Thirteen years ago, I moved here with my little daughter, drawn by the lake’s beauty and warm community in Toya town. Inspired by this special place, I opened Lake Toya Retreat in 2025 to share it with travelers worldwide. Relax at your own pace in a fully private house, perfect for families with young children and multigenerational trips. Experience the calm energy of Lake Toya, delicious food, and a welcoming atmosphere that feels like home. We look forward to welcoming you! Lake Toya Retreat is a peaceful standalone house located just a 2-minute walk from Lake Toya, on the northern side of the lake. This spacious two-story house, built 8 years ago, offers about 150 square meters of living space. It features excellent insulation, keeping the house warm and cozy with central heating in winter, and cool and comfortable in summer. The large tiled entrance is perfect for travelers with suitcases, skis, or snowboards. The living room and kitchen are located on the second floor, allowing you to cook and relax while spending time with family and friends. The main bathroom (bathtub, shower, sink, toilet) is also on the second floor. There is an additional toilet on the first floor. We provide basic seasonings such as salt, pepper, sugar, soy sauce, and cooking oil, along with drip coffee, tea, local rice, and pancake mix. This way, you can enjoy preparing delicious meals using local ingredients during your stay. 【Bedrooms】 Room 1 (1F): 2 single beds, 1 double bed, and a baby crib — perfect for families to sleep together. Direct access to the garden. Room 2 (1F): 1 double bed in a quiet and cozy room Room 3 (1F): 1 double mattress and a small desk with a chair Room 4 (Loft above kitchen, 2F): 1 double mattress in a loft (low ceiling, no doors — great for kids!) Room 5 (2F): 1 king bed, equals to two single size, near the kitchen, ideal for parents with a baby Bed-making arrangements vary depending on the number of guests and whether children are included.

Hello, I’m Elise, your host. I’ve always been terrible with directions, geography, and history, yet life has taken me through travel, study abroad, and guiding tours in Japan and overseas—until I finally found my way to Lake Toya in Hokkaido. To give you an idea of how bad my sense of direction is: once I got lost deep in the mountains of Spain and ended up spending the night with hippies, and another time I wandered around central Tokyo for two hours while doing a delivery job. Strangely enough though, I have a special talent for making myself feel completely at home, even in places I’ve never been before! These days, I live in a 60-year-old house we’re DIY-renovating, together with my husband, three kids from 2 to 14, one dog, and five cats. Our family loves visiting hot springs (we have a top 10 list to share!) and cooking seasonal local foods. Even our pets have food-inspired names like Inari, Mame-mochi, and Ohagi—yes, we’re a family of food lovers. I believe that anywhere can become paradise if you’re surrounded by nature, good food, and the people you love. With that in mind, I started welcoming guests to my favorite places in the world: Lake Toya in Hokkaido and my hometown in Okayama.

【Neighborhood Info】 Within walking distance, you’ll find a variety of charming local spots: – A cozy café with local vegetable-based meals – A reservation-only vegetarian restaurant – A Vietnamese café known for homemade cakes – A friendly izakaya popular with international visitors – A café serving handmade soba and French-style galettes – A wood-fired sourdough bakery – A relaxing herbal tea café Lake Toya is just a 2-minute walk away—perfect for lakeside strolls and picnics. A convenience store, post office, and bus stop for Rusutsu Resort and Toyako Onsen are all within a 5-minute walk. In winter, the area is also great for snow lovers! Rusutsu Resort is just a 20-minute drive, and the famous Niseko ski area is about 40 minutes away. Car rental from New Chitose Airport or JR Toya Station is highly recommended. 【Fun Around Lake Tōya】 Fruit picking: strawberries (June), cherries (July), blueberries (August) Picnicking and camping along the lake 20-minute drive to the beach — great for swimming in summer Many hot springs within 1 hour — I’d be happy to share my favorites! 【Additional Services】 We can arrange catering or private chef services tailored to your preferences, as well as activities around Lake Toya with the help of local friends and hosts (additional fees apply). Experienced local moms also offer babysitting services, available in both English and Japanese (additional fees apply). Please let us know your requests in advance.