Practical Guide to Camping in Japan
Can you camp in Japan?
The short answer is: YES!
What’s more, it’s safe and an excellent way to see lesser-known parts of the country. However, camping in Japan has its quirks, so in this article, we share all that we’ve learned about it during our 5-month motorcycle trip around Japan. From finding free and affordable campsites to navigating the unique aspects of Japanese camping culture, we’ll give you practical tips and insights to make your motorcycle camping trip in Japan a little bit easier.
Why go camping in Japan?
There is no question that for many motorcycle travelers, camping is an integral part of any trip. It’s about embracing the thrill of the open road, the beauty of nature, and the freedom of being ‘out there’. However, if the joys of outdoor living are not enough to convince you, there are other reasons for which you may want to give motorcycle camping in Japan a go.
Save money
Chances are that just like us, you’re not a millionaire, but you still want to travel and see the world. Camping is a great choice for budget-conscious travelers, especially in more expensive countries like Japan.
While Japan has its share of ridiculously expensive campsites ($50 to pitch a tent? No, thank you!), you’ll also find an abundance of officially designated free and cheap camping spots.
These economical options will let you save your hard-earned yens for indulging in more sushi and green tea ice cream consumption (or bike repairs if you’re unlucky).
Discover Japan's countryside
In Japan, free and cheap campsites are often located in picturesque areas away from the main cities and busy roads. These places are perfect for experiencing the Japanese countryside – with its small, dreamy villages, peaceful landscapes, and warm-hearted people.
In spots like these, you can truly see and feel the contrast between quiet rural Japan and the buzz of neon-lit cities. Exploring the countryside will give you a fuller picture of the country, showing you that there’s much more to Japan than just its steel and concrete metropoles.
Meet your fellow riders and their rides!
We were quite surprised about the number of motorcycle & cyclist campers we encountered in Japan. Many campsites had at least one or two other riders enjoying the outdoors. This is a great opportunity to exchange a few words, ask about recommended routes, or just check out other camping gear and setups! The amount of stuff Japanese riders carry for camping is truly impressive!
How to find free and cheap camping spots?
While Japan has many campsites, finding the affordable and free ones can be a bit of a challenge. Some campgrounds charge as much as a good hotel for a night’s stay. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Below, we’ve listed some handy tools and described our method for finding free and cheap campsites.
What we refer to as “cheap campsite” is when the cost for two people, two bikes and one tent is maximum 2000-2500 yen (14-17 USD). That being said, you can also find places that charge only 400 yen (3 USD) per person and no tent fee. It really depends on a campground.
Tools for finding free and cheap campsites
The main tools we used were:
- Free Camping and Hot Springs Map shared in this Facebook Group
- Free and Cheap Campsites in Japan website
- Google Maps
- and occasionally, NapCamp (in Japanese, but you can Google Translate it)
Free Campsites Map from FB
The map of Free Camping and Hot Springs in Japan used to be one of the best tools to find free camping spots across Japan. However, in 2023, we found it to be slightly outdated. Also, some areas have no marked free campsites at all, which makes it a bit troublesome when you plan to explore a certain area for a few days.
Free and Cheap Campsites Website
Since the above-mentioned map doesn’t include cheap campsites, we also used the Free and Cheap Campsites page. Unfortunately, we faced similar issues with it as we quickly discovered that some of the listed campsites there are no longer open. Also, the website itself is not easy to navigate – it lacks an overall interactive map.
NapCamp
We also tried a few Japanese websites, but we didn’t find them very user-friendly even if you can read Japanese. The one we like the most is NapCamp (the only one with an actual map!), but filtering options are limited and most of the campsites are quite pricey. But it has a dedicated page for campgrounds allowing motorbikes, so it deserves a mention.
Google Maps
While all of the above resources are great, none of them is complete, and switching between them quickly became quite tiresome for us. In the end, we started to rely heavily on Google Maps. You will get the most results by searching in Japanese with words like キャンプ場 or 野営場. Typing “camping” or “campground” in English works too, but we found it shows fewer results, especially for the free and cheap campsites.
The problem is that even with all the options that will pop up on Google Maps, you cannot tell straightaway which campsites are affordable. Our strategy was to read the latest reviews and check the campsite’s webpage to learn about the prices, reservations, and other conditions.
You can easily read Japanese websites by simply Google Translating the pages in your browser. Just keep in mind that the translation is not always perfect and can lead to some confusion, especially around the particularities of Japanese camping culture (more about that later in the article).
As you can see navigating all these pages and sifting through all the different options to find camping spots that are free or affordable takes some time. We would love to have all the cheap and free campsites in Japan listed in one interactive and easy-to-read map, so we’re working on creating one right now! We will share it here as soon as it’s ready.
Can you wild camp in Japan?
After reading the previous section, you might be thinking: “Why go through all that trouble of finding a campsite if you can just wild camp”? Well, let’s talk a little bit about wild camping in Japan.
In Japan, unauthorized camping outside of designated campgrounds is not explicitly illegal but it falls into a gray area. People do it, but usually in very remote places along old forest roads, mountain trails, or with permission from landowners.
In addition, finding a wild camping spot in Japan where you can be invisible is quite hard due to the dense vegetation, steep mountains, and high degree of urbanization in the lowlands.
Wild camping may be a bit easier for cyclists, solo riders, or people carrying a hammock, but with two motorbikes and a tent, we found it quite challenging.
Wild camping in Japan feels more like urban camping and you will find a lot of information online saying that you can camp in public parks or next to rivers if you ‘set up late, leave early’, but it’s not entirely true. Some parks and municipalities strictly forbid camping in public spaces. If a park allows camping then it will usually say so on its website, and you may need to call an appropriate office beforehand to announce your arrival.
While foreigners are usually not bothered when wild camping, it’s often not because it’s allowed, but because it may be difficult for people to say that you are not supposed to be there. Japanese are known for being very polite and for avoiding conflicts in social interactions, so they will just ignore you.
It’s important to be mindful when considering wild camping and not take for granted or abuse your so-called ‘gaijin card’ – a colloquial term for some extra tolerance extended to foreigners not following Japanese rules and manners.
The bottom line is that you should use designated campgrounds as much as you can, and if you do proper research you will always be able to find a designated campground to stay at. Resort to wild camping only when you have no other choice, have permission from the land owner, or are in a very remote area.
Interestingly, if you find yourself needing to stay overnight in a public space, it’s often more acceptable to sleep outdoors without setting up a tent, as opposed to pitching one. However, remember this is usually tolerated more as an emergency measure rather than a regular option for travelers.
Can you camp at roadside stations (michi no eki)?
When talking about wild camping in Japan, you will often see discussions about camping in roadside stations (michi no eki). They are rest stops with everything you need when on the road – toilets, sometimes showers, restaurants, tourist information, shop with local products, all in one.
You will find people online saying: ‘I camped at michi no eki, and had no problems.’, but it’s the same situation as with wild camping. Just because you theoretically can do something, doesn’t mean you should.
If you have no choice ask for permission, set up after sunset, and dismantle the camp before opening hours. In this situation, not setting up a tent and just sleeping on your mat, may be also a better option.
There are some roadside stations that allow camping or have a campsite nearby, you can look for them here.
Unique Aspects of Camping in Japan
Now that we’ve covered how to find affordable campsites, and discussed the status of wild camping in Japan, let’s talk about some unique aspects of the Japanese camping style.
Bookings and reservations
Many free and cheap campsites in Japan are managed by the local communities/municipalities and they require you to either book or obtain camping permission in advance (even if the camping is free of charge).
You can do so by either calling or visiting an appropriate office as unfortunately, many of the smaller campsites in the rural areas don’t have an online reservation system. You can learn if bookings are required by reading the latest Google reviews or the campsite’s website (Google Translate is your friend here).
Also keep in mind that some campsites require you to make a reservation a certain number of days in advance (sometimes even 10 days!), which can be annoying when you’re traveling more spontaneously like us.
Camping during weekends and holidays
In Japan, free and cheap campsites can get very busy during weekends and public holidays. If you’re planning to camp around those times (and especially in popular areas close to bigger cities or famous attractions), make sure to make a reservation well in advance. If a campsite doesn’t require a booking come early to secure your spot.
Keep in mind that some campsites will charge more for camping during weekends and public holidays. The table below has three different prices depending on whether it’s on (オン), shoulder (ショールダー), or off (オフ) season.
Check-in Hours
Cheap campsites usually have a designated camp manager. However, they may not be on-site 24 hours, so it’s important to arrive at the campsite during their working hours (usually between 9 am to 5 pm). Camp managers will do the check-in procedure which is usually payment collection followed by a detailed explanation of camp rules (you can’t escape the rules in Japan!).
Facilities
Showers on free and cheap campsites in Japan are an exception rather than a rule. If a campsite has one it would usually require an additional fee of about 100-200 yen for a 5-10 minute shower. You will need 100 yen coins for them.
If there is no shower and you need to wash off that dirt and sweat you can try looking for a local public bath (sento) or hot spring (onsen) nearby.
While showers may not be a given, toilets are almost always available and even have toilet paper! Just keep in mind that these are often Japanese-style toilets (squatting toilets), so get those knees in shape!
Most free and cheap campsites also have running water and a roofed BBQ space.
Fires
Campfires directly on the ground/grass are very often prohibited in Japan. If there is no clear sign allowing campfires or there is no designated fire pit then you can assume it’s forbidden.
However, ‘takibi-dai’ or portable firepits like these are very popular and allowed on most campsites. We saw many Japanese riders carrying one and using them for cooking and staying warm.
Just keep in mind that each campground can have its specific rules around fires. You can find them on the campsite’s website or a camp manager will explain them to you during check-in.
Rubbish disposal
Garbage management in Japan is strict and has surely been a source of nightmares for many foreigners. We won’t be getting into all of the details here, but be aware that even the paid campsites often require you to take your garbage with you. This is already quite troublesome, but it gets even more difficult when you want to throw out those empty beer cans and sushi trays.
You will quickly notice that there are almost no rubbish bins alongside the streets in Japan. Your best bet is to look for the nearest convenience store or a roadside station as they usually have public bins. Just remember to separate everything correctly – plastic bottles, cans, glass bottles, burnable waste, etc. – they all have separate bins in Japan.
Wildlife
While camping in Japan is super safe, there is one thing you should be especially wary about – bears. Yup, there are quite a lot of them in the mountain regions of Japan, and they’ve been coming closer and closer to populated areas in the past few years.
Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost of the main islands, is home to one of the largest brown bear species – the Ussuri bear. They are no joke, and you should not disregard the warning signs, and follow standard precautions like not keeping your food close to your camp, etc.
The islands of Honshu and Shikoku are home to Japanese black bears, and while they are smaller than the Ussuri bears, you should also keep an eye out for any warning signs.
Apart from bears, you may also come across signs warning you about ‘mamushi’ – Japanese vipers. We’ve never seen one, but they are venomous and their bite requires hospital treatment.
Useful Japanese words for camping
While you can Google Translate campground websites and campsite reviews to find out about the charges and booking requirements, we found that some of the Japanese terms don’t get translated correctly.
So here is a list of some Japanese words that you may find useful while going camping in Japan. If you want to add other words, let us know!
| English | Japanese | Japanese pronanciation | Additional explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| campground | キャンプ場 / 野営場 | kyanpujō/yaeijō | campground |
| parking | 駐車場 | chūshajō | Parking fees are sometimes charged in addition to camping fees. Motorcycles are usually free though. |
| tent | テント | tento | |
| tarp | タープ | tāpu | Some campgrouds would have separate/additional fees for putting up a tarp (to make a roof over your tent/camp). |
| site | サイト | saito | This one is easy. It means simply ‘a camping site’. But there are many types of camping sites in Japan. |
| free site | フリーサト | furī saito | This is a tricky one. In Japan, a ‘free site’ doesn’t mean that there is no charge for the camping spot, but rather that it is a type of site where you can put your tent anywhere within a designated area (non-numbered sites). These types of sites are usually the cheapest. Free of charge is 無料 (muryō). |
| tent site | テントサイト | tento saito | This is pretty self-explanatory. It’s a site where you can pitch your tent, but you may not be allowed to park your vehicle next to it. |
| auto site | オートサイト | ōto saito | A designated & delimited camping space, where you can park your vehicle right next to the site. Sometimes it’s made with car or van camping in mind, so there may not be grass to pitch a tent. In fancier campsites, they can also have individual water and electricity supply. |
| section site | 区画サイト | kukaku saito | A designated & delimited camping space. Depending on the campground it may be possible to park your vehicle next to the site. |
| dog-free site | ドッグフリーサイト | doggu furī saito | Contrary to what you may think, this is a type of camping site where you can bring your dog or other animal and let it off the leash. These sites are usually fenced, so that animals don’t bother other campers. |
| rental gear | レンタル用品 | rentaru yōhin | In Japan, many campsites offer gear rentals, so that people don’t have to buy their own if they camp only a few times per year. |
| rental tent | 貸しテント | kashi tento | This is usually listed on the camping price list as fees may vary depending on whether you bring your own tent or if you're borrowing one. |
| bring-your-own tent | 持ち込みテント | mochi komi tento | This is usually listed on the camping price list as fees may vary depending on whether you bring your own tent or if you're borrowing one. |
| day camping | 日帰り / デイキャンプ | hi gaeri / deikyanpu | Many campsites have this option, which allows you to “camp” or rather have a picnic during the day. It is usually half-price compared to an overnight stay and requires you to leave the campsite before 5 pm. |
| overnight stay | 宿泊 | shuku haku | These signs are used to indicate an overnight stay as opposed to day camping. |
| number of nights | 泊 | haku | Japanese language is a bit particular when it comes to counting stuff. Depending on what you’re counting, the counting word used is different. We won’t be getting into the details here, but it you see this sign 泊 (haku) it refers to the number of nights you’re staying at a campground or a hotel. |
| reception | 受付 | uketsuke | Reception where you need to do your check-in. |
| management office | 管理事務室 | kanri jimushitsu | Reception is also sometimes called 'management office' at campsites. |
| reception, front desk | フロント | furonto | In hotels reception is usually called 'furonto'. |
| reservation | 予約 | yoyaku | |
| reservation required | 要予約 | yō yoyaku | |
| no reservation | 予約なし | yoyaku nashi | |
| adult | 大人 | otona | On price lists the cost per adult will be usually indicated like this: 大人600円, so 600 yen per adult. Note that some places will sometimes consider highschoolers adults in their pricings. |
| child | 子供 | kodomo | On price lists the cost per child will be usually indicated like this: 子供300円, so 300 yen per child. |
| up to X number of people | X名まで | X mei made | When a campsite charges only for tent sites, and not per person, some sites may be limited to an X amount of people, and it will be usually indicated like this 5名まで ( up to 5 people). |
| free of charge | 無料 | muryo | |
| paid (service) | 有料 | yūryō | |
| entry fee | 入場料 | nyūjō-ryō | Some campgrounds, especially those located in forests and parks, may charge an additional entry/admission fee. |
| including tax | 税込み | zeikomi | In Japan the price tags will usually have an information next to them to indicated if the price includes tax or not. |
| excluding tax | 税別 | zeibetsu | In Japan the price tags will usually have an information next to them to indicated if the price includes tax or not. |
| fees | 料金 | ryō kin | |
| facility usage fee | 施設使用料 | shisetsu shiyō-ryō | This can also be an additional fee in some campsites. |
| forbidden | 禁止 | kinshi | You will see this sign often, for example when its foribdden to park or enter somewhere. |
| bonfire stand | 焚き火台 | takibi dai | Since fires dirctly on the ground are usually forbidden in Japan, you will have to use a special fire stand. Some campsites rent them for a small fee. |
Camping fees
We usually managed to keep camping costs below 2000 yen (14 USD) per night (for 2 people, 1 tent). Sometimes the fees were as low as 400 yen per person. The costs may depend on the available facilities, site type, location as well as campsite ownership. More popular campsites will have higher fees during weekends, public holidays, and high season.
We found camping fees in Japan to be somewhat obscure as each campsite has its own way of charging for things. Sometimes you only pay for a tent site, sometimes for the tent site + per person, and some places charge extra entry or management fees. The biggest surprise were places that would have separate fees for camping tarps. Not sure how this works, but presumably if you want to make a roof above your tent, you’re paying extra.
All these different fees, can in the end amount to an unreasonable amount for pitching just a small tent for one night. So when reading and Google Translating camping websites and their price lists, make sure that you understand what you will be charged for.
Also remember: most of the campsites only accept cash payments!
You can refer to the table above to learn about some of the most common types of fees in Japanese campgrounds.
Our favorite camping spots
Here is a quick list of our favorite campsites in Japan so far:
- Jerry’s campsite on Yakushima (Kyūshū)
- 上甑自然公園キャンプ村 on Kamikoshiki Island (Kyūshū)
- Kamomejima Campground in Esashi (Hokkaido)
- Kuninomatsubara Camping in Masumaru (Kyūshū)
- Nakanoura Beach in Kaminoseki (Yamaguchi)
- Minamiaso Power Spot Camping in Minamiaso (Kyūshū)
Thank you so much for this useful post. All the advices are really precious! We will travel to Japan shortly, looking forward to experiencing camping there.
Hi Angela! Happy you find the guide useful 🙂 If you have any further questions or feel something is missing in the guide, let us know!