Explore Hokkaido - Cycle Around Lake Toya - Day 5

The plan for Day 5 was to cycle round the entire lake of Lake Toya following the route as recommended by Hokkaido Cycling Tourism.

Seicomart together its popular Hot Chef has been one of our regular visits at convenience stores in Hokkaido with its reasonable pricing and tasty food. Day 5 breakfast was at this store. 

Toyakoguruttochokoku Park with swan boats for rent for those who want to do boating at the lake.  We were ready to start the ride for the day.

Toyakeonchi one of the popular sculpture parks in Lake Toya. This sculpture is the revelation for Noah's Ark.

Taking our time off to capture images of the so many sculptures in the park.

Sculpture of humans linking to form rings connecting rings and nicely sited at of the lake edge..

The weather was prefect there was no threat of rain, dark cloud or whatsoever,  all was well and good.

Sculpture after sculpture there are so many of them around the lake.

Another interesting one at the area of Toyamachizukuri.

Along the lake edge that was an easy cycling and hardly anyone doing the same. We just saw one or two groups passing by during our ride.

Cherry blossom seen starting to blossom at its initial stage.

We then reached Nakatoya Campsite with a public bath (Onsen) nearby. The Japanese really love their outdoor activities. I was impressed as how equipped the facilities were provided and the campsite is well maintained and clean.

Periodically hitting small clusters of simple dwellings and many recreational parks along the way.

A sculpture in front of a museum in the location of Toyamachi, a small and slightly happening community to visit.

Toyako Museum of Art

It was time to leave Toyamachi comunity and continue to complete the loop back where we started.

At the gateway of Ukimido Park with an interesting stones stacked arch to welcome us.

We could see the iconic shrine from a distance and made our way walking on the boulders to the small island where a shrine is sited.

One for the album at the iconic shrine of  Ukimido Park serene and beautiful indeed.

We could see the hot spot commercial area getting bigger and bigger at the other end of the lake as we were slowly approaching to the position.

We have finally completed the loop and it's back to the town of Lake Toya with an easy ride for the day.

Visited this lovely restaurant with no English name but only in Japanese 岡田屋 . Thumb up for the food here.   

The food was delicious and we completed the meal with an awesome dessert. It is located at GPS : 42.565274, 140.818390

Our ride around the lake on a beautiful day with a distance of 38km.

And in the evening we ventured out for its fireworks at the lake edge. Till then we see you for Day 6.

Explore Hokkaido - Going To Lake Toya - Day 4

Day 4 checking out at a secluded lodging called Notrack with breakfast provided. Together with us there were other guests, a Japanese dad and son where we had a nice morning chat. So goodbye Notrack .

The weather was superb and I love the scenery of the village in the vicinity of Makkari together with the gorgeous Mount Yotei always tagging behind us.

As usual the traffic is quiet as we slowly pedalled our way through Makkari Village.

A road sign indicating that we were near the centre of Makkari Village.

The village of Makkari 真狩村 is a small community where we stopped by at 7-11 convenience store for a toilet break. The building at the far end is the village community hall.

Our next target was a small town called Rusutsu 留寿都村.

The ride continue to be pleasant and capturing as many nice pictures as possible.

This stretch of our route comes with a bit of rolling hills not severe but a little bit tough for Jo. Despite her constant rattling as she ascends she managed to overcome the climb.

After a distance of 15 km we found Rusutsu town, this building houses a tofu shop known as Shimizu Tofu Shop.

A stop at Lawson Rusutsu for a coffee. Rusutsu is popular for their potato and asparagus produce. And also a popular resort Rusutsu Resort which is synonymous with its ski slope, amusement park and golf courses.

While Jo was taking pictures of a memorial park at this traffic junction, I saw these three lively Japanese kids waiting to cross the junction.

I have secretly kept a plan "B" for an alternative transport to Lake Toya from Rusutsu Town. Miraculously there is a bus service to Lake Toya from this town and the bus tickets could be purchased from this shop through an old lady.

The bus stop is located opposite the shop and here we were with our bagged bicycles and baggage waiting for the bus to come.

Just in case any unfavourable weather you could take shelter at the bus stop.

At last the bus came though it was slighted delay from the scheduled time. Jo was very happy that she does not have to cycle any further to Lake Toya.

We finally arrived at the Bus Terminal of Lake Toya and that was the bus we took known as Donan Bus.

In front of the ramen shop with the huge lake down the slope behind me. Mount Yotei is still visible from here.

Lunch was at Horaiken Ramen for a bowl of ramen.

We managed to locate our pre-booked accommodation at Daiwa Ryokan which we will be putting up for 2 nights.

We decided to take out the bicycles for a spin around for the remaining day and enjoy scenery of Lake Toya.

First I over heard a couple speaking Cantonese and found out the touring couple was from Shah Alam, Malaysia. We became friends, KC Loh and wife have been cycling from Nagoya to Wakkanai for the last 30 days and planning to finish it to the tip of Hokkaido island Wakkanai. That was indeed an amazing adventure they were embarking and salute to these senior citizens of Malaysia.

Some of shots taken for the day.

That's all folks for Day 4 going to Lake Toya from Niseko. Tomorrow we will cycle around the entire lake of Toya.