Day Trips from SapporoLake Hill Farm: Gelato with a View of Mt. Yotei Near Lake Toya
By Chaporo, a Sapporo local Published 
Quick answers
- Gelato made with milk from the farm and ingredients from Toyako
- Mt. Yotei rises beyond the meadow behind the shop; outdoor tables in summer
- Open every day, 9:00–18:00 in summer (17:00 in winter); free parking for about 50 cars
- A few minutes from the Silo Observatory on the north shore of Lake Toya
Lake Hill Farm is a dairy farm near Lake Toya that makes its own gelato with milk from its cows and ingredients from the town of Toyako. It sits on a slight rise, and Mt. Yotei stands beyond the meadow behind the shop, so you can eat your gelato with a view of it; in summer there are tables outside. Parking is free, and it is open every day. On a Lake Toya drive it makes an easy break between Tsukiura and the Silo Observatory.
Gelato with a view of Mt. Yotei
The gelato is made here with milk from the farm and ingredients from Toyako. Behind the shop, a meadow stretches away, and at the far end Mt. Yotei rises over it.
In summer, tables are set out in front of the meadow, so you can sit with your gelato and look at the mountain.
Hours and parking
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| Hours | 9:00–18:00 from late April to the end of September; 9:00–17:00 from October to late April |
| Closed | Open every day |
| Parking | Free, about 50 cars |
See the official site (in Japanese) for details.
How to get to Lake Hill Farm
From Sapporo: about two and a half hours. Take the Do-o Expressway toward Tomakomai and Muroran and exit at Abuta-Toyako IC. Follow Route 230 to the lake; at the T-junction by the lake, turn left for Lake Hill Farm (right goes to the hot spring town).
From New Chitose Airport: an hour and a half to two hours, on the same expressway.
On the way, the Tarumae and Usuzan service areas (expressway rest stops) both have observation decks with good views.
Near Lake Hill Farm
The Silo Observatory, the classic viewpoint over Lake Toya, is a few minutes away, and Toyako Onsen, the hot spring town on the south shore, and the Mt. Usu Ropeway are across the lake.
Silo Observatory: The Classic View of Lake ToyaA local's guide to the Silo Observatory above Lake Toya: the view of Nakajima, the hot spring town and Mt. Usu, helicopter flights and winter snowmobiles, facilities, hours, parking and how to get there.
Mt. Usu Ropeway: Lake Toya, Showa Shinzan and the Crater ViewpointA local's guide to the Mt. Usu Ropeway at Lake Toya: the view over Lake Toya and Showa Shinzan, the walk to the crater observatory, prices, hours, parking and how to get there from Sapporo.
For more places to see Mt. Yotei, all the way around the mountain:
Where to See Mt. Yotei: A Local's Guide to the Best Viewpoints by CarThe best places to see Mt. Yotei, the Mt. Fuji of Hokkaido, from a Sapporo local who has driven all the way around it: the straight road at Aikawa, its reflection in a pond, the view from an onsen, and a one-day loop from Sapporo.
Lake Toya Day Trip from Sapporo by Car: A Local's Route, Viewpoints and OnsenA local's day trip from Sapporo to Lake Toya by car: Mt. Usu, a lakeside lunch, an onsen with a lake view and the quiet viewpoints on the north shore, with tolls, parking and winter tips.
FAQ about Lake Hill Farm
Q1. Can you see Mt. Yotei from Lake Hill Farm?
Yes. It rises beyond the meadow behind the shop, and in summer you can sit at the outdoor tables facing it.
Q2. What are the opening hours?
9:00 to 18:00 from late April to September, and 9:00 to 17:00 the rest of the year. It is open every day.
Q3. Is there parking?
Yes, free, for about 50 cars.