“Will crying at night bother other guests?” “What about meals?” Traveling with small children brings no end of worries—but in fact, Lake Toya is a destination we especially recommend to families with young ones. Kamonoya, which runs 11 private rentals at Lake Toya, shares how to enjoy Lake Toya from the perspective of traveling with babies and children, and the key points for choosing your lodging.

Three reasons Lake Toya suits family trips

• Getting around is compact. About 2 hours by car from New Chitose Airport, and about 2 hours from Sapporo. Once you reach the onsen town, the lakeside, foot baths and souvenir shops are gathered within walking distance—a town easy to get around even at a small child’s pace.
• Nature itself is a playground. Picking up stones by the lake, watching the waterbirds. Even without special facilities, children lose themselves in play at the lakeside.
• The fireworks are early. The Lake Toya Long-run Fireworks Festival (late April to end of October) runs about 20 minutes from around 20:45 every night. Ending just after 21:00, it is early enough that you can see the fireworks without greatly disrupting a child’s bedtime. Being able to watch the fireworks and then head straight back to your lodging to put the children to bed is a big plus for parents.

With a whole-house rental, night crying and lively voices are no worry

The thing families worry about most on a trip is “consideration for other guests,” isn’t it? At a hotel, you fret about the hallway echo every time a child cries at night, or eat in a rush while soothing a fussy child at the breakfast hall…

All Kamonoya properties are whole-house or whole-unit private rentals. As you never share space with other guests, there is no need to worry about night crying or excited voices. A trip where you don’t have to keep saying “be quiet” is a different level of stress—for children and parents alike.

• No need to mind the next room when a child cries at night.
• You decide meal times, bath times and bedtimes at your family’s pace.
• Spread out the toys, or let them run around the living room—it’s fine.

With a kitchen, you can handle baby food and picky eaters

Every Kamonoya property has a full kitchen. This is an especially welcome point when traveling with small children.

• You can warm and prepare baby food on the spot. Warming store-bought baby food, of course, but also simple cooking like rice porridge or mashed vegetables.
• Peace of mind even in a picky phase. Even a child who “can’t find anything to eat” when dining out can be given the familiar meals they always eat.
• Adults can have a leisurely dinner with local ingredients. Feeding the children first and putting them to bed, then adults enjoying a relaxed drink—this use of time is something only a private rental allows.

Cooking equipment and facilities differ by property, so please check each property page or contact us.

Recommended nearby spots for families

• The Lake Toya boat (Nakajima cruise): children are thrilled just to ride a boat. Cruising to Nakajima in the middle of the lake is a sure-fire activity even small children enjoy.
• Showa-Shinzan & the Usuzan Ropeway: the story that “a mountain was born from a field” tickles children’s curiosity. The views from the ropeway are impressive, too.
• Lake Hill Farm: wide lawns and gelato—a spot where children can run around to their heart’s content. Great for a driving break.
• Hand baths and foot baths in the onsen town: a foot bath with your child mid-stroll. Free and easy to enjoy.

Hours and operation can change by season, so please check the latest on each official website. For the overall route, our model course article is a useful reference too.

Kamonoya properties recommended for family trips

• Toya House (sleeps 8, from ¥24,000/night): a whole-house rental in the onsen town center. BBQ is possible, and the fireworks and lakeside are within walking distance. Recommended as a family-trip classic.
• Lake Toya Building 2LDK (sleeps 6, from ¥11,000/night): a central apartment type. With two rooms, you can separate “the room where the children sleep” from “the room where the adults are awake”—a welcome point for families.
• Toya INN-West (sleeps 9, from ¥25,000/night): a central lodging with a wood stove, roomy enough for a family trip that includes grandparents.
• Lake Toya Base (sleeps 20, from ¥30,000/night): for a three-generation trip or a gathering of relatives. A large whole-house rental with a fireplace and a big screen.

Whether items like a baby cot or baby bath are available differs by property, so please check the property page or contact us. Compare all properties from the list of properties. For three-generation and large-group stays, our large-group article has more detail.

Just “not having to worry about the people around you” makes a family trip far easier. Booking directly through our commission-free official site is the best value (best-rate guarantee). Once your family’s numbers and dates are set, check availability from the availability search.

FAQ

Q. Can we stay with a baby? What about the fee for a co-sleeping child?

Babies are welcome. As a private rental, you can stay without worrying about night crying. Fee settings for infants and the provision of baby items differ by property and plan, so please check the property page or contact us.

Q. Can we watch the fireworks with the children?

Yes. The fireworks run about 20 minutes from around 20:45 every night and end after 21:00—an easy time even for children with an early bedtime. From a lodging in the onsen town center you can walk to the viewing spot, so you can head back to put them to bed right after. See our fireworks guide for details.

Q. Can you provide baby food or children’s meals?

Kamonoya’s lodgings are self-catering without meal service, but as every property has a kitchen, you can warm baby food and do simple cooking at your own pace. There are supermarkets and restaurants in and around the onsen town, so combining with takeout is recommended. For where to buy ingredients and local food tips, see our Lake Toya food guide.