toya/shikotsu recommendations

Hello, we are planning to visit the Toya Shikotsu area from Sapporo and deciding whether to rent a car or not. Will having a car make for a better experience ? We will be interested in staying in an onsen hotel and enjoying the scenery. What will the weather be like around May 9-12 ? Will it be very cold ?

We are thinking of staying for 1 or 2 nights. Any suggested itinerary would be very helpful. Thank you in advance .

There is no direct public transport between Toya-ko and Shikotsu-ko, so having your own wheels would be a good idea. Unless you have been there before Noboribetsu is another worthwhile destination in the area. You can easily take in all 3 sites if you have 2 nights and 3 days in the region. With less time and if one of them has to be skipped, personally I would take out Shikotsu-ko. Shikotsu-ko is beautiful during autumn foliage season but outside that period lake scenery is nicer in Toya-ko. By staying the night in Toya there is the added bonus of daily evening firework.

For onsen experience Noboribetsu is a popular choice but in average lodging is slightly less expensive in Toya. If you are staying in Shikotsu-ko a friend who had stayed there recommends Marukoma with its unique rotenburo by the lake shore.
http://www.marukoma.co.jp/
http://www.marukoma.co.jp/onsen.html

As for the weather, judging from last year statistic it was still pretty cool to cold during the early part on May in area around Noboribetsu, Toya and Shikotsu.
http://www.data.jma.go.jp/obd/stats/etrn/view/daily_a1.php?prec_no=21&...