Lake Shikotsu

What to know

Lake Shikotsu (支笏湖) and nearby Lake Toya are the two main highlights of Shikotsu-Toya National Park. Both are caldera lakes formed by volcanic collapse.

Most of Lake Shikotsu remains undeveloped except for Shikotsu Kohan, a small tourist town with a visitor center and some lodgings on the western shore. From here, visitors can rent boats, bicycles, or scuba gear, or join a sightseeing cruise on glass-bottomed or speed boats from late April to early November.

The lake is surrounded by mountains, including Mount Tarumae, one of Japan's most active volcanoes, which last erupted in 1981. The steep but short climb takes under an hour and rewards hikers with views of the barren crater and the lake. A two-hour crater rim walk is possible, but entering the crater is prohibited due to toxic gases. The trailhead is accessible by car from late May to October, but there is no public transport.

On the northern shore, Marukoma Onsen is a ryokan with unique hot spring baths open to non-guests on certain days. Some baths sit right on the lakeshore, connected by small canals that allow water exchange between the pool and the lake. The water level in these baths fluctuates with the lake, often higher than typical onsen pools outside winter. The ryokan also has conventional gender-separated baths.

A rental car is the best way to explore the Shikotsu area. Buses run infrequently, and the Mount Tarumae trailhead has no public transport. The lake is a 40-minute drive from Shin-Chitose Airport, 80 minutes from central Sapporo, or an hour from Lake Toya.

From Shin-Chitose Airport, buses go to Shikotsu Kohan (1 hour, 1260 yen one way, every 2-3 hours), stopping at Chitose Station along the way. The trip from Chitose Station to Shikotsu Kohan takes about 45 minutes and costs 1140 yen. The direct bus from Sapporo to Lake Shikotsu was discontinued in 2010.