Onsen & Fireworks
Summer Festival in Hokkaido is about to start, and from tomorrow there will be fireworks celebration in all parts of the island almost every week until August. And the best way to enjoy the fireworks is to soak in an onsen.
One of the most convenient locations for onsen and fireworks is Lake Toya. There is quite a selection of onsen hotels to choose from and most of them are by the lake, thereby offering spectacular lake view from the rooms. Even better, hotels like Kohantei have their onsen built on the top floor overlooking the lake and Mount Yotei.
Every night throughout summer, there will be fireworks celebration on the lake at 8:45pm. Guests can choose to view the fireworks from their room, by the lakeside or up on the top floor soaking in the open air onsen. The hotel has yukata for rent during summer time so that guest can join the locals in celebrating the summer of Hokkaido as well.
A standard package includes free transportation between Sapporo Station and Hotel (about 2 hours by hotel bus), 1 night accommodation in a tatami room, free use of onsen, breakfast and dinner. Although served in buffet style, both breakfast and dinner are of good quality and great variety – quite out of my expectation really.
I was there in February this year and then again in May, and viewed fireworks in the open air onsen both times. Great experience. Simply speechless.
