A caldera lake and Mt. Usu. Views from the mountain pass are another highlight
| From Tomakomai Station | By car about 1 h 15 min (about 88 km by road) Estimated from road map data. Traffic lights, congestion and winter roads can make it take longer. |
|---|---|
| Area | Shiraoi, Noboribetsu, Muroran & Toya |
| Our photos | 2020 |
| Map | Route from Tomakomai Station / Open map |
What are Lake Toya and Orofure Pass like?
Lake Toya is a caldera lake in Shikotsu-Toya National Park, with Nakajima Island floating in the middle of the lake. Close by are the active volcanoes Mt. Usu and Showa-Shinzan, and there is also a hot spring town.
On the drive to Lake Toya, you can also enjoy mountain scenery such as Orofure Pass, which links Noboribetsu and Sobetsu Town, and Sobetsu Falls.
Getting there from Tomakomai and travel time
From JR Tomakomai Station, it takes about 1 h 15 min by car. The distance is about 88 km by road.
Routes over the pass may be closed or restricted in winter. Check road information before you leave.
Travel times are estimates based on the road distance from map data (OpenStreetMap), assuming an average speed of about 55 km/h (about 70 km/h for routes longer than 40 km). Traffic lights, traffic jams and winter road conditions can make the trip longer. Please check the latest road information before you go.
How people living in Tomakomai can enjoy it
From Tomakomai, it is a slightly longer drive. Our president visited in 2010 and 2020. Driving conditions on pass roads become severe in winter, so choose your route according to the season.
Our photo record
Our president visited in May 2020 and recorded about 262 photos.
This page was machine-translated. The Japanese original prevails.
Photos: Banana House Inc. (taken by our president). Do not reuse without permission.
Our photo records and timestamp certificates
The 12 photos in this article were taken on site by our president. We list the SHA-256 hashes of the published files and have them signed by timestamp authorities (DateSealed, DigiCert, Sectigo)(First certified: 2026-11-03 12:40 JST). A signature shows that the same file existed before that time; it does not prove the date the photo was taken.
You can check the signature and hash of each photo from its timestamp certificate. To see whether a photo you saved matches our records, use the photo timestamp verification page (Japanese) .
Frequently asked questions
Can I make a day trip to Lake Toya from Tomakomai?
Yes, it is within day-trip distance by car. In winter, it is safer to avoid the pass roads and take the coastal route.
Nearby spots
- Noboribetsu Onsen (about 24 km in a straight line / from Tomakomai Station about 40 min)
- Mt. Yotei and Kyogoku Fukidashi Park (about 29 km in a straight line / from Tomakomai Station about 1 h 15 min)
- Hakucho Bridge, Muroran (about 29 km in a straight line / from Tomakomai Station about 1 h)
Looking for a home or selling in Tomakomai?
“Lake Shikotsu or Noboribetsu on weekends”, “I want to live near the airport”: we suggest areas that fit the way you want to live. We also help with selling and vacant houses.
Banana House Inc., 1-1-1 Honkocho, Tomakomai. We never use pushy sales. Please write in English or Japanese.