Car Camping in Japan... where to rent a car?

[Mike Oxlong]

So balls hot everything sounds bad, but given everyone's suggestions I think my wife and I will try a shorter (4-5 day) road trip first, gauge how things are going, and then decide what to do from there. But I am still really looking forward to the trip (more than ever, actually), as >90% of all of my time spent in Japan was in Tokyo, and the countryside just sounds so much more appealing.

Ya'll have any favorite spots that would make good road-tripping destinations? I really don't know shit about where to go, so I was just going to check out some guide books and let the road decide. I'm looking for things that are off the beaten path and rewarding. Btw, i'm not that much of a young-in, wifey and I are almost 30 and we've been together for 10 years!

If it was me, I'd probably do Nikko---Numata---Ueda---Matsumoto---Takayama or some such relatively slow drive through the mountain back roads.

[matsuki]

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e7450.html

At least there are onsens to...ehh, beat the heat?

[wagyl]

My vote goes to Tohoku, because it is relatively easy to drive for someone less familiar with Japan, and there are many places there which are so much easier to get to by car than by any other means. The hot springs are great too, and there will be many there which you can enjoy together with your wife. You will see a different side to Japan than what you see in Tokyo. The only downer in that season is horseflies. They may be small, but they can be a big downer. (I suppose the other downer is having to explain to less enlightened persons why you are going to Tohoku, but you don't need to tell them every detail of your itinerary, do you?)

You ask about crime and safety. I can pretty much guarantee that the greatest crime you will witness is someone recharging their mobile phone from the electrical outlet for the heated public toilet seat. The next biggest crime will be a truck driver urinating on his back wheel.

While it will be warm that season I doubt that it will be enough to kill you. I get the feeling that a lot of these people complaining about sunlight and heat and no access to airconditioners are only one or two steps above the level of "single and accessing the internet from their mother's basement."

[Taro Toporific]

I get the feeling that a lot of these people complaining about sunlight and heat and no access to airconditioners are only one or two steps above the level of "single and accessing the internet from their mother's basement."

Nope.

[wagyl]

I get the feeling that a lot of these people complaining about sunlight and heat and no access to airconditioners are only one or two steps above the level of "single and accessing the internet from their mother's basement."

Nope.

I'm yet to meet Kurogane LOL

[Taro Toporific]

I get the feeling that a lot of these people complaining about sunlight and heat and no access to airconditioners are only one or two steps above the level of "single and accessing the internet from their mother's basement."

Nope.

---I strongly suggest buying at a Japanese Costco a cheap car camping tent with a rain/sun fly and screens (Japan's national bird is the mosquito) to allow escape from the hot "tiger cage" prison of the mini-van.
---Besides just parking by the beach or riverside, every prefecture has a few rather cushy public camping areas that are free or nearly free. I have been dumbfounded on how nice (and free) the ones I have happened across and stayed at over the years. Sadly as far as I know, all the info about these campground gems is in Japanese.

car-camping-tent.jpg

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[yanpa]

Btw, i'm not that much of a young-in, wifey and I are almost 30 and we've been together for 10 years!

Clearly there is some new definition of "young" which has come about since I was, well, younger.

[matsuki]

I get the feeling that a lot of these people complaining about sunlight and heat and no access to airconditioners are only one or two steps above the level of "single and accessing the internet from their mother's basement."

I think the issue isn't always whether there is A/C or not, but if it's used. I've heard complaints from everyone from school teachers to the average salaryman about the A/C not being used at the workplace. (or heat during the winter) Gaman gaman gaman Then, at home, the FG I know with overly frugal Japaneeeze wives are always bitching about using A/C.

[Yokohammer]

Btw, i'm not that much of a young-in, wifey and I are almost 30 and we've been together for 10 years!

Clearly there is some new definition of "young" which has come about since I was, well, younger.

Pretty much my reaction as well.

Almost 30! Let's see ... that would mean Jake is still in his twenties.
Yikes! A veritable Methuselah!

Not meaning to take a swing at you or anything Jake, but compared to some of the geezers around here you're a young-un. Do the trip and enjoy the heck out of it. You can handle it.

[Russell]

I join Hammer in wishing you all the fun.

As to a good place to go, try places where there are cool refuges.

Like Hokkaido.

Or places with many mountains around. Every 100 meters ascend gives a 1 degree Centigrade decrease in temperature!

[Coligny]

Also... don't forget to factor in the fuel cost...

[IparryU]

Btw, i'm not that much of a young-in, wifey and I are almost 30 and we've been together for 10 years!

Clearly there is some new definition of "young" which has come about since I was, well, younger.

Pretty much my reaction as well.

Almost 30! Let's see ... that would mean Jake is still in his twenties.
Yikes! A veritable Methuselah!

Not meaning to take a swing at you or anything Jake, but compared to some of the geezers around here you're a young-un. Do the trip and enjoy the heck out of it. You can handle it.

w00t! I am not the only FG in his 20s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even more of a chance of me NOT being the youngest!

[jake9115]

hahaha, a message board without a bunch of young kids trolling everywhere? A truly unique place to be. Anyway, truth be told I'm 28 @IparryU, so maybe you are the youngest!

I'm not one to ignore good advice and will be definitely checking out getting a tent, going to mountainy places, etc., so all the comments will be put to good use.

Now, I'm really interested in the opinions of any FGs who have traveled around Japan a bit. Maybe we can get a list going of people's favorite places, like hidden gems and shit?

[jake9115]

Hey, fav restaurants, bars, all that good stuff sounds good too.

[Russell]

Now, I'm really interested in the opinions of any FGs who have traveled around Japan a bit. Maybe we can get a list going of people's favorite places, like hidden gems and shit?

Hmm, I'm not going to tell you that beach at which I impregnated my wife in her Minica during that stormy night...

[Coligny]

Now, I'm really interested in the opinions of any FGs who have traveled around Japan a bit. Maybe we can get a list going of people's favorite places, like hidden gems and shit?

Hmm, I'm not going to tell you that beach at which I impregnated my wife in her Minica during that stormy night...

It's ok, I still have the video back up on tape...

[Russell]

You are sure you want to watch that?!?

[wagyl]

Now, I'm really interested in the opinions of any FGs who have traveled around Japan a bit. Maybe we can get a list going of people's favorite places, like hidden gems and shit?

Hmm, I'm not going to tell you that beach at which I impregnated my wife in her Minica during that stormy night...

You don't need to tell us. We already know that you named your firstborn Katsurahama.

[kurogane]

hahaha, a message board without a bunch of young kids trolling everywhere? A truly unique place to be. Anyway, truth be told I'm 28 @IparryU, so maybe you are the youngest!

I'm not one to ignore good advice and will be definitely checking out getting a tent, going to mountainy places, etc., so all the comments will be put to good use.

Now, I'm really interested in the opinions of any FGs who have traveled around Japan a bit. Maybe we can get a list going of people's favorite places, like hidden gems and shit?

gunpowder highway

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/og_akkun/4938549.html

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AF%8C% ... 3%E7%B7%9A


NOTE: More details later. Gottz to W.....We..............W@..............work

[wagyl]

Maybe we can get a list going of people's favorite places, like hidden gems and shit?

Our shit ain't hidden: it is out in the open, on display.

gunpowder highway

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/og_akkun/4938549.html

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AF%8C% ... 3%E7%B7%9A


NOTE: More details later. Gottz to W.....We..............W@..............work

Now that got me reaching for my 中部北陸 Touring Mapple.

By the way, this is a recommended series of maps with pretty detailed information. Probably my only complaint is that even though every atlas has a broad coverage, they have split up Honshu very cunningly so that, for example, even if you have Atlas A and Atlas C, you are pretty much guaranteed to need the narrow strip between them and you will buy Atlas B, even though 45% of Atlas B is a copy of almost half of the content of Atlas A, and another 45% of Atlas B is a copy of almost half of the content of Atlas C. Brilliant commercial decision, and a bit of a fuck you to its fans.

Ahh, I see that that road runs by Taira Ski Area, so I know where you are talking about. I have always considered the name 平スキー場 to be a PR coup.

[Coligny]

hahaha, a message board without a bunch of young kids trolling everywhere? A truly unique place to be. Anyway, truth be told I'm 28 @IparryU, so maybe you are the youngest!

I'm not one to ignore good advice and will be definitely checking out getting a tent, going to mountainy places, etc., so all the comments will be put to good use.

Now, I'm really interested in the opinions of any FGs who have traveled around Japan a bit. Maybe we can get a list going of people's favorite places, like hidden gems and shit?

gunpowder highway

http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/og_akkun/4938549.html

http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%AF%8C% ... 3%E7%B7%9A


NOTE: More details later. Gottz to W.....We..............W@..............work

Recommended RV rental for that trip...

image.jpg

[kurogane]

　　Ahh, I see that that road runs by Taira Ski Area, so I know where you are talking about. I have always considered the name 平スキー場 to be a PR coup.

Buwahahaha. I am desperately hoping that occurred to me at least once. That is the general area of the Forced Summer Car Camping From Hell. I used to use the Gokayama Ainokura campsite, which is really quite nice, but had a 3 night limit. On Google its called a Kokumin Campground, so perhaps they have done it up a bit? I haven't been there in 10-ish years.

Anyhoo, the road I am talking about is actually Toyama 54 that runs from the Tori Dam out to Takanbo Ski in Kamitaira Akao, but Taira Ski is just up the road. Nice tonkatsu place just south of that junction on the east side. There used to be a road that ran parallel to Gokayama Tunnel (at the top of the long hill from Johana) on the SW side. It's actually the old highway. That was really cool, but it looks pretty bushed up on Google Earth. That rains that ended not that summer (1998) took quite a toll on all the local tertiary roads, and they seem to have just plain given up on maintenance. I suppose the obvious death of forestry made it seem a luxury. Toyama 54 has been closed since late that summer. Triangulating between that blog and Google Maps suggests the road is blocked at Kusadani, which is just above the Kamitaira junction, and in the blog he mentions that you can actually get from Tori Dam (Ishikawa side via #10) all the way to that point, but must then pull back.

I would think a 2 night exploration of that road could be quite fun and freaky: it was certainly one of the wildest places I have ever seen in Japan. I even found a river that wasn't paved, and the smaller branch valleys are filled with abandoned village sites (from the 50s and 60s highland clearances), though those roads are probably also impassable. Alas, Coligny is probably mostly right about the necessary vehicle. I had no problems at all in a medium clearance 4WD Vannette Largo with maximum profile tires, but that was when it was all still maintained. At any rate, on the Ishikawa side the Tori Dam area has some fantastic car fucking spots, and there used to be a shower stall around one of the viewpoints that ran all year. Talk about feeling like a million bucks for free.

Linking it to a couple of nights in Gassho-land could actually make for a really funky trip, and it's much, much cooler up there. And then you could bop back down the hill and head out to Noto for a few days.

Anyhoo, time to make deadline. Keep your eyes on this thread, Jake.

[jake9115]

At any rate, on the Ishikawa side the Tori Dam area has some fantastic car fucking spots, and there used to be a shower stall around one of the viewpoints that ran all year. Talk about feeling like a million bucks for free.

Oh jesus man, way to get my hopes up! And deep in the wilderness like that? I'll be reliving my favorite scenes from Norwegian Wood and might let myself become a mountain man and skip med school. This all sounds completely baller, I just hope things work out and I can actually get there. My kickstarter has 2 (!!) backers at the moment, so it looks like I'll be taking out a loan for one last chance of freedom and happiness before school for the next 4-10 years instead of freeloading off of the collective patronage of the internet rich.

I'm taking furious notes from everyone's suggestions, so keep them coming. When I google places to visit I get the vanilla variety bland bullshit and am completely relying on suggestions from people who have been-there-done-that to plan my trip.

[Russell]

Now that the name Noto Hanto has been mentioned, I have to add that if you make it up all the way up north there, make sure to visit the Wajima morning fish market. Pretty early (think 4:00 AM), but very interesting!

Then there is also Noto Jima, an island next to Noto Hanto.

Not very famous, but we spent an incredible night there at a beach at a quiet bay with very shallow waters, and at the end of the bay some high rocks sticking out of the sea. Kind of scenery that reminded me of that James Bond movie shot in Thailand. Though not at the level of the movie, we had a nice barbeque on the beach. There was a facility to stay at the beach, but it was kind of abandoned at the time (off-season).

Where was that?

Don't remember exactly, but I suspect it was here:

https://www.google.co.jp/maps/dir//37.1 ... m2!1m0!1m0

But here is the point. This was two decades ago, and there is no guarantee that you'll have the same great time as we had. It may have been concreted over, or whatever. Google streetview doesn't go there, so I could not check.

Good places come and go.

So, if you have the time to follow the coast line of this island, do it and enjoy it, but keep in mind that there are quite a few stunning places along the Japan Sea coast that may be equivalent or better.

[wagyl]

Good places come and go.

This.

There is a place nearby where Russell talks about, although I think it might not be the exact place he is referring to. I went about 5 years ago, and it was evident that the local community had set aside the area as a beachside camping area until about 5 years before my visit, but it had been left to go wild. You would need a really thick skin or a willful disregard for the wishes of the locals to use it now.

By the way, the Touring Mapple Series has nice little tent icons dotted over their maps, and a list of telephone numbers and site fees (including the 0 yen site fees) of a large proportion of them.

[Russell]

I didn't know the Touring Mapple Series, but they look pretty convenient.

Especially the camping sites with 0 Yen signs.

Does that also include the autocamping sites? Are they displayed as a separate category on these maps?

[wagyl]

There is no distinction made between autocamping and the more traditional style of camping area. You can usually tell by the site rates quoted though.

The series is designed for motorcyclists rather than drivers, but with information about how thrilling various forestry tracks are, which roads to take to avoid traffic jams, which roads to take for the scenery, why you should choose this hot spring over that one, and whether it is worth stopping in this hamlet for the squid, I pretend that I ride a motorbike when I buy them. A sample map from their website linked above: http://www.mapple.co.jp/mapple/product/ ... _i1_up.jpg

[wagyl]

　　Ahh, I see that that road runs by Taira Ski Area, so I know where you are talking about. I have always considered the name 平スキー場 to be a PR coup.

Buwahahaha. I am desperately hoping that occurred to me at least once.

It is a name so good there is more than one.

[jake9115]

hey, just a thought, but does anyone have a Kei-car (~600cc) with foldable back seats for sleeping who would be willing to lend me use for a few days? I'd be happy to work something out for repayment, like bringing a list of supplies from the US or in exchange for some antique cookware (if that sort of thing floats your boat, I recently closed my on-line shop that sold fireking/pyrex mid-century kitchen stuff which seems to currently be popular in japan). I would take good care of the vehicle and bring it back cleaned and washed!

[jake9115]

by the way i spent a good deal of time professionally driving and working in an ambulance at night to earn money as a grad student, so it's not like I'm some asshole who can't drive!