Private Hill of the Buddha, Lake Toya & Hell Valley Tour, Sapporo

Hill of the Buddha, a private start to the day

Your first stop, about 40 minutes from central Sapporo, is the Hill of the Buddha in the Makomanai Takino cemetery park. A seated stone Buddha around 13.5 metres high sits inside a man-made hill shaped by a renowned Japanese architect, so only its head shows above a dome planted with lavender. You enter past a reflecting pool and through a dim concrete tunnel before the statue appears beneath an open ring of sky, a moment of quiet many visitors find deeply moving.

Arriving with your own vehicle means you can reach the site soon after it opens, before most tour coaches. Hill of the Buddha opening hours are daytime only and shorter in winter, and entry to the Buddha hall is paid on site. On a private Hill of the Buddha tour you can stay a little longer for photos in July, when the lavender blooms, or in winter, when the dome is covered in snow.

Jozankei hot spring gorge

Jozankei is Sapporo's own onsen village, set in a deep, wooded valley of the Toyohira River inside Shikotsu-Toya National Park. Steam drifts from the riverbanks, foot baths sit beside the streets, and statues of the kappa, a water spirit from local folklore, appear on bridges and corners. Riverside paths lead to the red suspension bridge over a jade-green pool, one of the most photographed views in the area.

About 40 minutes here lets you cross the bridge, walk part of the riverside trail and perhaps soak your feet in a free foot bath. In early to mid October the gorge glows with red and gold maples. If you plan an overnight onsen stay later in your trip, note that public baths are separated by gender and bathing suits are not worn; private family baths are also available in many places.

Lake Toya, the caldera lake

From Jozankei the road climbs over the mountains to Lake Toya, a round caldera lake about ten kilometres across, with the forested Nakajima islands at its centre. From the observatory on the rim, the view on a clear day takes in the whole lake and the volcanoes on its southern shore. Warmed by geothermal heat, the lake almost never freezes, so its blue water remains open even in deep winter.

With a private Lake Toya tour from Sapporo you choose how long to stay at the viewpoint and where to stop for lunch at your own expense, from seafood bowls to ramen and curry. Halal restaurants are limited around the lake, but your driver-guide can help find seafood or vegetarian dishes. Lake Toya is part of a UNESCO Global Geopark, and summer evenings bring fireworks over the water for guests staying overnight.

Showa Shinzan and Mount Usu

South of the lake, Showa Shinzan is one of the world's youngest mountains: a lava dome that rose out of flat farmland during eruptions between 1943 and 1945 and still steams from its reddish slopes. Behind it, Mount Usu last erupted in 2000. At the foot of Showa Shinzan, a bear park keeps Hokkaido brown bears, which visitors can watch and feed with food bought on site.

For a higher view, the Mount Usu ropeway climbs to a summit platform overlooking Lake Toya, the smoking crater and the Pacific coast. Both are optional and paid on site; on a private day you can decide on the spot which one suits your family, or skip both and spend more time elsewhere. Children usually love the bears, while photographers prefer the ropeway on a clear afternoon.

Noboribetsu Hell Valley (Jigokudani)

The final highlight is Jigokudani, the Hell Valley above Noboribetsu, a steaming volcanic crater streaked with yellow sulphur and grey clay, where vents hiss and pools bubble. It is the source of the waters that made Noboribetsu one of Hokkaido's best known hot spring towns. Wooden walkways lead into the valley, and demon statues around the town playfully recall its fiery name.

How to get to Noboribetsu from Sapporo? The limited express train and a local bus take well over an hour, so combining it with Lake Toya by public transport is hard in one day. With your own driver, the stop is easy, and you can spend extra time walking the trails. Paths may be wet or icy; wear sturdy shoes. Your driver then takes you back to your hotel in central Sapporo, usually by early evening.