Hi all
Planning a 3 weeks camper van trip through Honshu in January 2023 with 3 others, mostly for snowboarding. Have travelled in a camper in winter before. Have not driven in Japan though. Plan is to chase the snow as much as possible, staying at Michi no Eki and the occasional camp ground. Use onsens for bathing and laundromats when required
Has anyone rented a camper in winter and have personal recommendations of companies to use? Seems there are a few companies that do it, and we should be ok as long as we get winter tires.
Other than the narrow roads and expensive tolls, any other major issues you can think off on a winter camp trip? (the cold is obvious but we are pretty confident we will be ok with winter sleeping bags and a heater in car)
Personal experience is greatly appreciated but any advice is helpful.
Kind regards
2 comments
1. The major issue is that if you are chasing the snow, there is a very real possibility that you will get snowed in for multiple days.
2. Note that in winter several access roads around winter resorts (Hakuba, Nozawa Onsen, Gala Yuzawa) get fairly often closed to private traffic as to ease the congestion.
3. At several resorts parking during the season is extremely limited for people actually not staying at the resorts and at times cam get very expensive.
Honshu has best tourist places.
But Hokkaido is better for winter vacation