17 Fun Things To Do At Lake Shikotsu
We can’t believe this place is only 1 hour from the city of Sapporo, welcome to Lake Shikotsu / Shikotsu-Tōya National Park!
One of six national parks in Hokkaido, Shikotsu-Toya is well known for its two big lakes and the volcanoes that stand beside them. Lake Shikotsu has the most beautiful clear waters as it’s a pristine caldera lake with very few inflowing rivers and low plankton levels which results in minimal sediment and organic impurities.
Lake Shikotsu spans a whopping 40km in circumference, and because of that, there’s so many activities and fun things you can do here. A Lake Shikotsu day trip from Sapporo is also a great idea if you’re spending a few days or more in Sapporo, it gives you the perfect taste of wild Hokkaido.
As locals living in Sapporo, we’ve been able to experience lots of different things in Lake Shikotsu to bring you this list of 17 fun things to do in this incredible national park.
17 Fun Things To Do In Lake Shikotsu
1.Kayaking On Lake Shikotsu
This pristine caldera lake is made for water activities, and kayaking is one of the best activities you can do on this lake, seeing Lake Shikotsu from a completely different perspective.
We recommend Ocean Days for their private glass bottom kayak tour, they offer English speaking tours as well and they’re such a hive of information about Lake Shikotsu and the surrounding area – Tatsu was our guide who was fantastic.
You can also bring small-medium sized dogs on the kayak which is so much fun! The tour lasts for just over an hour and due to how clear and beautiful the water is, you’ll be able to spot plenty of fish during the tour.
This is actually the second deepest lake in Japan with a max depth of 363m, it’s also Japan’s northernmost non-freezing lake.
2. Try Hokkaido #1 Ice Cream!
Apparently this is the Hokkaido number 1 soft serve, and to be honest we’ve eaten a lot since arriving here and it was definitely up there! You can get this soft serve from the Shikotsukoonsen area. Made from Iwase Farm milk and in a charcoal bamboo cone.
There are so many different flavours to choose from, or keep it classic with the traditional milk flavour. The perfect sweet treat during your day at Lake Shikotsu.
3. Drive The Scenic Route Around The Lake
If you want to take in the true beauty and sheer scale of this lake, I recommend taking the Lake Shikotsu Scenic Route (National Route 453). This is a 15km lakeside drive which winds through Shikotsu-Toya National Park.
It helps you to grasp the sheer scale and beauty of this lake and the experience is completely free to enjoy from the comfort of your car (some coach tours may drive this route too, so it’s worth checking day tour details!).
4. Try SUP Paddle Boarding
Not a fan of kayaking? There is a huge SUP scene in Hokkaido and it’s incredibly popular during the summer months. Ocean Days also offer clear SUP guided tours with prices starting from ¥8,500 per person.
The stream that leads into Lake Shikotsu is a popular starting point for SUP as the waters are so incredibly beautiful and calm. The tours operate in Spring, summer, and the first half of autumn.
5. Grab Some Lunch At Lake View Cafe Hoo Hoo
Further around the lake you’ll find Lake View Cafe Hoo Hoo which is a great spot for lunch if you have a car. There’s inside and outside seating and they have a really hearty menu with burgers, curries, pizza, chips, ice cream and tea and cake sets.
The owner is so friendly and speaks some English if you have limited or none Japanese language skills. You can walk to the moss corridor from here so it’s a great place to tie in with your trip here.
6. Hire A Swan Pedalo Boat
In the spring and summer you can rent a pedalo boat to take out onto the water. If you’re not a huge fan of kayaking or SUP, this is such a fab way to get out onto the lake and take in the beauty of the surrounding landscape.
You can hire the boats from a few different locations around the lake, and just look how picturesque they look below!
7. Enjoy The Many Onsens In The Area
Being an onsen town, there are plenty of onsens in the surrounding area with a mix of traditional inns, ryokans and day-use spas. If you’re just here for the day, Marukoma Onsen Ryokan is a great choice as they allow day use and their unique, rustic baths are connected directly to the lake’s natural water levels.
They also have a private onsen which costs ¥4,400 for 50 minutes and ¥7,700 for 110 minutes, this is ideal if you’re a family or visiting with friends and it takes a capacity of 4 people.
8. Hike A Trail
Hokkaido is so well known for its many trails and hikes, both gentle and leisurely and more challenging. Shikotsu-Tōya National Park is home to many including easy lake loops, a very gentle trail on the Shikotsuko Nature Path of Wild Bird which will only take around 30-45 for a round trip or something a bit more challenging such as Mount Ichankoppe which is a steeper climb taking around 3-4 hours to complete the round trip.
During spring and autumn there can be active bears in the area, so never climb alone and do take precautions with you such as a bell and bear spray.
9. Visiting In The Winter? Go Snow Trekking!
Ocean Days offer snowshoeing from January to Mid March which is so much fun! Enjoy snow shoeing on fresh snow along tree lined roads in pursuit of seeing the frozen water fall, something you can only witness during the height of winter.
The tour takes around 3 hours and is ¥7,000 per person when two or more are in the tour group.
10. Bird Watching
The wildlife at Lake Shikotsu is plentiful and if you like bird watching there are so many great places to stop, take in the scenery and hopefully spot some birds that are native to the area.
You may be lucky enough to see anything from waterfowl to colourful summer birds and woodpeckers in the surrounding forests and trails around Lake Shikotsu.
Here are just a few of the best places to bird watch in Lake Shikotsu;
- Lake Shikotsu Wild Bird Forest
- The Bird Watching Cafe
- Yamasen Railway Bridge & Chitose River
11. Setup Camp!
What better way to appreciate the beauty of this national park than camping within it! Camping is incredibly popular in Hokkaido, especially during July & August which is the most popular time to go camping here.
There are two main campsites in Lake Shikotsu, Bifue Campground (Lake Shikotsu Bifue Campsite) which is on the western end of the lake and Morappu Campground (Kyukamura Morapu Campsite) which is on the southeastern shore. Reservations are required in advance, and prices start from around ¥1,000.
12. Shop For Souvenirs
At Shikotsukoonsen there is a really cute souvenir shop packed with crafted items from the surrounding area, bear trinkets, gifts for kids and even bear rugs! Make sure you pay it a visit before heading onto your next stop.
13. Visit The Moss Corridor
Location: Morappu, Chitose, Hokkaido 066-0283
The Moss Corridor is a true beauty spot in the Lake Shikotsu area, you can park in the parking area by Lake View Cafe Hoo Hoo to begin your walk there, it’s also ideal if you’re staying at the Morappu Campground.
We visited in autumn of last year (see below) but were unfortunately not there at the right time to see it, visiting during summertime is the best chance at seeing it.
However, as of June 2026 the moss corridor is currently closed due to the risk of landslides, so do check whether it is open prior to your visit.
14. River Snorkelling
Something we couldn’t believe until we saw it for ourselves was just how clear and beautiful the lake water is, and with plenty of stuff going on beneath the surface of the lake from little fish to old trees, snorkelling is one of the best ways to do it!
Ocean Days also offer this as an activity, starting from the beautiful Chitose River and snorkelling out to Lake Shikotsu. It costs ¥12,000 per person or ¥10,000 when two or more people are taking the tour.
15. Ice Walk
As the weather turns and Lake Shikotsu is fully in the grasp of winter, whilst activities on the water aren’t happening, it makes way for other exciting outdoor activities, such as an ice walk!
Taking place between January-Mid March you can jump on the ice, bury friends in snow, float on the ice or just take in the beauty and magic of this unique, outdoor activity.
A dry suit is provided for this activity to help you withstand the cold! Costs start at ¥10,000 per person with Ocean Days.
16. Lake Shikotus Koyo (Autumn Leaves Festival)
This annual event is held every October during the peak autumn foliage and there’s nowhere better to see the red leaves of Japan than at Lake Shikotsu.
The landscape surrounding the lake is transformed with fiery reds, oranges and yellows. During the festival, there are plenty of open air food stalls serving autumn local delicacies. It takes place at Shikotsu-Ko Onsen and is completely free to explore.
17. Hike Mount Eniwa
Mount Eniwa is one of the active volcanoes at this national park, a 320-meter volcano which towers over the northwestern shores of Lake Shikotsu.
If you like hiking, this is one of the most popular to take in the area. It is a challenging 6km round-trip trail but offers stunning views of Lake Shikotsu below. There are a number of challenging areas that include steep climbs with ropes so do allow around 5-6 hours to complete the hike.
Lake Shikotsu has so much to offer, and it’s a must visit it you’re staying in Sapporo, offering easy access from the city, with plenty of day tours available if you don’t have a rental car.
Take a look at our Hokkaido itineraries if you’re looking for more inspiration and things to do on your next trip to the northernmost island of Japan.
