Lake Tōya


Lake Tōya is a volcanic caldera lake in Shikotsu-Toya National Park, Abuta District, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is part of "Toya Caldera and Usu Volcano Global Geopark" which joins in Global Geoparks Network. The stratovolcano of Mount Usu lies on the southern rim of the caldera. The lake is nearly circular, being 10 kilometers in diameter from east-west and 9 kilometers from North-South. The town of Tōyako comprises most of the area surrounding the lake and the town of Sōbetsu is located on the eastern side.
Lake Tōya is said to be the northernmost lake in Japan that never ices, and the second most transparent lake in Japan. Nakajima Island is an island in the middle of the lake which houses the Tōya Lake Forest Museum.
Lake Tōya was called Kim'un-to means "in the mountain" and ト by the Ainu. In the Meiji era, Japanese pioneers named the lake Tōya after the Ainu expression to ya, which means "lakeshore, land around a lake."
The 2008 G8 Summit was held at Lake Tōya and The Windsor Hotel Toya Resort & Spa.

In popular culture

Surrounding Lake Toya, there are numerous parks each with their own unique character and charm. There are also numerous walking trails along the lake to take a stroll in, such as the Waterfront Forest Lane and the Nishiyama Sanroku Crater Trail. There are also onsen managed by the town of Toyako that offer a view of Lake Toya. There are also a number of hand and foothbaths nearby. Uniquely, large vending machines near the onsen offer spring water that can be taken to be used at home.