The Perfect 3-Day Camper Van Trip from Tokyo
If you are looking to plan a weekend trip without the planning, this is for you.
Sometimes you just don’t want to do the planning yourself. So we’ve done it for you! In this article we’ll give you an idea of a weekend getaway accessible from Tokyo, complete with beautiful locations to park up and sleep at for free, delicious food recommendations, relaxing and cheap hot springs and many other things to see and do. Go on, click that book button up there and treat yourself to a countryside getaway.
Outlined are three spots to spend three nights. You could also drop any one of the spots to do, making this trip doable in a weekend also.
Hakone:
A lot of DreamDrivers recommend the Hakone Ropeway. It’s a great and accessible spot to visit by car, well set up for foreign visitors. The Yuryo Hot Springs nearby is a great spot for a bath too. We recommend sleeping at the roadside station. If you plan to hang out in the town then coin parking on the edge of the town is a great option too.
Bathe/ Eat: Hakone Yuryo Hot Springs
Sleep: Roadside Station Hakone Togo is a good spot to rest if tired before continuing on into Izu
Heda, Izu
This is a town which we simply can’t get enough of; the deep-sea bay the town overlooks is home to spider crabs which make for an excellent lunch. There is also a restaurant right on the harbour with a fish market on the ground floor. For Dinner check out Tagore Hostel. You can also rent fishing rods and bikes here to explore the town. There is a hot-spring too at the back of the town to refresh and renew.
Eat: Marusan – Seafood / Crab Restaurant on the Harbour 10am – 6pm
Cafe: Tagore Hostel, Excellent coffee open late, great place to chill out.
Bathe: Road Station at the back of the town, Hot Springs closes at 8pm
Sleep:
1. Heda Road Station
2. The lookout point overlooking the bay
Something Different:
The Old Bus, a DreamDrive favourite, converting an old bus into a bar with a view of Mr. Fuji. You will want to park nearby is a good spot before heading in (of course)
Mount Fuji, Lake Saiko
A favourite view of Fuji for many DreamDrivers you can drive the van on to the bank of the lake in a few places. We have slept in vans there many times before, it’s worth having a drive around to find the perfect spot to settle down for a relaxing and calm evening by the lake. If you are interested in setting up camp properly for example, making a fire as such – there are several paid campsites around the lake which you can book.
There are a few interesting spots to visit in the area. There’s an ancient village, a bat cave and an ice cave in winter. Open google maps in the area and you will see the spots.
Eat/ Bathe/ Sleep: Fuji Yurari Hot Spring is a wonderful Hot Spring nearby with great baths, good food and a car-park to park your van up at and sleep for the night.
Sleep:
1. Near the lake, (wild camp)
2. Roadside Station Katsuyama Rest Area, Food also available until 5pm – located at the next lake over.
