Camping in Japan

Camping is a popular leisure activity among Japanese people, and many campgrounds are located all over the country. Campgrounds are generally called camp-jo in Japanese, and campgrounds where vehicles are allowed to park in tent sites are called "auto camp-jo". It's common for people to do tent camping beside their cars. A variety of camping gear is available for rent in many campgrounds.

Campsite fees vary from site to site, and the average cost is about 5,000 yen per night. Most of the auto camp-jo in Japan offer facilities seen in the campgrounds in North America, such as shower rooms, restrooms, sewer, electricity, water, and so on. Some even have hot springs, tennis courts, dog runs, kids play grounds, and so on.

If you plan to stay in a campground during the summer (July and August) or on weekends, early reservations are recommended. There are check-out and check-in times in each campground. Make sure to ask the times when you make reservations. Also, many campgrounds are closed during the winter.

Web Resources for Camping in Japan:

• NCAJ - National Camping Association of Japan
• Japan Auto Camping Federation Website (Japanese site)
  
• Campjo.com (Japanese site)
• Mapple Campjo Guide by boxos.com (Japanese site)
• Campgounds Guide by OutdoorSquare (Japanese site)