Day 4 of Hokkaido self-driving trip: Staying at Toyako Manseikaku Hotel Lakeside Terrace

After enjoying the famous Hokkaido sights of Showa-Shinzan and Lake Toya, our family took the Usuzan Ropeway down the mountain. In the evening, we stayed at Toyako Manseikaku Hotel Lakeside Terrace . Day 4 of our Hokkaido self-driving trip was nearly over. We decided to enjoy the hotel facilities, so we returned early to rest.

The drive from the Usuzan Ropeway to Toyako Manseikaku Hotel is very short, only about 10 minutes. After checking in, we stayed in a lakeside Japanese-style room, which offered a direct view of Lake Toya. However, the side window could only open slightly, so we had to take photos through the large glass panel. The view of Lake Toya was truly enchanting.

Before dinner, we checked out the hotel facilities. There was a hot spring bath and an indoor swimming pool. Since we brought swimsuits, we decided to go for a swim—it had been a long time since we last swam.

↑ Swimming in the indoor pool at Toyako Manseikaku Hotel Lakeside Terrace

After soaking in the hot spring and swimming, we felt a bit hungry. Dinner was a buffet with a wide variety of dishes and sashimi. We ate several big servings, especially enjoying the seafood. We also tried different kinds of juices.

Besides seafood, the buffet had plenty of meat dishes as well, and of course, we indulged in our favorite ice cream. After dinner, we returned to our room to do laundry, as we needed to wash clothes every few days due to limited luggage. While waiting for the laundry, we prepared to watch the fireworks over Lake Toya.

Stepping outside, we took a photo of the hotel exterior. The blue-lit area inside is the 1st-floor swimming pool we visited in the afternoon. Soon, more visitors gathered along the lakeshore. At 20:45, the fireworks began, spreading from the left side of the lake to the right—a brilliant and beautiful display.

After sleeping for the night, we woke up in the morning to enjoy breakfast at Toyako Manseikaku Hotel Lakeside Terrace, which was still very plentiful. After filling up, we even had dessert and delicious ice cream.

After breakfast, we took a stroll along Lake Toya to enjoy the scenery. The hotel also has a foot bath in front, perfect for relaxing. Taking a break like this is a great way to unwind from busy work. Once it was time, we prepared to check out. Many cars had already left the parking lot, and we continued our self-driving journey on Day 5 in Hokkaido.