Shikotsu-Toya National Park

A caldera lake surrounded by active volcanoes and an unreal mossy gorge, 44 km in diameter, Lake Shikotsu is famed for the clarity of its water.

Right next to Mt. Usu, one of Japan's most active volcanoes; you can see what happened to buildings, cars, roads, etc., when a volcano erupts. A near-circular lake 10 km in diameter, Lake Toya is famed for the clarity of its water, and it never freezes in winter thanks to the geothermal activity of the region. Along with nearby Lake Shikotsu, it forms a part of the Shikotsu-Toya National Park. This is a caldera lake, the remains of a very large volcanic eruption that has hollowed out ground, where the water is highly mineral rich.

On the south side of the lake, these are in fact two canyons, both several hundred meters long, densely carpeted with thick, green moss. Free entry and well worth a visit.

This 737-m peak is the most active of the lot, with 4 major eruptions in the last 100 years. The latest in 2000 showered much of the neighboring town of Toyako Onsen with ash and debris. The mountain has quieted down now, and there are trails leading to newly created craters on the west side of the mountain. The most notable is Nishiyama Crater Trail (西山火口散策路), where you can see what happens to buildings, cars, roads, etc when a volcano erupts. It is also possible to hike around the southern half of the main crater if one takes the cable car on the east side to the rim. You can see a former public hot bathing house half-inundated with mud, a block of public housing whose first floor is completely buried on one side, and a part of a former bridge which was pushed by the mud some 300 metres from its original position. Just as you start this walk, there is a small hut with a man inside giving away maps of hiking in the Toyoko region in various languages including English. For some reason, the Visitor's Centre does not have this extremely useful brochure.

This mountain, literally "Showa New Mountain", popped out in a local farmer's field in December 1943 and, two years later, had reached a height of 402 m. It is next to the cable car valley station on the east side of Mt. Usu.

A somewhat clinical hot spring resort across the Chitose River from Shikotsuko Onsen.

This is a lakeside hotel and onsen. There are indoor and outdoor baths, and also saunas.