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.584 views
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Toya manhole showing the Ukimido temple and Nakajima islands. Hokkaido342 views
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Sculpture: Anthem of the Sun, by Machiko Kodera 小寺 真知子「太陽の賛歌」318 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.308 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」297 views
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Sculpture: Light of the Moon, by Igor Mitoraj. イゴール・ミトライ「月の光」297 views
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Sculpture: Anthem of the Sun, by Machiko Kodera. Lake Toya has many nude woman sculptures.281 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」268 views
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Sculpture: At the Lake, by Akihiko Kurokawa 黒川 晃彦「湖畔にて」261 views
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Onna (Woman) by Chizuko Sasado. 笹戸 千津子「女」249 views
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The Nakajima islands in the center of Lake Toya. There are four islands. Most them have a conical shape.232 views
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Cherry blossoms and the Nakajima islands, Lake Toya. Early May 2008.232 views
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Nakajima islands, Lake Toya230 views
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Toyako Culture Center with G8 Summit flags228 views
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Official logo of the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit on the Toyako Culture Center.209 views
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The new Toyako Onsen Bus Terminal201 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).194 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.189 views
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Signs in English near the bus stop.180 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.168 views
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Giant aerial photo of Lake Toya.156 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.155 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.)155 views
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Lake Toya in early May153 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.152 views
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Hot spring foot bath is also popular with visitors.150 views
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Toyako Onsen lakefront. There are a few cruise boat docks, motor boat docks, and swan pedal boats.145 views
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Sculpture: Anthem of the Sun, by Machiko Kodera 小寺 真知子「太陽の賛歌」144 views
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Sculpture: SHOWEN, by Noriyoshi Matsumoto. 松本 憲宣「SHOWEN」144 views
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Hot spring foot bath143 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.141 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 1984.140 views
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Sculpture: Traveling Person, by Yoshiro Mineta 峯田 義郎「旅ひとり」139 views
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Sculpture: Muse, by Nobuyuki Akechi. 明地 信之「Muse」139 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.138 views
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Hot spring foot bath on the lakefront promenade. It's called "Toron no Yu." 足湯138 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.138 views
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Sculpture: Onna (Woman) by Chizuko Sasado. 笹戸 千津子「女」135 views
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Lake Toya and cherry blossoms blooming in early May.134 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.131 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.130 views
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Windsor Hotel and lake cruise boat.130 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.129 views
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Hot spring foot bath, great especially after taking a long walk.129 views
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The lakefront promenade goes for a good distance, passing in front of numerous hotels.126 views
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On this side of the lake, the waters are quite still.124 views
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On the shore of Lake Toya is binoculars through which you can see the Summit venue, the Windsor Hotel.123 views
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Nakajima islands as seen from Toyako Onsen.121 views
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Sculpture: At the Lake, by Akihiko Kurokawa. Perhaps the most humorous sculpture.121 views
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Toyako Visitor Center and Volcano Science Museum in Toyako Onsen Spa with G8 Summit welcome sign.121 views
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Sculpture: Traveling Person, by Yoshiro Mineta 峯田 義郎「旅ひとり」120 views
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Lake Toya sign and the Nakajima islands.120 views
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Nakajima islands, Lake Toya120 views
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Swan boat and a real swan.119 views
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Sculpture: by Keiko Amamiya, 雨宮 敬子「洞照」118 views
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Entrance to Toyako Visitor Center (free admission, but admission charged for the Volcano Science Museum).118 views
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Lakefront promenade117 views
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Toyako Visitor Center117 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117 views
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Swan boats. You can pedal pretty far out in these things, but not to the Nakajima islands.116 views
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Swan boats again.115 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115 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit countdown at Toyako Visitors Center and Volcano Science Museum in Toyako Onsen Spa.114 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.113 views
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How Lake Toya was formed.112 views
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G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit welcome sign on the edge of Toyako Onsen hot spring.111 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110 views
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Fishes in Lake Toya106 views
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Lakefront promenade on the west end of Toyako Onsen Spa.106 views
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Birds around Toyako104 views
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Volcanic rock which you can touch. Toyako Visitor Center99 views
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