Northern Horse Park Parking: Free 500 Spaces in Two Lots — Campervan Parking, Overnight Rules, and 2026 Events

Northern Horse Park (114-7 Misawa, Tomakomai) offers free parking: two lots of 250 spaces each, 500 in total. There’s also a separate free lot for tour buses, so this isn’t a facility that turns away large vehicles (confirmed on the official site, 2026-08-29). That said, the official site has no mention of a campervan-specific parking area, and we found no guidance on overnight parking (confirmed 2026-08-29).

In short, it’s a place you don’t need to worry about for a daytime visit — but it isn’t somewhere to spend the night. With that in mind, this guide covers how to park, where to stay overnight instead, and when to fit a visit into your trip. Being just 15 minutes by car from New Chitose Airport, it fits most naturally into the first or last day of a campervan rental.

Parking: Two Free Lots of 250 Spaces Each, With Room for Buses Too

The official FAQ states clearly, “Parking is free” and “We have two lots within the park, each holding 250 vehicles” (confirmed 2026-08-29). The group-visit guidance also notes a free lot available for buses, so accommodating large buses is a normal part of daily operations here (confirmed 2026-08-29).

That said, we found no mention of campervans on the official site (confirmed 2026-08-29). A HiAce-based vancon parks about the same as a regular car, but if you’re driving a cabcon over 5m long or towing a trailer, calling ahead (0144-58-2116) to describe your vehicle and ask about parking is the safer move — it saves guesswork on the day. Since the facility already handles bus-sized vehicles, staff are likely well placed to advise.

No Guidance on Overnight Parking — Move to a Tomakomai RV Park for the Night

Opening hours run 9:00–17:00 from April 15 to November 5, and 10:00–16:00 from November 6 to April 9 (official site, confirmed 2026-08-29). Neither the official site nor the FAQ says anything about using the parking lot after closing or staying overnight (confirmed 2026-08-29). Reading silence as tacit permission is a common way to run into trouble, so plan your overnight stay somewhere else entirely.

The nearest place to stay is RV Park Itoi no Mori in Tomakomai. It costs ¥2,500 and requires same-day booking by 17:00 (confirmed 2026-08-03). For how to book and nearby alternatives if it’s full, see our Tomakomai RV park guide.

If you’re heading toward Lake Shikotsu the next day, our Lake Shikotsu campervan guide covers overnight options by the lake. If you’re arriving by ferry into Tomakomai, our Tomakomai–Shiraoi campervan guide works as a base for planning the whole area.

15 Minutes by Car from New Chitose Airport — Easy to Fit Into Day One or Your Last Day

According to the official site, it’s 15 minutes by car from New Chitose Airport, via the Dōō Expressway, then National Route 36 and Prefectural Route 10, turning at a signposted junction (confirmed 2026-08-29). That short distance makes it easy to schedule — whether as a gentle first stop right after picking up your campervan at the airport, when you don’t want to drive far yet, or as a final outing the day before you return the vehicle.

Admission is ¥1,200 for adults (junior high age and up) and ¥600 for elementary school children from April 15 to November 5; in winter (November 6 to April 9) it drops to ¥700 for adults and ¥300 for children. Children under elementary school age are free year-round. The park closes for just five days, April 10–14 (official site, confirmed 2026-08-29).

One detail that’s especially useful for campervan travelers is re-entry: you can step out and come back in after checking in at the K’s Garden front desk (official FAQ, confirmed 2026-08-29). That makes it easy to head back to your vehicle midday for lunch or a nap, then return to the park in the afternoon.

2026 Events Are Mostly Year-Round — No Major One-Off Events That Would Fill the Lot Overnight

As of 2026-08-29, the official events page lists: the Shimayakko Fair (July 1–August 31, 2026), the “Gentildonna Exhibition” at the Horse Gallery (June 27–August 30), the “Autumn Harvest” horse-learning program (September 21), the 2026 Shadai Stallion Station bus tour (November 1 and 3), and year-round craft experiences such as horseshoe stand-making and horse painting.

There is no current announcement of a one-off event on the scale of a fireworks show or illumination — the kind that would fill the parking lot for a single night (confirmed 2026-08-29). It’s worth checking the official events page for the latest schedule before you go, but as things stand, this isn’t a facility where you need to brace for “can’t park because of an event.”

Inside the park you can also book guided pony-led rides and horse trekking. If you’d like to compare it against other riding facilities in Hokkaido while planning your route, see our guide to touring Hokkaido’s horse riding experiences by campervan.

Bringing a Dog? Leashed Walks (Within 2m) Are Allowed, and There’s a Dog Run

The official FAQ states you can “walk your pet on a leash (within 2m),” and outlines areas where pets are allowed on that condition (leash within 2m, or a carrier). You can dine with your pet at the terrace seating, and the dog run is described as “freely available to any guest who has entered the park” (both confirmed 2026-08-29).

On a campervan trip with a pet, places where you can actually spend time together with your dog outside the vehicle are surprisingly limited. A large park near New Chitose Airport where you can walk on a leash is worth remembering for that reason. Some facilities and areas don’t allow pets, so follow the on-site signage for the exact boundaries on the day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can I park a campervan at Northern Horse Park?

We couldn’t confirm on the official site whether campervans specifically are permitted (confirmed 2026-08-29). Parking is free — two lots of 250 spaces each, 500 total — with a separate lot for tour buses. If your vehicle is especially long, calling ahead (0144-58-2116) to describe it and confirm parking is the safest approach.

Q2: Can I stay overnight (car camp) in the parking lot?

There’s no guidance on overnight parking on the official site (confirmed 2026-08-29). Don’t assume the lot is available after closing — instead, move to a proper overnight facility such as RV Park Itoi no Mori in Tomakomai (¥2,500, same-day booking required by 17:00, confirmed 2026-08-03).

Q3: Is there a parking fee?

No, it’s free. The official FAQ states clearly, “Parking is free” (confirmed 2026-08-29).

Q4: Is it open in winter?

Yes. From November 6 to April 9, it’s open 10:00–16:00, with admission dropping to ¥700 for adults and ¥300 for children. The park closes for just five days, April 10–14 (official site, confirmed 2026-08-29).

Q5: Can I get there from New Chitose Airport without a car?

Yes. There’s a free shuttle bus between the airport and the park, though the number of runs varies by season (roughly 3 per day in summer, fewer in winter; official site, confirmed 2026-08-29). That said, if you’re on a campervan trip, driving yourself takes just 15 minutes, so there’s little reason to use the shuttle.

Park and Play by Day, Move to Tomakomai by Night — That’s the Two-Part Plan

With 500 free parking spaces and room for buses, there’s no need to feel uneasy about pulling in with a campervan. But since it isn’t a place to spend the night, book ahead at an RV park such as Itoi no Mori before you arrive. Make the most of the 15-minute distance from New Chitose Airport by working it into a gentle first day after pickup, or a closing stop the day before you return the vehicle. The only thing left to do is check the official site for the latest event schedule before you set out.