The defining feature of the TOYAKO Manga & Anime Festa (TMAF) is that the entire Lake Toya onsen town becomes the cosplay venue. Unlike many events that stay confined to a hall or gymnasium, here the lakeside, the back streets and the plazas—the whole town—become your location. Kamonoya, which runs eleven whole-house rentals in the Lake Toya onsen town, has put together some tips on shooting, changing, etiquette and getting around so you can enjoy this “whole-town venue” to the fullest.
The festival dates and on-the-day rules change from year to year. For the latest and most accurate information, please check the official site at tmaf.toyako-prj.net. For 2026, the event is scheduled for Saturday, June 27 to Sunday, June 28.
What it means for the whole onsen town to become the venue
At TMAF, the entire onsen-town area becomes the festival stage. The lakeside overlooking the water, the back streets of the onsen town, the areas with hand baths and foot baths—the sheer variety of backdrops is something only a town-wide event can offer. You can shoot using natural light and lake scenery that no indoor studio can reproduce, so even the same costume can yield photos with a completely different mood. The sense that simply walking through the town is part of the event is an experience unique to Lake Toya.
Photo spots that only Lake Toya can offer
The star of any shoot is, of course, the Lake Toya shoreline. Set the wide expanse of water and sky behind you and you get a wonderfully open shot. The areas around the onsen town’s hand baths and foot baths, and along the lakeside promenade, are atmospheric locations too. The light changes with the time of day, so it is worth aiming for the different expressions of morning, midday and evening.
Please note that when shooting on the grounds of actual shops and facilities, or on private property, you should follow each owner’s rules. The areas and conditions under which shooting is permitted may be set on a year-by-year basis, so please follow the official guidance on the day.
Tips for changing costumes smoothly
Precisely because the whole town is the venue, the tricky question is where to change. Whether a changing space is provided at the venue varies from year to year.
The most reliable and comfortable approach is to get into costume at your lodging and head out from there. Every Kamonoya property is a whole-house or whole-room rental, so you can get ready without worrying about other guests, and you can even pop back partway through to change costumes or take a break. Kamonoya Toya House (sleeps 8, from ¥24,000/night) in the heart of the onsen town, or Lake Toya Building 2LDK (sleeps 6, from ¥11,000/night), make it easy to go back and forth to the venue and serve as a handy base. For more on choosing your lodging, see our festival trip accommodation guide.
Etiquette for enjoying it in good spirit
Even on festival days, the onsen town remains a place where locals and ordinary tourists go about their daily lives as usual. That is exactly why a little consideration lifts the whole atmosphere of the festival. When shooting, choose spots that do not block the way; always ask before photographing people; take your rubbish home with you—simply keeping to these basics is enough.
Also, in narrow lanes or crowded spots, be mindful of those around you with large props or wide, spreading costumes. For the finer rules on shooting, posting to social media and changing, you can rest easy by following the official guidance on the day.
Wandering the onsen town from hand bath to foot bath
The festival’s keyword rally and other activities that have you walking around the onsen town are a perennial delight. Since you are already out and about, it is well worth pausing at the scattered hand baths and foot baths as you go. Refreshing tired feet in a foot bath after walking around in costume is a luxury unique to an onsen-town event. Stroll leisurely while taking in the lakeside scenery, and even the breaks between shoots become good moments.
At night there is also the Long-run Fireworks Festival (typically late April to the end of October, about 20 minutes from around 8:45 p.m. every night). For how to combine it with the festival over the course of a day, see our one-night, two-day model course. You can compare properties on our list of facilities.
Booking directly through our official site is the best-value official rate, with no agency commission (best-rate guarantee). Check availability here
Frequently asked questions
Q1. Can I shoot anywhere in the onsen town?
The public lakeside and townscape make for atmospheric photo spots, but on shop grounds and private property please follow each owner’s rules. The areas and conditions under which shooting is permitted may be set each year, so please follow the guidance on the official site at tmaf.toyako-prj.net on the day.
Q2. Is there somewhere to change?
Whether a changing space is available at the venue, and the conditions for using it, change from year to year. The reliable approach is to get into costume at your lodging and head to the venue. Every Kamonoya property is a private rental, so you can get ready with ease and even return partway through to change costumes.
Q3. Are there ways to enjoy it beyond cosplay?
Strolling the onsen town from hand bath to foot bath, viewing the decorated “itasha” cars, the keyword rally—there is plenty to enjoy just by looking and walking. At night there are the long-run fireworks by the lake too (typically late April to the end of October). It is a great day out for those who do not cosplay and for families as well.