Lake Toya

After we left Hakodate, we went up to Lake Toya.

Lake Toya (Toyako) is part of the Shikotsu-Toya National Park. In addition to the lake itself, the Toyako region features hot springs and an active volcano, Mount Usu, which last erupted in the year 2000. The area also offers many fishing, hiking, and camping opportunities.

The picturesque lake was chosen as the location of the the G8 summit which Japan hosted from July 7 to 9, 2008. The leaders of the world's eight major industrialized democracies met at the Windsor Hotel Toya Resort & Spa.

This information came from this site: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6725.html

The night we stayed in Lake Toya they had fireworks. I don't have pictures of that, but there was a boat in the lake, and I have pictures of that.

The view from our hotel room when we got there, late in the day.

This boat was getting ready to view the fireworks

Soooo pretty....

Charles and I got up early the next morning and jogged along the boardwalk. It was a nice jog, very pretty and cool but also very foggy. No pictures

Here is the lobby of the hotel. It has giant glass doors that open onto a large patio with a view of the lake. The doors are open all day, and there was a nice cool breeze the day we were there. I could have sat there for hours. The pictures below are all from the hotel website.

dinner in the room

Also, this was a traditional ryokhan, so we had dinner in the the room with lots of amazing sushi, crab and other delicacies.

the dining part of our room

This place also had an amazing ohnsen, with an indoor bath and an outdoor bath that looked out onto the lake. Very very nice.