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When you consider touring throughout Japan, you in all probability envision going to Tokyo, hopping on bullet trains, and hopscotching round Osaka and Kyoto to sort out among the hottest sights in Japan.
Nevertheless, my household and I just lately took a barely totally different route method for our Japan go to. We rented a 16 ft tenting automobile.
Facet notice: I just lately wrote a submit on what I want I’d identified earlier than renting an RV in Japan, akin to tips on how to discover a fantastic rental firm or e-book your campsites. You may learn that article right here.
Then we drove it round among the much less touristy elements of Japan. A few of these locations you’ve perhaps heard of, however a few of them you in all probability haven’t. And sure, we in fact visited among the fashionable spots too, AND with a one and three-year-old our journey wouldn’t have been full with no journey to Disney.
On this video, we’re sharing our 13-day RV highway journey itinerary throughout Japan, in case you ever resolve to hop in an RV or van and make your approach throughout this superb nation. For every day we point out on this itinerary, you’ll be able to be taught extra or watch our vlog from that particular day by clicking the cardboard we hyperlink to within the higher right-hand nook.
And keep tuned for the top of the video the place I’ll share some numbers from our journey, akin to the price of our campsites, RV rental, and the way a lot we paid in toll roads.
You’ll see extra particulars, like hyperlinks to the place we stayed, under.
Day 1: Tokyo
The place we stayed: Shiba Park Resort
What we did:
We flew straight into Tokyo. What journey to Japan could be full with no go to to this superb metropolis? Not ours.
Earlier than arriving in Tokyo, we looked for family-friendly lodging. One advice that popped up was the Shiba Park Resort. Upon taking a look at their web site, I seen that they had rooms with bunk mattress configurations and with two little ones, we jumped on it.
The placement was nice, and we had been only a quick stroll away from the Tokyo Tower and an epic playground for the youngsters.
We had a brief keep in Tokyo however tried to slot in as a lot as potential. Here’s what we squeezed into in the future:
- The Shinjuku Gyoen Gardens are positioned proper subsequent to the Shinjuku Practice Station, the preferred prepare station on this planet. The gardens had been an oasis in a bustling metropolis and we had been even capable of see cherry blossoms of their full magnificence within the backyard.
- You probably have youngsters (or simply if you wish to hit up an animal cafe), we spent our first afternoon in Tokyo at miPig cafe, which was a success with our one-year-old however our three-year-old couldn’t get out quick sufficient. It was a cool spot only a two-minute stroll from Takeshita Road.
- After hanging out with the pigs, we discovered a kid-friendly karaoke bar in Tokyo referred to as Rainbow Karaoke in Shibuya. That they had mushy serve on faucet and we jammed to Disney classics. Enjoyable was had by all.
Day 2: Tokyo
The place we stayed: Shiba Park Resort
What we did:
Our second day in Tokyo we hopped in a cab go to to DisneySea. Regardless of touring with a child, each of our children might do nearly all of the rides within the park. On the day we visited, it rained nearly the whole day however we nonetheless had a blast. In case you go to whereas in Tokyo, you’ve acquired to hop round all the popcorn stands and check out all of the distinctive flavors. Our favourite was the white chocolate matcha!
Even jetlagged and within the rain, everybody had a good time!
Day 3: Choosing Up Our Camper Van!
The place we stayed: Onoji Household Tenting Floor
What we did:
On our third day in Japan, we picked up our RV rental from El Monte RV. We’d researched and located a couple of totally different RV rental firms in Japan and since we had been visiting throughout peak cherry blossom season, availability was difficult. El Monte had good evaluations and two places in Tokyo. The workforce was very responsive over electronic mail, so we booked with them. (And sure, this is identical El Monte you see within the States!)
The pickup course of was comparatively seamless and the workers had been superb. We did a walk-through of the RV, realized concerning the programs, and loaded up on provides on the grocery retailer throughout the road.
One last-minute choice that helped us out a ton with our rental was including on an ETC card, aka an digital toll assortment, so principally a toll cross. The vast majority of the roads we’d journey throughout Japan had been toll roads, so having this card allowed us to simply cross via every automated toll gate with out having to cease and pay. (I share the entire quantity we spent in tolls on the finish of the video).
We opted to drive straight out to Mount Fuji with our new to us RV. And due to a flawed activate Google Maps, we ended up detouring via downtown Tokyo. What was initially speculated to be an hour and a half drive turned out to be for much longer!
Nonetheless, we made it to our Onoji Household Tenting Floor earlier than it closed and awoke the subsequent morning to essentially the most epic views ever.
Day 4: Mount Fuji
The place we stayed: Fumotoppara Campground
What we did:
We woke as much as crystal-clear views of Mount Fuji, which is uncommon in Japan. The campground was the very first auto park in all of Japan, constructed within the 70s. We had been one of some totally different RVs and most of the people camped in tents.
We woke as much as everybody exterior cooking their breakfast and making espresso and had the perfect time making mates with locals from Tokyo who had pushed out for a weekend tenting journey.
From our campsite we drove out to Lake Kawaguchi, which was speculated to be probably the greatest locations to get a vantage level of Fuji. Different individuals acquired this memo too. It was a cute city alongside the lake and we had been there on a weekend, so it was a bit packed.
We then drove over to the Chureito Pagoda. There have been lots of stairs to the highest, however the views had been value it.
We ended the day at Fumotoppara Campground with essentially the most epic sundown of Mount Fuji.
Day 5: Magome-Juku
The place we stayed: Hokonoko Tenting Floor
What we did:
After a morning at Fumotoppara campground, we got down to discover a small postal city referred to as Magome-juku.
It was idyllic Japan, with cute waterwheels and pathways that wind via an historic village that has been restored and preserved over centuries.
The city is correct on the Nakasendo path, which stretches from Tokyo to Kyoto and is a well-known strolling path. We walked 1 / 4 mile of the trail as much as an epic viewpoint, however not earlier than making an attempt out among the native avenue vendor meals—that we ended up going again to for seconds.
We camped at Hokonoko Tenting Floor, which felt like tenting in a nationwide park. It will even be the place that will significantly check my driving expertise as I attempted to drive out of it the subsequent day…
Day 6: Cafe KuraKura
The place we stayed: Cafe KuraKura
What we did:
On day 6, We drove towards Yoshino NP and what could be our favourite campsite of the journey.
However first, after three days of touring, it was time to refill the fuel tank. This value about $100. At this fuel station, there have been attendants who crammed the tank for us, saving us from by chance selecting the flawed gasoline.
Utilizing Google Maps, we discovered a restaurant with three campsites behind it and booked one. BTW, nearly each campground in Japan requires superior reservations. We made all our reservations on-line earlier than leaving the States. (In case you e-book at KuraKura with a tenting automobile, we advocate the “Jungle” campsite!)
Our Campsite at Cafe KuraKura was a spotlight of our whole highway journey in Japan, largely as a result of superb household who hosted us. Upon arriving, they let me drill holes into freshly lower lumber that was set as much as develop their natural shitake mushrooms.
We ate an unimaginable lunch, performed on the playground subsequent door, and for dinner, Heath went out and lower down one-month-old bamboo with the proprietor who taught us tips on how to season and boil it. It was the kind of expertise that may stick with us ceaselessly.
Day 7: Inexperienced Tea Plantation
The place we stayed: Mizuno Camper Base
What we did:
On day 7 we visited the small city of Wazuka to tour a inexperienced tea plantation. This city has been residence to inexperienced tea plantation farmers for generations. Nevertheless, there’s one farmer on the town who stands proud as a first-generation household to make inexperienced tea merchandise. Their enterprise is named D: Matcha and it’s not too far exterior of Kyoto.
We spent a day getting a tour of their farm and studying how they convey their matcha merchandise to life. It was a combination of a historical past lesson, matcha tasting, and a scrumptious meal all wrapped into one expertise. It rained on us most of our tour however no one appeared to thoughts and umbrellas had been offered.
Day 8: Kyoto
The place we stayed: Miami Seashore Auto Campground
What we did:
On day 8 we awoke at Mizuno Base campground. Whereas it felt remoted in nature alongside a river, it was only a quick drive into Kyoto the place we had been set to discover the well-known bamboo gardens and take the youngsters to the monkey park.
We had been capable of simply discover a parking spot inside a brief strolling distance of the bamboo backyard. Nevertheless, if I might return and do it once more I’d purpose to reach earlier within the morning. By the point we arrived, we had been shoulder to shoulder with different company and it made navigating the realm a bit tougher. Nonetheless, the bamboo backyard was nonetheless magical.
For lunch, we walked throughout the river and located among the greatest desserts we’d had thus far in Japan. We ate mochi balls, mushy serve matcha ice cream with fried candy potato, and a dessert referred to as a Mont Blanc, which seemed kinda like spaghetti noodles on high of ice cream.
Within the afternoon, Alyssa and Ellie walked over to the monkey park. To go to, it value about $5 and requires you to stroll up 20 minutes of stairs and switchbacks. As soon as on the high, you’re surrounded by monkeys climbing and swinging round you. Our 3-year-old had a magical time attending to see the monkeys and play on the park. We barely scratched the floor of what you may do in Kyoto, however in such a brief go to, it was time to maneuver on to the subsequent factor.
Day 9: The Sea of Japan
The place we stayed: Hakusan Yoshino Auto Campsite
What we did:
On our ninth day in Japan we awoke at Miami seashore campground (sure, that is the actual identify of this campground). This campsite was one in all our favorites. We had an epic view of Lake Biwa and an enormous campsite for the youngsters to run round and discover.
Today we wished to make our strategy to a extremely advisable metropolis referred to as Kanazawa. We found that it might solely take us an additional hour or two to drive a route that went proper alongside the ocean of Japan, so naturally we opted to take that route.
The coastal route didn’t have a lot data on-line, however we discovered loads of highway facet gems that made for an epic day of driving— castles, waterfalls, jagged cliffs we might hike, and even a jellyfish aquarium that gave the youngsters an opportunity to stretch their legs and run round for an hour.
Day 10: Kanazawa
The place we stayed: Kanazawa
What we did:
On our tenth day in Japan we explored the city of Kanazawa after tenting 20 minutes exterior town. Kanazawa was described to us as “older Japan”, however a lot of what we explored felt like a more moderen metropolis. We had no bother discovering a spot to park our van within the downtown space!
Highlights for us in Kanazawa had been strolling the Kenroku-en gardens, seeing Kanazawa Fort, and stumbling on a avenue market with some superb native distributors.
On this evening as a result of heavy rain, we grabbed a resort so we might keep within the metropolis of Kanazawa as a substitute of heading 45 minutes away to our subsequent campsite.
Day 11: Our First Onsen!
The place we stayed: Okuhida Spa Auto Campsite
What we did:
On our eleventh day we drove into Chubu Nationwide Park. The drive into the nationwide park was affected by waterfalls, mountain views, and speeding water.
The campsite we discovered for the evening was gorgeous and proper alongside the river. Finest OF ALL, it had an onsen proper on website. We’d seen 100 totally different onsens as we drove throughout Japan, however few of them enable younger youngsters. We lastly discovered one which we might go to from the consolation of our personal campsite with the household. To high it off, we had been the one ones at our campsite so we had all of it to ourselves.
Onsens are quite common throughout Japan resulting from its excessive volcanic exercise. A lot of them are absolutely nude and there’s some primary etiquette concerned when going to lots of them, akin to showering beforehand, not getting in with a towel, and following no matter guidelines they’ve posted on website.
Day 12: The Day We Blew Up Our Plans! ❄️
The place we stayed: ?!
What we did:
Our plan for our twelfth day was to do a waterfall hike within the Nationwide Park. However even in late April, many of the nationwide park was closed from snow! We didn’t anticipate this in any respect! We couldn’t make it to any trailheads to hike. This was a significant bummer, however we knew the youngsters wouldn’t like mountain climbing within the chilly snow and we didn’t have the precise gear with us, so we determined to take a significant pivot and get again to hotter climate.
Whereas the youngsters napped, we hightailed it again towards Tokyo for redemption.
The youngsters did nice with so many grownup actions throughout our time in Japan, so we parked the RV again at Disney Sea for spherical two of Disney. This time round, the climate was sunny and excellent and there have been no crowds in any respect. We walked onto each experience and the youngsters had a good time.
Day 13: Disneyland!
The place we stayed: Resort parking simply exterior Disneyland. You may stroll (there’s a walkway over the freeway) from the lot to the parks or stroll to the Ambassador Resort and seize their shuttle to the parks. It’s not too far of a stroll.
What we did:
For our final day in Japan, we ended on a excessive notice with Disneyland. If we might do it over again, we’d’ve pushed into Osaka throughout our journey to go to Common Studios Japan, however we had been nervous about driving and parking the van in cities—which ended up being simpler than we thought it might be!
Fast Stats and Prices: Japan by Van
All of us had an incredible time touring Japan by campervan!
All in all, our journey lined 1,647 kilometers throughout Japan (1023.4 miles).
Our common nightly campsite value was $36 or 5,000 yen.
The price of our RV rental for 11 nights was $1,779.24 USD (roughly $161.72 per evening).
And we paid $204 for the numerous tolls that we crossed via throughout our journey. Mainly each highway is a toll highway, so this was lower than I might’ve anticipated!
Ideas Earlier than You Go
There have been a couple of issues we did throughout this journey that made our lives considerably simpler.
- Printed out all reservation confirmations prematurely. As a result of we don’t converse Japanese and to remove any confusion upon arriving at our locations, printing out our confirmations was an enormous peace of thoughts. Plus, they had been in Japanese which made it even simpler for our host. After we rolled into our nightly campsites I might merely hand them our affirmation print out and it made the method very easy.
- Downloaded Google Maps for offline use in Japan. I wasn’t certain how nicely our mobile sign could be throughout Japan, so earlier than our journey, I downloaded Google Maps. Because it seems, we had strong cell alerts nearly all over the place we went and this was a nonissue. El Monte (and I’m assuming different rental firms) could have sizzling spots you’ll be able to hire together with your RV rental.
- Pre-purchased our sim card from Japan Wi-fi. There’s a handful of firms you’ll be able to pre-purchase a Japan sim card from. We purchased ours via Japan Wi-fi, picked it up proper on the airport in Tokyo, and had no issues all through our whole journey.
- Including cookware and bedding onto our rental as a result of lots of this stuff didn’t include the bottom rental.
There are in all probability extra objects to say, however these had been among the high ones that come to thoughts.
Driving this RV throughout Japan was actually a dream come true for us. We’ll be planning extra worldwide campervan adventures, so if you wish to see extra movies like this — it might imply the world in the event you might subscribe to our channel and keep in contact. You may watch our whole Japan collection right here for all the small print of our experiences on this nation.
And if there are any extra questions you will have about driving an RV throughout Japan, please drop a remark we’d be completely happy to reply any of them!
