Your race result doesn’t start on the morning of the event—it begins with how you spend the night before. Kamonoya, a whole-house rental operator on the shore of Lake Toya, offers a runner’s-eye guide to choosing the right pre-race stay so you can give the Lake Toya Marathon everything you’ve got. We’ve gathered the basics on the course and the different events in our complete Lake Toya Marathon guide, so this article focuses purely on accommodation. Dates and times that change from year to year are noted as “for the 2026 race”; please confirm the latest details on the official site, toyako-marathon.jp.
The full marathon starts at 9:00—an overnight stay is essential
For the 2026 race, the full marathon starts at 9:00 (event-by-event start times, including the 10 km and 5 km, are listed in our complete guide). To make a 9:00 full-marathon start, traveling in from far away on the morning of the race simply isn’t realistic. Lake Toya is about two hours by car from both New Chitose Airport and Sapporo. Arriving the day before and heading to the start line with time to spare the next morning is the basic formula for keeping your condition in top shape.
The advantages of staying near the start line (in front of Wakasaimo Honpo)
The start and finish area around Wakasaimo Honpo falls within the Lake Toya Onsen town district. So if you stay overnight in the heart of the onsen town, you can minimize the burden of getting around on race day. After the race, you can head straight back to your lodging and stroll leisurely through the onsen town, with none of the stress of changing clothes or hauling your bags around.
Kamonoya’s properties in the center of the onsen town include Toya House (sleeps 8, from ¥24,000/night), Toya INN-West (sleeps 9, from ¥25,000/night), and Lake Toya Building 2LDK (sleeps 6, from ¥11,000/night). If you’re taking part as a small group or a couple, Lake Toya Building 1R (sleeps 3, from ¥7,000/night) is another option.
Why a whole-house rental is ideal for a runner’s pre-race stay
Every Kamonoya property comes with a fully equipped kitchen and is rented as a private whole house or private unit (you never share with other guests). For runners, this translates into concrete benefits.
- You can plan your pre-race meals yourself: whether it’s carb-loading or the menu you’re used to, you’re free to prepare it in the kitchen.
- You can stay under one roof with your team and friends: with a whole-house rental, you can spend the night before together, making race-morning prep and encouragement easy.
- No need to worry about other guests: because the place is yours alone, an early night and early-morning preparations are stress-free.
For a training camp with your running friends or team, the large-capacity Toya Farmer’s House (sleeps 18, from ¥25,000/night) and Lake Toya Base (sleeps 20, from ¥30,000/night) are convenient. For more on how to approach group stays, see our guide to large-group stays at Lake Toya as well.
A whole-house rental as a base for cheering on your runner
For the family cheering a runner on, a whole-house rental makes a comfortable base too. Since the place is entirely yours, you can relax even with children along—wait in comfort at your lodging during the race, then head out to cheer in time for the finish. For more on combining cheering with sightseeing, see our guide to balancing support, spectating and sightseeing. And after the cheering is done, you can enjoy the Lake Toya Long-run Fireworks Festival, held every night from around 20:45 for about 20 minutes, typically from late April to the end of October.
We recommend booking early
Weekends around the race tend to fill up quickly. The full marathon in particular has a cap of 4,500 runners on a first-come, first-served basis, so it’s reassuring to secure your lodging alongside your race entry. You can compare our properties by capacity and area 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. Can I make it in time if I travel from Sapporo on the morning of the race?
For the 2026 race, the full marathon starts at 9:00, and Lake Toya is about two hours by car from Sapporo. Because morning travel carries the risk of traffic and fatigue, we recommend staying the night before.
Q2. Can our team or group all stay together?
Yes. Kamonoya’s properties are mainly whole-house rentals, including large-capacity options such as Toya Farmer’s House (sleeps 18) and Lake Toya Base (sleeps 20). Every property has a fully equipped kitchen, so your team can prepare the pre-race meal together.
Q3. Can I stay near the start line?
For the 2026 race, the start and finish area is the onsen-town district around Wakasaimo Honpo. If you stay at a property in the heart of the onsen town, such as Toya House or Toya INN-West, you can keep race-day travel to a minimum. The venue layout may change from year to year, so please confirm the latest details on the official site.