Visiting Japan - a cheaper way
Japan has a reputation for being a very expensive place to visit, this is true but there are ways of seeing the real Japan at a much more reasonable price.
The Japan road network, like in UK is a mixture of motorways, toll roads, A & B roads and agricultural roads but unlike Britain the roadwork is covered with roadside stations, or Michi no eki in Japanese.
The Japan road network, like in UK is a mixture of motorways, toll roads, A & B roads and agricultural roads but unlike Britain the roadwork is covered with roadside stations, or Michi no eki in Japanese.
Children at a Buddhist celebration
Marine Town Ito
Michi no eki are plentiful, and very safe. There is plenty of parking, clean toilets, often there is a restaurant and usually there is a shop selling fresh fruit and veg and local handicrafts, rather like a farmers´ market. There is no electric hook up though. They differ from european service stations in that they do not sell petrol. Best of all they are absolutely free.
Some are near tourist attractions, others relatively quiet spots. On our first trip the iPad that came with the van had an app that showed the location of these rest stations and would direct us there.
These days you can download an app to find Michi no eki. On our most recent trip we were able to buy a wifi dongle for the duration of our trip which made finding these roadside stations and onsen much easier.
You are unlikely to have a toilet in your motorhome but you can use the public ones, which are plentiful and spotless. Showers can be taken in the pubic baths or onsen at a small cost and worthwhile for the experience alone.
Some are near tourist attractions, others relatively quiet spots. On our first trip the iPad that came with the van had an app that showed the location of these rest stations and would direct us there.
These days you can download an app to find Michi no eki. On our most recent trip we were able to buy a wifi dongle for the duration of our trip which made finding these roadside stations and onsen much easier.
You are unlikely to have a toilet in your motorhome but you can use the public ones, which are plentiful and spotless. Showers can be taken in the pubic baths or onsen at a small cost and worthwhile for the experience alone.
I have written elsewhere about onsen but one important point to remember it that entry is forbidden if you have tattoos. Some onsen have private bathrooms so you could possibly rent one of these, if when booking fully clothed, no tattoo is visible.
a private onsen
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A typical onsen washing area
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We never came across a campsite other than signs to the odd field where tents could pitch in the summer. We saw a few local motorhomes and they were always on these road stations too which gave us the impression that the serviced campsites so familiar in Europe either don't exist or are rare in Japan, there certainly were not many motorhomes
Snow monkeys
Michi no eki at Ito Marine Town
Michi no Eki at Spa complex at Namerikawa
Michi no eki sites in a small area of Honshū
An indication of just how many rest stations there are in Japan
On each of our trips we hired our campervan for a month and all of the time we parked on these road stations and had no problems whatsoever.
We established that many Japanese use these parking spots to overnight in their cars and it was not unusual to find a whole family in the toilet block in the morning cleaning their teeth. What impressed us was how enterprising people were when overnighting in saloon cars never mind estates or people carriers.
We established that many Japanese use these parking spots to overnight in their cars and it was not unusual to find a whole family in the toilet block in the morning cleaning their teeth. What impressed us was how enterprising people were when overnighting in saloon cars never mind estates or people carriers.
You may find that your motorhome is minimally equipped with what you might consider to be essential items. However all over Japan there are 100 Yen shops - if you're British a bit like Poundland but bigger with a wider range of goods but not much in the way of food. Having once tried to fry bacon and eggs with a frying pan and chop sticks we were pleased to find a cheap spatula in one of these places.
Fishermans Wharf , Honshu
Having a motorhome in Japan means that you get to see a side of the country that most tourists will not see. It also gives you a chance to join in some events that you come across on your travels. A couple of examples - we came across a beer festival in a small hillside town in Kyushu that had its own brewery, we were able to join in and enjoy a beer with the delightful name of Green Babies. Another time we got caught up in a local mushroom festival and ended up making our own mochi.
Michi no eki have been around for thirty years.
So to summarise:
So, what are you waiting for, you pay for flights vehicle hire and fuel and you’re free to tour a wonderful country. We can thoroughly recommend this holiday - we have done it three times already and preparing for the next one.
- Fly to Japan, at a price you are prepare to pay, flexible v non flexible, direct v. multistops, cattle v- business. You get the picture?
- Don't forget your International Driving Permit.
- If you want to see Tokyo then book a hotel or hostel for a couple of days and then
- Rent a camper, lots of rentals available country wide If you book well in advance and/or rent for 30+ days you will be offered a discount.
- Stay in michi no eki for free.
- Eat where locals eat, the road stations are good.
- See the Japan that many tourists don't.
So, what are you waiting for, you pay for flights vehicle hire and fuel and you’re free to tour a wonderful country. We can thoroughly recommend this holiday - we have done it three times already and preparing for the next one.
