Once a year, the Lake Toya Onsen town turns entirely to manga and anime. This is the TOYAKO Manga & Anime Festa (TMAF). The whole onsen town becomes a cosplay stage, itasha cars line up, and a keyword rally sends you walking through the streets—so for this one weekend, a normally quiet lakeside onsen resort fills with fans gathered from all over Japan. Kamonoya, which runs 11 whole-house rentals at Lake Toya, has put together an overview of the festival, how to enjoy it, and some tips on where to stay for the trip.
Dates and program change from year to year. For the latest, accurate information, always check the official site at tmaf.toyako-prj.net.
What is the TOYAKO Manga & Anime Festa?
The TOYAKO Manga & Anime Festa (TMAF for short) is a manga and anime festival staged across the Lake Toya Onsen town. Its defining feature is that it isn’t confined to a single venue—instead, the entire onsen town becomes the event site. The lakeside streets and plazas and spots throughout the onsen town all turn into stages for cosplay photography, and just walking around town, you can feel the festival atmosphere.
The 2026 edition is scheduled for Saturday, June 27 to Sunday, June 28. Held on a weekend in late June each year, it’s a fixture of early summer.
When, where, how much? The basics
The venue is the Lake Toya Onsen town as a whole. Centered on the lakeside area with its hand baths and foot baths, a wide stretch of the onsen town serves as the festival stage. Admission is generally free, and parking is free too (information for the 2026 edition; this may vary by year). Being so easy to drop in on is part of this festival’s broad appeal.
For inquiries, contact the Lake Toya Onsen Tourism Association at 0142-75-2446. Program details, the day’s schedule, and how to take part are updated each year.
For access, it’s about 2 hours by car from New Chitose Airport, and about 2 hours by car from Sapporo as well. By public transport, it’s about a 20-minute bus ride from JR Toya Station to the onsen town. The area around the onsen town gets crowded on festival days, so please allow plenty of time.
Enjoying the festa, part 1: cosplay and photography
Because the whole onsen town becomes the stage, the sheer variety of locations is the real thrill of TMAF. You can enjoy shooting against all kinds of backdrops—the lakeside with the lake behind you, the onsen town’s alleyways, and the areas around the hand baths and foot baths. Whether you take part as a cosplayer or wander around taking photos, everyone gets to enjoy the festival from their own angle.
Rules for changing and photography, and whether registration is required, change from year to year. To enjoy it comfortably and trouble-free, it’s reassuring to check the day’s rules in the official guidance beforehand. We introduce how to spend your time in the onsen town in more detail in Enjoying the whole onsen town as a cosplay venue.
Enjoying the festa, part 2: itasha displays and the keyword rally
An itasha display lines up at the site, letting you see each meticulously decorated car up close. It’s a treat for car fans and anime fans alike, and a popular spot for photogenic shots.
On top of that, the keyword rally—a fun way to explore the onsen town on foot—is a perennial favorite. It’s designed to have you make your way around from spot to spot throughout town, so you naturally end up walking the whole onsen town. Being able to take a breather at a hand bath or foot bath while soaking up both the lakeside scenery and the festival’s energy at the same time is a charm unique to holding the event in an onsen town.
For the full festa experience, a whole-house rental the night before is handy
The festa is held on Saturday and Sunday. If you’re coming from far away, arriving the day before lets you get ready at a relaxed pace from the morning of the event and avoid the crowds. Every Kamonoya property is a fully equipped kitchen and a whole-house/private-room rental, so you can change and prepare without running into other guests.
If you’re coming as a large group, Toya Farmer’s House (capacity 18, from ¥25,000/night) or Lake Toya Base (capacity 20, from ¥30,000/night) gives you plenty of room even for a trip with lots of luggage. Toya House (capacity 8, from ¥24,000/night), in the heart of the onsen town and close to the venue, and Lake Toya Building 2LDK (capacity 6, from ¥11,000/night) for smaller groups are convenient too. We explain choosing where to stay in detail in our festa trip lodging guide.
If you’d like to combine the festa with Lake Toya sightseeing, take a look at our one-night, two-day model course and the lakeside Long-run Fireworks Festival (typically late April to end of October, about 20 minutes nightly from around 8:45 p.m.). You can compare our properties on the 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.
FAQ
Q1. When is the TOYAKO Manga & Anime Festa held?
The 2026 edition is scheduled for Saturday, June 27 to Sunday, June 28. It’s held on a weekend in late June each year. Because the dates change from year to year, please check the latest, accurate information on the official site at tmaf.toyako-prj.net.
Q2. Is there an admission fee?
For the 2026 edition, admission is announced as generally free, with free parking as well. This may vary by year, so for details please check with the contact, the Lake Toya Onsen Tourism Association (0142-75-2446).
Q3. Can I enjoy it without doing cosplay?
Yes. You can have a great time just looking around—viewing the itasha display, walking the onsen town on the keyword rally, or watching cosplayers being photographed. Combined with the hand baths, foot baths, and a lakeside stroll, it’s easy for beginners and families to visit too.