Day 5 Summary:

• 9:00 AM: Check out and drive to Lake Toya 洞爺湖 (1hr)
• 10:30AM: Lake Toya Cruise Ride with disembarkation at Nakanoshima 中島 and back (80mins)
• 12:00 NN: Drive to Takashina Fruit Farm (15min)
• 12:15 PM: Visit to Takashina Fruit Farm タカシナ観光果樹園
• 1:15 PM: Drive to Noboribetsu onsen cho 登別温泉町
• 2:15 PM: Lunch at Hokkaido BBQ NOBOJIN 北海道バーベキュー ノボジン
• 3:00 PM: Stop by Shrine of King Enma for a short display
• 3:45 – 4:20 PM: Explore Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Hell Valley) 登別地獄谷
• 7:00 PM: Dinner at a soba restaurant in Sapporo Kirinoshita 蕎麦屋 霧の下

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9:00 AM: We kicked off Day 5 with an early start, and had a lovely buffet breakfast at our hotel. The drive towards Lake Toya was lovely and surrounded by lush greenery.

10:30AM: After about an hour, we arrived at the lake just in time for our Lake Toya Cruise Ride. Take note Nakanoshima Cruise Pier 中島巡り遊覧船桟橋 is located behind Hotel Grand Toya and there is free parking nearby. Cruise departs every 30 mins from the pier from 9am.

Toyakokisen Ferry Terminal 中島巡り遊覧船桟橋 洞爺湖汽船
Toyakoonsen, Toyako, Abuta District, Hokkaido 049-5721, Japan
〒049-5721　北海道虻田郡洞爺湖町洞爺湖温泉36-4
https://hokkaidoguide.com/lake-toya-ferry-cruise/
Map Code: 321 518 599 (Please double check location on map before driving!)

Lake Toya 洞爺湖 is breathtaking—a caldera lake with serene, glassy waters surrounded by picturesque mountains. The cruise gave us a relaxing chance to take in the stunning views, and the cool breeze on the deck was refreshing. Mount Usu 有珠山, an active volcano, loomed in the distance. The last time it erupted was in 2000. The cruise makes a stop at Nakajima and you can decide to disembark to hike on the island which is part of the Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark. We decided to take some photos and a quick stroll on the island and then took the next cruise back.

Note! There’s fireworks in summer to autumn, but we did not plan to catch it this time. You can consider staying a night here at Lake Toya instead. There are also hikes which you can take for a day trip.

12:15 PM: Our next stop was the Takashina Fruit Farm タカシナ観光果樹園 after we docked back on land and it was a short 10-15 min drive away. It’s a charming farm offering fresh fruit-picking experiences. While we missed fruit picking at Furano, we were just in time for blueberry season in Toyako! So, we grabbed baskets and set out into the fields. Picking the plump, sweet berries was a fun break and snacking on them fresh from the vine was a treat! The owners were nice, and gave us some plumes on top of the blueberry buffet. Again, be sure to check their website for what is in season so to avoid any disappointment!

Takashina Fruit Farm タカシナ観光果樹園
362 Takinomachi, Sōbetsu-chō, Usu District, Hokkaido 052-0101, Japan
〒052-0101 北海道有珠郡壮瞥町滝之町３６２番地
https://tk-fruit.com/

2:15 PM: For lunch, we headed towards Noboribetsu’s Hokkaido BBQ NOBOJIN 北海道バーベキュー ノボジン, known for its lively atmosphere and hearty grilled meat dishes. We indulged in a delicious yakiniku meal, with sizzling cuts of beef and pork cooked right at our table. The mix of flavors—smoky, savory, and slightly sweet—was simply irresistible. It was the perfect way to refuel before continuing our journey.

Hokkaido BBQ NOBOJIN 北海道バーベキュー ノボジン
〒059-0551 Hokkaido, Noboribetsu, Noboribetsuonsencho, 76番地 石川ビル ２F

3:00 PM: After lunch, we visited the Shrine of King Enma, a towering guardian figure that stood watch over the area. There is a short display of music and change of face to remind people not to do evil! We did not visit the shrine itself as we had insufficient time this trip, but definitely worth a return in future!

3:45PM: Our next destination was Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Hell Valley) 登別地獄谷, which was just around the corner from King Enma. Noboribetsu Jigokudani is a volcanic crater spanning 11 hectares with a 450-meter diameter, formed by the volcanic activity of Mt. Hiyori from about 10,000 years ago. The valley is dotted with fumaroles and steaming vents, where bubbling, boiling waters give the landscape a surreal, almost otherworldly look—earning it the name “Oni no Sumu Jigoku,” or “Hell Where Demons Live.”

The landscape here was unlike anything else we’d seen or smelt so far on the trip—steaming hot springs, bubbling sulfur pits, and dramatic rock formations gave it an otherworldly feel. We took a short walk along the valley’s wooden paths in the drizzle, which lead to a viewpoint overlooking the entire area. The valley’s raw, rugged landscape really made it feel like we were standing on another planet. The water runs through with a jade like colour. Parking was 500 yen but you can park freely at the different parking lots available after payment. So instead of walking to Oyunuma 大湯沼 and okunoyu 奥の湯, we drove over.

The place is hot and steaming, smelt terrible but makes you want to stay for the onsen! If you have an additional night, I recommend staying here! Noboribetsu is one of Hokkaido’s famous spa towns, and its naturally occurring hot springs rank among Japan’s best.

Noboribetsu Jigokudani (Hell Valley) 登別地獄谷
Noboribetsuonsencho, Noboribetsu, Hokkaido 059-0551, Japan
https://noboribetsu-spa.jp/en/spot/spot0034/
https://www.japan.travel/en/spot/1908/
Map Code: 603 288 360 (Please double check location on map before driving!)

By late afternoon, we were back on the road, heading towards Sapporo. It was a long but scenic drive. The drive was overall pleasant, taking the toll roads. However, you want to take note that there might be traffic jam driving into Sapporo at the exits. Remember to cater time for slow traffic if you are heading back to Sapporo. We took at least 1.5 hours exiting the highway.

7:00 PM: We arrived in Sapporo just in time for vehicle return and dinner. After checking into our hotel, we decided to go for something comforting and local—soba. We found a cozy soba restaurant Kirinoshita 蕎麦屋 霧の下 where the noodles were handmade and served cold with a dipping sauce. After a full day of exploring, the simplicity and freshness of the meal were exactly what we needed to wind down.

Kirinoshita Sapporo Apia Ten 霧の下 札幌アピア店
3 Chome Kita 5 Jonishi, Chuo Ward, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0005, Japan
https://tabelog.com/hokkaido/A0108/A010803/1059982/

This ends my 5 day trip in Sapporo! Thanks for following! Hope you enjoy the mix of natural beauty, cultural sites and delicious food of Sapporo!