Melon Journey: Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu)

Refer to below links for more Hokkaido summer trip blogs:

1. Our Pre Wedding Photoshooting Memories: Pre Wedding Photoshooting Blog
2. Executive Summary: Executive Summary Blog

3. Day 1 & 2 (Furano): Day 1&2 (Furano) Blog

4. Day 3 (Furano & Biei): Day 3 (Furano & Biei) Blog

5. Day 4 (Otaru & Sapporo): Day 4 (Otaru & Sapporo) Blog

6. Day 5 (Hakodate): Day 5 (Hakodate) Blog
7. Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu): Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu) Blog
8. Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport): Day 7 & 8 (Noribetsu & Otaru & Airport) Blog

9. Top Foods in Hokkaido: Top Foods in Hokkaido Blog

10. Top Dessert in Hokkaido: Top Dessert in Hokkaido

Itinerary Summary:

Day 6 (Lake Toya & Noribetsu):
Shikotsu Toya Silo Observatory→ Lake Toya → Jigokudani Hell Valley

Today we check out hotel from Hakodate and drive to Noribetsu. It is time to pamper our body and recharge before end of the trip. We stop by Lake Toya in the middle to rest awhile. There are many famous lakes everywhere in Hokkaido and there are many hotels facing the lake view are specially built for foreigners. During summer, there will be fireworks festival in front of Lake Toya. If you stay in the hotel just facing the lake, then you are in the luck to enjoy the fireworks display in your hotel balcony. Due to time constraint, we have decided to stay in Noribetsu hotel as onsen hotel is a must in Hokkaido! What's more the onsen water is directly supplied from the nearby Jigokudani Hell Valley! Walk for few minutes and you get the see the valley which emits hot steam. To our surprise, the day when we check in is the last day of Jigokudani Hell Valley summer fireworks festival! Although we do not have the chance to enjoy in Lake Toya, this Noribetsu sure makes up for it! And it is free.. 😊

Shikotsu Toya Silo Observatory

Map Code: 321726732*66

Operating Hours: 8.30am - 6pm

Average Time Spent: 1 hour

Highlights: Pretty scenery

Suits: Sightseeing

Personal Star Rating: ★★★ (Worth to Visit)

Description & Tips:

👉An observatory that can get a panaromic view of Lake Toya, Mt. Usu and Mt. Showa Shinzan.
👉 There is a helicopter tour beside as well, for those tourists that want to go up the sky to view the lake view.
👉 A souvenir shop and cafe nearby as well. You can buy specialty products limited edition only from Lake Toya. An interesting fact of Hokkaido is that, whenever you reach one area, you can find limited edition products from the area only, it is so unique right!

Panoramic view

Lake Toya

Map Code: 321731678*31

Operating Hours: 24 hours

Average Time Spent: 0.5 hour

Highlights: Pretty scenery

Suits: Sightseeing

Personal Star Rating: ★★ (Can Skip if Time Constraint)

Description & Tips:

👉 Registered as "UNESCO Global Geopark" for it's geographical mountains and lakes.
👉 Is the 3rd largest volcanic caldera lake in Japan after Lake Kussaro and Lake Shikotsu.
👉 Summer festival in the Lake Toya, with fireworks display! Stay in the onsen hotel facing Lake Toya grants you the advantage to view fireworks from you hotel's balcony.

Jigokudani Hell Valley

Map Code: 603288368*85 (Note: We only walk for 10 minutes from our Noribetsu Manseikaku hotel)

Operating Hours: 8am - 6pm

Average Time Spent: 1 hour

Highlights: Pretty scenery, Fireworks

Suits: Sightseeing

Personal Star Rating: ★★★★ (Recommended)

Description & Tips:
👉 Situated in Noribetsu, which is a famous area in Hokkaido for best onsen hotels. Thus, it is very famous among locals and especially tourists and travel agencies.

👉 An active volcanic crater created by eruption. It is the largest source of natural hot spring water for Noribetsu Onsen hotels. So use your chance to try the onsen in Noribetsu hotels, as the natural hot spring water is just from the vicinity of Hell Valley and different types of hot spring water has different kind of functions to pamper your body as well!
👉 Steams in Hell Valley has unbearable sulphur smell. Some may not be able to stay in this area long, that of course includes me, I am always weak, haha..
👉 Summer festivals which last only few days, with free show of Noribetsu's red and blue 'demons' dancing on the stage and lastly end the day with fireworks display!
👉 Had the chances to visit during day and night time of Hell Valley, go for both if you are free! Night time we only stay for the festival, but not venture inside the Hell Valley, you may do so if you are interested. Day time is certainly packed with tourists and often see many travel buses and tours here and there.