Shin-Chitose Airport to Lake Toya: How to get to and around Lake Toya

Getting to Lake Toya

Covered by: Japan Rail Pass(except bus)

Take a JR train from New Chitose Airport to Minami-Chitose Station (3 minutes) and transfer to a limited express train bound for Hakodate. Get off at Toya Station about 70 minutes later. The one way trip costs 5,240 yen and is fully covered by the Japan Rail Pass and Hokkaido Rail Pass. Seat reservations are mandatory on the limited express trains.

From Toya Station, Lake Toya (Toyako Onsen bus terminal) is reached in a 15 minute bus ride (340 yen, about one bus per hour). The buses are operated by Donan Bus and are not covered by the Japan Rail Pass.

It takes about 100 minutes and costs around 3000 yen in tolls to reach Lake Toya from New Chitose Airport along the Doo Expressway. Get off at Abuta-Toyako Interchange. By toll free roads, the journey is likely to take about an hour longer.

Above fees and schedules are subject to change. Be sure to check current yen exchange rates.

Getting around

The lakeside 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, 340 yen, every hour, via the Usuzan West Crater) and Usuzan Ropeway (15 minutes, 350 yen, 4 buses/day), 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.