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Lake Toya, Showa Shinzan and Noboribetsu Hell Valley Day Trip in Sapporo

Top rated
4.5
Activity provider: AsiaByLocals
Lake Toya, Showa Shinzan and Noboribetsu Hell Valley Day Trip
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A full-day coach trip into southern Hokkaido taking in Lake Toya, Lake Hill Farm, Showa Shinzan and the steaming vents of Noboribetsu Hell Valley.

Highlights

  • Spend an hour on the shore of the caldera lake at Lake Toya
  • Break at Lake Hill Farm in open Hokkaido pasture country
  • See the young volcanic dome of Showa Shinzan with free time for lunch
  • Walk among the steam vents of Noboribetsu Hell Valley
  • Seasonal Meisui Park in warmer months or a snowmobile ride in winter
  • Comfortable coach with a choice of pick-up and drop-off points

Lake Toya, Showa Shinzan and Noboribetsu Hell Valley Day Trip: Key Facts

PriceFrom $64.42 per person
DurationFull day
LanguagesEnglish
Tour typeGuided Tour
BookingDirect with the local operator — no OTA markup

Full description

Southern Hokkaido is volcano country, and this full-day trip from Sapporo shows you what that means on the ground. After around two hours on the coach you arrive at Lake Toya, a broad caldera lake ringed by hills, where you have an hour to walk the shore, take photographs, browse the shops and hear from your guide about how the lake was formed. A short drive on brings you to Lake Hill Farm for a break in open pasture country, the kind of wide green landscape that feels much more like northern Europe than the rest of Japan. From there the route continues to Showa Shinzan, the young lava dome that pushed itself out of a farmer's field within living memory and still smokes gently at the summit. You have an hour here with free time for lunch and a proper rest before the last and most dramatic stop of the day. Noboribetsu Hell Valley is a raw volcanic basin of steam vents, sulphur-stained rock and hot streams, and the walkways let you get close enough to feel the heat coming off the ground. Depending on the season the day also takes in Meisui Park outside winter or a snowmobile adventure once the snow arrives, so the trip changes character through the year. Two starting points and two drop-off points are offered so you can join and finish where it suits you, and the whole day is spent in a comfortable coach with the driving handled for you.

Tour Itinerary

Itineraries are customisable as per your request

The schedule below is a suggested plan and can be adjusted to suit your preferences.

8:00 AM

Depart Sapporo

Board the coach at your chosen starting point and head south out of the city.

10:00 AM

Lake Toya

An hour at the caldera lake for a guided look, photographs, shopping and a break.

11:20 AM

Lake Hill Farm

A short stop in open farm country for photos and a breather.

12:45 PM

Showa Shinzan

Free time for lunch and a rest beside the young lava dome.

2:00 PM

Noboribetsu Hell Valley

Walk the boardwalks through the steaming, sulphur-stained volcanic basin.

5:00 PM

Return to Sapporo

Ride back to the city and get off at one of two drop-off points.

Detailed Itinerary

8:00 AM - Depart Sapporo: Board the coach at your chosen starting point and head south out of the city.

10:00 AM - Lake Toya: An hour at the caldera lake for a guided look, photographs, shopping and a break.

11:20 AM - Lake Hill Farm: A short stop in open farm country for photos and a breather.

12:45 PM - Showa Shinzan: Free time for lunch and a rest beside the young lava dome.

2:00 PM - Noboribetsu Hell Valley: Walk the boardwalks through the steaming, sulphur-stained volcanic basin.

5:00 PM - Return to Sapporo: Ride back to the city and get off at one of two drop-off points.

Includes

  • Professional local guide, all fees mentioned in the itinerary

Excludes

  • Personal expenses, meals unless specified, gratuities

Important information

Meeting point

Sapporo (details confirmed with operator on booking)

Know before you go

  • Free cancellation available up to 24 hours before the activity starts

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more
Duration Full day
Check availability to see starting times
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

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Main Tour Price
Starting from $64.42
$64.42
Tour Type
Guided Tour
Need a custom booking or have a larger group?Contact Support via WhatsApp
Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
Secure payment
Complete your booking safely with Razorpay. Full refund if you cancel 24h prior. Read more

Traveler Reviews

4.5/5
based on 20 reviews
Guide
4.5/5
Value for money
4.5/5
Verified reviews from travelers on this operator’s experience
5
H
Harry
June 22, 2026

Excellent commentary and explanation of attractions provided by our tour guide Mila. Plenty of time at each site to enjoy the scenery and services. An excellent tour of a selection of attractions around Hokkaido.

5
L
Lauren
April 17, 2026

Definitely a great trip, having an English speaking guide was great, She was so helpful as well đź‘Ť

5
J
José María
April 13, 2026

We had a wonderful tour with Hikaru. Everything was perfect, and even though the weather was not ideal, we were still able to discover many beautiful places thanks to Hikaru’s great recommendations. Very helpful, knowledgeable, and pleasant throughout the whole experience.

5
A
Andre
February 21, 2026

Very nice day trip! The guide was full of energy and friendly. Nice sceneries. See you soon!

3
G
GetYourGuide traveler
July 22, 2026

Lake Toya viewpoint Lake Hill farm Hell Valley could be better - more information of areas/sites by guide more direction from guide when arriving at area ie. what's here, recommended things to look at water site/park could be omitted from itinerary opportunities to take pictures of Mt Yotei time to take ropeway

4
G
GetYourGuide traveler
June 19, 2026

5
G
GetYourGuide traveler
May 1, 2026

loved Hell valley would have preferred more time there

4
G
GetYourGuide traveler
April 30, 2026

5
G
GetYourGuide traveler
April 22, 2026

The trip was super chill, with beautiful scenery all the way, just a bit windy at times. Andy was incredibly friendly and made everyone feel welcome. He also shared lots of helpful suggestions and advice on gifts, which we really appreciated. Overall, it was such a pleasant and relaxing experience. Hope to visit Hokkaido again in the future.

5
G
GetYourGuide traveler
April 20, 2026

Guide Hong was excellent—very knowledgeable and well-organized. The explanations were clear, time management was strong, and he took great care of all the group members. He left us with a very deep impression.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is a full day by coach from Sapporo taking in Lake Toya, a break at Lake Hill Farm, the young volcanic dome of Showa Shinzan and the steam vents of Noboribetsu Hell Valley. The price covers a professional local guide and all fees mentioned in the itinerary; meals, personal expenses and gratuities are not included.
Yes. Depending on the time of year the day also takes in Meisui Park outside winter, or a snowmobile adventure once the snow has arrived, so the trip has a different character through the year. The operator will confirm which version applies to your date when you book.
Departure is from Sapporo, with two starting points and two drop-off points offered so you can join and finish where it suits you. The exact meeting point is confirmed with the operator on booking.
Each stop involves walking rather than hiking: an hour on the Lake Toya shore, free time around Showa Shinzan, and the boardwalks through Noboribetsu Hell Valley. Sturdy comfortable shoes are enough in warmer months, but in winter you want waterproof boots with good grip, since the ground around the volcanic basin and the lakeshore gets snowy and slick.
Layers and a windproof jacket, because Lake Toya and the volcanic terrain are exposed and colder than central Sapporo. Bring cash for lunch during the free hour at Showa Shinzan, and a camera, since the caldera lake, the pasture at Lake Hill Farm and the sulphur-stained basin at Hell Valley are the visual highlights of the day.
Professional local guide, all fees mentioned in the itinerary
The duration of the Lake Toya, Showa Shinzan and Noboribetsu Hell Valley Day Trip is typically Full day. We recommend arriving 15 minutes before the scheduled start time for a smooth check-in. Your guide will meet you at the designated meeting point and ensure the experience runs on schedule while remaining flexible to your pace.
For most experiences, we highly recommend an early morning start. This allows you to avoid the midday heat, bypass the largest crowds, and capture the best lighting for photography. Your guide can advise on the optimal timing based on the season and specific attractions included.
Yes, once your booking is completed via our secure payment gateway, you will receive an instant confirmation email with your tour details, meeting point address, guide's name, and direct contact information. You can also view and manage your booking through your AsiaByLocals account dashboard.
Yes! All our private tours are fully customizable. Whether you want to add extra stops, skip certain locations, change the pace, or adjust the start time — simply let your guide know in advance or on the day. We aim to create a personalized experience tailored to your interests and energy level.
We offer free cancellation up to 24 hours before the scheduled start time for a full refund. Cancellations within 24 hours may be subject to a partial charge depending on the tour type. Weather-related cancellations for outdoor and boat tours are handled on a case-by-case basis, with full refunds or free rebooking offered when safety is a concern.
Most of our experiences are family-friendly and suitable for children of all ages. However, some tours involving extensive walking, water activities, or early morning starts may be better suited for children aged 5 and above. Please check the specific tour description for age recommendations, or contact us for personalized family itinerary advice.
After booking, you will receive detailed meeting point instructions via email. Most tours include complimentary hotel pickup within the central area. For tours without pickup, your confirmation email will include the exact address, Google Maps pin, and your guide's phone number for easy coordination. Guides typically arrive 10 minutes early and will message you on WhatsApp.
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express), PayPal, Apple Pay, and Razorpay for Indian cards. All payments are processed through a PCI-compliant secure gateway with 256-bit encryption. You can also pay in multiple currencies — the price is automatically converted to your local currency at checkout.
Yes, all AsiaByLocals guides are licensed professionals who have been rigorously vetted through background checks, skill assessments, and customer reviews. Many hold government-issued tourism licenses, university degrees in history or cultural studies, and have years of experience leading tours for international travelers. Every guide maintains a minimum 4.5-star rating to remain active on our platform.
February for deep snow and the Snow Festival, or late June to mid-July for Furano's lavender. Note that Sapporo's cumulative snowfall of 4.7–5 m is often misread — actual ground depth peaks around 80–100 cm in February. Full month-by-month detail in our best time to visit Sapporo guide.
The 2027 festival runs 4–11 February across Odori, Susukino and Tsudome, and entry to all three sites is free. Hotels sell out 6–9 months ahead and rates run 2–3× normal — our Snow Festival guide covers whether that premium is worth paying.
The subway covers most of the city at ¥210–380 a ride, and the weekend Donichika pass is just ¥520 — far better value than the ¥830 weekday version. The airport train is ¥1,230 (33–37 min). See getting around Sapporo.
Yes — it's 30 minutes and ¥800 by JR, making it the easiest day trip in Hokkaido. The canal, glassworks and sushi street fill a comfortable day. Timing tips and the Snow Light Path dates are in our Otaru day trip guide.
Miso ramen (invented here around 1954), jingisukan lamb BBQ, soup curry, and Nijo Market seafood. Bowls run ¥900–1,500. Where locals actually eat — and which famous spots to skip — is in our Sapporo food guide.
Niseko has the deepest snow (~15 m a season) but the highest prices — a 2026-27 peak day pass is ¥13,500. Rusutsu, Kiroro and Sapporo Teine (¥8,400 online) offer similar powder for less. Honest comparison in our Niseko and Hokkaido ski guide.
Three days works well: one for the city, one for Otaru, and one for a day trip or ski day. Our Sapporo 3-day itinerary has winter and summer variants with realistic timings.
Starting from$64.42