“I don’t have a license,” “I’m nervous about driving on winter roads,” “I want to save on car rental”—plenty of people want to travel to Lake Toya without a car. As Kamonoya, which runs 11 whole-house rentals at Lake Toya, we can say clearly: sightseeing in the Lake Toya onsen town can be done entirely on foot. This article guides you through access and how to enjoy a car-free trip.

Car-free access basics: JR limited express + local bus

The basic route by public transport is simple.

• From New Chitose Airport: Airport Station → Minami-Chitose → limited express to Toya Station (for reference: about 2 hours by car).
• From Sapporo: limited express from Sapporo Station to Toya Station.
• From Toya Station: about 20 minutes by local bus to Lake Toya Onsen.

Limited expresses and buses are limited in frequency and can change by season. Always check connection times on each operator’s official website in advance. Some time slots have few buses, so a tip is to choose your train to match the bus connection after arriving at Toya Station.

Once in the onsen town, the main attractions are within walking distance

The Lake Toya onsen town is compact, with a promenade laid out along the lake. Just the things you can enjoy on foot include all of these.

• A lakeside stroll: simply walking the lakeside promenade is picture-perfect.
• Hand baths and foot baths: found around the onsen town, free to drop into mid-walk.
• The Lake Toya boat (Nakajima cruise): board at the onsen town pier. The views from the water are exceptional.
• The Lake Toya Long-run Fireworks Festival: from late April to the end of October, about 20 minutes from around 20:45 each night. You can watch from the lakeside on foot (check the latest schedule on the official website).
• Souvenir shopping and snacking at shops such as Wakasaimo Honpo.

It is not “no transport means nothing to do”—rather, being on foot lets you savor the atmosphere of the onsen town slowly, which is our honest feeling as a local operator.

For outlying spots, check in advance

Outlying spots such as the Usuzan Ropeway, Showa-Shinzan, the Silo Observatory and Lake Hill Farm are some distance from the onsen town and not realistic on foot. If you want to visit them without a car, check in advance whether taxis or sightseeing buses are available and running. Service can change by season.

Saving the outlying areas for a future rental-car trip, and spending this trip focused and relaxed in the onsen town, is also a good choice.

For a car-free trip, choose a lodging in the onsen town center

The success of a car-free trip is nearly decided by the location of your lodging. If the condition is “walkable from the bus stop, with sightseeing and dining all on foot,” a lodging in the onsen town center is the only choice. Here are Kamonoya’s central properties.

• Lake Toya Building 1R (sleeps 3, from ¥7,000/night): an affordable apartment type for couples and solo travelers.
• Lake Toya Building 2LDK (sleeps 6, from ¥11,000/night): room enough for a family.
• Toya Terraced House (sleeps 4, from ¥11,000/night): relaxed space for a small group.
• Toya House (sleeps 8, from ¥24,000/night): a whole-house rental in the onsen town center.

All properties have full kitchens and are whole-house or whole-unit rentals, so you can also enjoy the car-free style of shopping on foot and eating in your room. See the rest from the list of properties, and how to plan your stay in the Lake Toya model course. For where to buy ingredients and local food tips, see our Lake Toya food guide.

Booking directly through our official site is the best-value official rate, with no agency commission (best-rate guarantee). Check availability here.

FAQ

Q1. How do I get to the Lake Toya onsen town without a car?

Take a JR limited express to Toya Station, then about 20 minutes by local bus. Both trains and buses have limited frequency at some times, so check the timetable and plan your connection in advance.

Q2. Can I enjoy a one-night, two-day trip in the onsen town alone?

Yes. A lakeside stroll, hand and foot baths, a Nakajima cruise on the Lake Toya boat, and fireworks at night (late April to end of October)—all within walking distance—make for a full trip. With a kitchen-equipped lodging, eating in your room becomes part of the fun.

Q3. Can I reach the Usuzan Ropeway or the Silo Observatory without a car?

They are some distance from the onsen town, so please check in advance whether taxis or sightseeing buses are available and running. Service can change by season.