Lake Tōya

(1) Lake Tōya, a volcanic caldera, with Mount Yōtei (the perfectly-shaped volcano) in the background. (2) A giant spruce tree (~400 years old) located on Ōshima (“big island”) in Lake Tōya was felled by typhoon No. 18 in 2004; in 2005 a clone of this tree was planted in its place. (3) A former hot spring bathhouse that was damaged by the eruption of Mount Usu in 2000; it has been left to be reclaimed by nature and serves as a reminder of the disaster and of the raw power of nature.Read more