Lake Toya Pre-Wedding Photography — Four Seasons on a Caldera Lake in Hokkaido

Lake Toya is a caldera lake in the south-west of Hokkaido, a Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark, with the island of Nakajima floating in the middle and a hot-spring town along its southern shore.

In summer it is about two hours by car from Sapporo. We photograph one couple per day here, through all four seasons — these are the days the lake has given us so far.

Spring — May

In May the lakeside turns fresh green, and the double cherry blossoms are still in bloom.

Summer

The water is at its clearest in summer. From the shore you can see straight down through the shallows, with Nakajima across the blue.

Autumn — October

By late October the maples along the shore turn red and gold.

Winter – December to March

Winter is the quietest season at Lake Toya. Snow is not guaranteed in December — it usually settles later — and even in mid-winter the lakeside stays calmer than Furano, Biei or Niseko.