbashi Pier, almost front and center along Toyako Onsen's lake shore, has cruise boats leaving for lake cruises to the Nakajima islands every 30 min. from 8 am to 4:30 pm during April-Oct.138 views
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The lakefront promenade goes for a good distance, passing in front of numerous hotels.135 views
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Lake Toya sign and the Nakajima islands.134 views
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On the shore of Lake Toya is binoculars through which you can see the Summit venue, the Windsor Hotel.133 views
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On this side of the lake, the waters are quite still.132 views
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Nakajima islands, Lake Toya132 views
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Sculpture: Traveling Person, by Yoshiro Mineta 峯田 義郎「旅ひとり」131 views
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Nakajima islands as seen from Toyako Onsen.130 views
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Sculpture: At the Lake, by Akihiko Kurokawa. Perhaps the most humorous sculpture.130 views
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Toyako Visitor Center and Volcano Science Museum in Toyako Onsen Spa with G8 Summit welcome sign.129 views
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Sculpture: by Keiko Amamiya, 雨宮 敬子「洞照」128 views
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Swan boat and a real swan.126 views
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Mt. Usu Eruption Memorial Park on the west end of Toyako Onsen has more outdoor sculptures. 有珠山噴火記念公園126 views
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Lakefront promenade125 views
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Entrance to Toyako Visitor Center (free admission, but admission charged for the Volcano Science Museum).124 views
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Swan boats. You can pedal pretty far out in these things, but not to the Nakajima islands.123 views
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Swan boats again.123 views
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Toyako Visitor Center123 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit countdown at Toyako Visitors Center and Volcano Science Museum in Toyako Onsen Spa.122 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign on the edge of Toyako Onsen hot spring.121 views
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Wrecked car on display. The main attraction is the Mt. Usu Volcanic Eruption Theater which shows an engrossing film about Usuzan's eruptions. 火山科学館121 views
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The Toyako Visitor Center also has the Volcano Science Museum (admission 600 yen). A room (seen on left) simulating the 1977 Mt. Usu eruption with a video and vibrating sound is a must-see.120 views
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How Lake Toya was formed.120 views
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Toyako Visitor Center and Volcano Science Museum (smaller building on left). 洞爺湖ビジターセンター117 views
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Birds around Toyako112 views
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Lakefront promenade on the west end of Toyako Onsen Spa.112 views
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Fishes in Lake Toya110 views
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Volcanic rock which you can touch. Toyako Visitor Center107 views
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