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How to travel between Lake Toya and Tokyo
By air:
The fastest way to access Lake Toya from Tokyo is by plane via Sapporo's Shin-Chitose Airport:
1) How to get from Tokyo to Shin-Chitose Airport
2) How to get from Shin-Chitose Airport to Lake Toya
By daytime trains:
From Tokyo, take a hayate train on the JR Tohoku Shinkansen to its terminus in Hachinohe (3 hours). Then, take the JR Hakucho limited express to Hakodate (3 hours) and finally the JR Hokuto limited express to Toya Station (2 hours).
The entire one way trip costs about 21,000 Yen and takes around nine hours. It is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass. Note that seat reservations are mandatory on the hayate shinkansen between Tokyo and Hachinohe.
Budget travelers with lots of time may consider the seasonally available Hokkaido & Higashinihon Pass for the trip.
By night train:
One or two night trains (more during peak seasons) operate daily between Tokyo's Ueno Station and Sapporo in each direction, stopping at Toya Station along the way. The one way trip takes 14-15 hours and costs around 24,000 yen per person in the cheapest berth.
Note that the Japan Rail Pass does not cover the expense for a berth (from around 6000 Yen), the limited express fee (about 3000 Yen) and a supplement for partially using non-JR tracks (about 3000 Yen) on night trains between Tokyo and Toya.
View our night train information page for more details.
Above fees and schedules are subject to change. For the current Yen exchange rate, click here.
Orientation
The lakeside hot spring resort of Toyako Onsen at the foot of Mount Usu is where you will find most of the area's hotels and shops, a visitor center, the sightseeing boat pier and the bus terminal.
Toyako Onsen bus terminal is served by both the local buses to JR Toya Station (15 minutes, 320 yen, one bus/hour, stops near Usuzan West Crater along the way) and Usuzan Ropeway (15 minutes, 330 yen, four buses/day, no service in winter), as well as by long-distance buses to Sapporo and other destinations.
Due to the infrequent bus connections inside the park and the absence of a public transport connection to nearby Lake Shikotsu, a rental car is the recommended means of transport for exploring Shikotsu-Toya National Park.
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