We've been fortunate enough to visit Japan a couple times, and while each visit has been predominantly new experiences, we've also found a couple of locations outside of the urban cores that we've felt the pull to return to. It's an interesting feeling, to travel halfway around the world from our homebase of Portland, Oregon, and step in the places you've already walked. The Snow Peak Campfield & Field Suite Spa at their HQ1 location just outside of Niigata, Japan did - it pulled us back. Though as each step will move the dirt and grass, this was still a new and fresh visit from when we were last here 12 months earlier.
Starting in Tokyo, we flew up to Hokkaido and 'road-tripped' south back to Tokyo over a couple weeks, stopping and staying at every Snow Peak Campfield along the way.
If you haven’t taken the time to read our primer on this trip and how to get camping gear in Japan, you may want to take a few minutes with that article.
A map of where we traveled and camped.
- HQ2 is in Niigata as well, about 30 minutes from HQ1. As an operational and manufacturing core it is not open to the public.
- HQ3 is in the Harajuki ward of Tokyo on the top floor of a high rise. It too is an office and workspace that is not open to the public.
- HQ4 is in Portland, Oregon housing the retail store and Takibi restaurant.
- HQ5 is the most recent Headquarters, opening in Beijing, China last year. Like HQ2/3 it is an office that is not open to the public.
With that in mind, it highlights how unique HQ1 really is. Not only is it the center of operations for the company, but every day customers are camping, shopping, learning about history through the museum, and visiting the spa and restaurants for the day.
Since there's so much to do, we wanted to start this series of pieces on HQ1 with an overview of what to expect when you visit, and what to take advantage of.
Where Is Snow Peak HQ1 and How Should You Get There?
Located in the Niigata prefecture of Japan, near the city of Tsubame Sanjo where Snow Peak was founded, Snow Peak's HQ1 Campfield & Field Suite Spa sits perched upon a hilltop. On the eastern coast of Japan, Niigata is almost directly north of Tokyo, crossing the Gunma prefecture and its wonderful mountains including the infamous Mt. Tanigawa where Snow Peak's founder, Yukio Yamai would spend his youth climbing.
Mt. Tanigawa Viewed From The Top
While near the urban core of Niigata, it's still remote enough that you do feel secluded while there. This means that you'll need to get a little creative in arriving, as it's not as simple as getting from Tokyo to Kyoto via a single Shinkansen train. So we'll start by looking at how to get to Niigata, as there are a few ways.
By Plane
Often overlooking in favor of a Shinkansen train, Japan's domestic airlines are prolific, cheap, and like so much travel in the country - clean, fast, and enjoyable. Flying out of Haneda airport daily, a single one-way ticket will cost about $150. While more expensive than the train, if your intent is to visit HQ1 as the very first part of your trip, not needing to leave Haneda airport can be a bonus. The flight is short as well, at about 45 minutes, the fasten seatbelt sign barely has time to turn off before you're preparing for final departure.
By Train
Likely the most common way to get to Niigata for visitors, Japan's Shinkansen bullet trains are almost as fast as flying, require no security, and are quite cheap. While you can get from Tokyo to Niigata for about $40, the route also features the new Grand Line class. A leap above First Class, the seats here are to die for.
By Automobile
In talking with travelers, many express concern over driving in the bustling core of Japan and on the 'wrong' side of the road. Having spent weeks driving in Japan, I can promise it's incredibly easy and fast to adapt to. All cars feature an embedded GPS with English language, and toll readers for fast expressway use. Locations for rental services like Toyota Rent A Car are seemingly on every street corner, and economy cars can be had for as low as $40 per day with no mileage restrictions. Mind tolls though, driving on Japan's expressways can quickly add up. With the Tokyo to Niigata route costing about $45.
From Niigata to HQ1
Once in Niigata, no mater how you arrive, you'll need to travel about 30 minutes to the HQ1 Campfield. If you opted to rent a car, it's a straightforward drive through the countryside. If you're taking a transit option though, you're left with two main choices.
Take a Taxi
Taxis are prevalent in Japan, especially at transit stations like an airport or train station. Taxi drivers will line up in a designated location, as will hopeful riders. Ask an attendant if you're a bit lost, but generally they're quick and easy to find. Taxis in Japan are safe and clean with prices standardized. Cash and card are both accepted. For this trip, expect to pay around $40 since it's a bit of a journey.
Take the Bus
Snow Peak offers a shuttle bus service from the two closes Japan Rail Stations, with regular service to the Field Suite Spa (about a 4 minute walk from Camping Check-In). While regularly available, there are outage periods and we strongly encourage checking Snow Peak's Spa and HQ1 Instagram accounts to confirm it will be running if you plan to use it.
Snow Peak HQ Field Suite Spa Building
You Made it to HQ1, Now What?
First, take a breath. It's a journey for foreigners to arrive and there's so much to see. Both times we've visited have been three-day, two-night experiences and we've rarely felt the need to travel outside the bounds of the Campfield. It's all-inclusive in a way that a stay at Disneyland might be - and embodies Snow Peak's motto that "The Campsite Is The Destination".
There are a few different types of stays at the HQ1 Campfield & Field Suite Spa that we want to cover, as they'll cause a slightly different experience to some of the activities below.
HQ1 Campfield & Field Suite Spa Map, Courtesy of Snow Peak Japan
Camping
The most common way to experience HQ1 is to camp. Part of Snow Peak's mission to connect with their campers means this is encouraged to the point that it is only around $10 per night to camp in most areas. There are some power sites and group sites that come with additional nightly charges, but for the most part after check-in you're welcome to find a site and settle down.
A KōROGI pro tip? Perching yourself on the knoll of Field E gives you a wonderful view of most of the campfield while also being flat, level, and easy to view sunrise and sunset.
Check-In is handled at the Store within the main building, and requires just a few forms to be signed. Instructions for how to handle campfire ash, dishwashing, and bathrooms are also provided.
This is where you can also rent just about any gear you may have forgotten. While we picked up most of our own gear on this trip, we did rent a Takibi Fire & Grill for some morning and evening ambiance.
Camping at Snow Peak HQ1 Campfield
Jyubako
Like most Campfield locations around the world, Snow Peak offers the Jyubako as a place to stay for those who may not want to camp for whatever reason. Unlike many locations though, the Jyubakos at HQ1 are split into two types.
The first is part of the Campfield itself. Located between the HQ1 building and the G Campfield, these Jyubakos are perched on a hill and offer all the standard amenities such as an internal bathroom, and some simple camp amenities for you to enjoy. With just 5 Jyubakos available, they sell out quickly.
For 1 or 2 people, the Campfield Jyubako is incredibly economical at $80 per night. However, unlike the US based Campfield Longbeach, you do not get as many additional features included in the price.
The other option for Jyubako Stay is to move to the other end of the site and stay at the Field Suite Spa. While the Jyubako itself is no different, the amenities included are quite unique. Check-In is managed at the Spa store, and visitors will find not only comfortable yukata style pajamas, but also coats and outdoor slippers for walking to/from the Spa itself.
You are also able to include a meal plan at the Michelin rated Retaurant Seppou. In our opinion, this is an absolute must. Doing so increases the price, but it's worth it for the quality of food you'll receive. This leaves a total of three options for staying at a Jyubako per night,
- Jyubako only, no meals - approx $180 per night
- Jyubako with breakfast - approx $230 per night
- Jyubako with breakfast and dinner - approx $330 per night
Because you're staying on the Field Suite Spa side of the location, you will also receive unlimited spa access. But the best part is you will also get access to extended hours that are reserved only for those staying at the Field Suite Spa. Since there are only four Jyubakos and three villa suites, it greatly limits the amount of people using it at any time. And friendly reminder, traditionally Japanese spas are fully nude.
A Dish Served at Snow Peak's Restaurant Seppou
Field Suite Villa
Your last option is to stay at one of three villa suites within the Spa area. Two junior suites and one full size are available. While the Jr. Suites are a respectible 500sq ft, the main suite is a whopping 1,000sq ft.
These offer private baths, spacious kitchen and living areas, in addition to the meals and spa access mentioned above. However, they do come with a hefty price tag for most travelers. The Jr. Suites will run you around $800 per night, with the full size Suite coming in at around $1,200 per night.
The Suite's At The Field Suite Spa
What Will You Do While Here?
As mentioned, the HQ1 Campfield & Field Suite Spa is almost like a theme park, with many activities to partake in outside of camping. We'll dive into each of these deeper as part of this series, but here's a quick overview.
Enjoy The Spa
As the name implies, a large part of the HQ1 Campfield & Field Suite Spa is the spa itself. Because of nudity, there are no photos allowed so we're going to do our best to describe the experience. If you'd like to see more images, head over to the Snow Peak Japan website.
The Spa, like most Japanese spas consists of seated shower stalls, as well as heated pools, cold pool, and a sauna. If you've never enjoyed a Japanese spa, there are a few quick etiquette things that may help.
First, they are fully nude. For those who have lived in countries without public baths, this may be an odd experience. But believe us, no one cares and after your first visit, you'll shrug it off too. Second, bathe using the seated showers beforehand. It is improper to step into a communal soaking pool if you are dirty. It doesn't matter if you showered 3 minutes prior to leaving, you need to wash yourself. Finally, don't let the little towel that is included touch the water of the soaking pools. It's considered a personal item, and you wouldn't want that in a public pool.
If you're a day visitor or anyone not staying at the Spa Suites or Jyubakos, you'll first buy your tickets to the spa. This can be done in one of two ways, as a single use or as an unlimited pass based on length of stay. The latter is a much better deal, with unlimited use. For me, I would typically go both morning and night, plus an occasional mid-day soak. A single use pass will run around $10, while a three day, two night pass is $30.
Each time you use the spa, regardless of if you're staying in a suite or visiting for the day, weather you have a single use pass or a multi-use, you'll check in at the counter. Here you'll be given a locker key for your personal items, and a towel bag with a body towel and hand towel. They will also tell you which Spa you'll be using. There are two, divided by gender, and they do rotate - so the door you entered yesterday may not be the door you enter today.
While there are many ways to enjoy your time, I would typically start with the indoor pool before moving to the outdoor pool. Then air-dry while looking over the mountainous view.
A personal suggestion is to ensure you enjoy a night visit, then top it off with a beer from Snow Peak Eat in the same building.
A Nighttime Beer After a Soak
Browse The Store
Like any Campfield, the HQ1 location features a camping goods store of Snow Peak items. Here you'll find a wide selection of usual goods, but for the traveler who is a fan of Snow Peak you may be more interested in the limited items. The HQ1 location is better than most, with some of the below pieces offered across the Camp Store and Spa Store,
- Spa, Snow Peak Eat, Campfield, and Museum Stainless Steel Eco Cups
- Location specific anodized Campfield Sierra Cups in full and medium sizes
- Field Suite Spa anodized plum-orange Spork, Mugs, and Sierra Cups
- Snow Peak Museum, Campfield, and Spa Stickers
- Snow Peak Towels
- Firewood Carrying Bag
- Field Suite Spa specific clothing and toiletries
- Local Wear line of apparel
- Snow Peak Eat line of food for home & camp
Neither store is the largest store in terms of footprint or selection, however combined they make for a varied experience that also highlights goods made locally in Tsubame Sanjo.
Learn At The Museum
A highlight of the stay is the free museum tour. We've written about the Museum a bit already, but want to reiterate a few pieces. Tours are generally held twice a day in the afternoon and will be lead by a staff member. While the likelihood of getting an English-speaking tour guide is low, you can use a translation app to understand the essentials.
Your tour will start with a quick overview of the brand, and showcasing of some of the office spaces where people are working if you're visiting on a weekday. You'll also see some of the material recycling program that Snow Peak uses on-site to create their Whole Garment line of products.
From there, you'll venture into the basement where the Museum is located. After a short film on the history and future of Snow Peak (in Japanese with English subtitles), you'll be free to roam the museum at your leisure.
Most of the exhibits are set up as campsites, with tables, chairs, tents, and tarps being used. Rarer items are held on the edges of the museum in display cases - as well as a history of the brand written out. You can leave when you feel you are done. Photos are allowed but as with any museum, please don't touch the exhibits.
Grab A Bite At Snow Peak Eat
Snow Peak Eat covers a few aspects of what Snow Peak Offers. While it can mean a frozen pizza or curry mix that you can cook at camp, it also includes a series of more casual restaurants - one of which is located in the Spa building.
Snow Peak Eat offers a fairly broad menu of Japanese staples - including soba, ramen, curry, and donburi, as well as a seasonal rotation of fresh items. When we visited in the fall, pears were used to make blended highballs (a whiskey drink that is very prolific in the country), and served with fresh pair slices. Prices vary, but for a dish and drink you can expect to pay around $20.
Seating can be had at the bar counter, in the main dining floor, or (our favorite) grab a seat outside and take in the scenery.
Experience Michelin Dining at Restaurant Seppou
Even if not staying in the Spa, even if camping on a budget, we strongly recommend having at least one dinner meal at Restaurant Seppou. It's an experience that from our point of view would be worth a trip to the country on its own. And, at around $80 per person it's a value that is hard to beat in America.
Reservations are required, weather you're a spa guest or not, so that they will know when to expect you. However, it's unlikely reservations will need to be made ahead of time unless you are visiting during an event weekend such as Snow Peak Way. Simply check-in with the counter, or if they are not open, you can reserve at the Spa counter, and tell them what time you'd like to eat. You will also select what meal you'd like ahead of time so the kitchen can prepare.
Once seated, you'll be shown the day's menu. It changes daily, with new dishes and experiences, which means going two nights in a row will get you something completely new. It is a set menu, and aside from any allergies you will not be given much option. However, there are two menus you can eat from, including a seasonal omakase and the standard awagatake. The former is the pricier version. Neither include alcoholic drinks which can be purchased individually, or as course-based service.
The meal is topped off with a light dessert, and you can leave as you are ready to. But the atmosphere, music, and warmth of good food may make you want to linger for a bit. If so inclined, there are also takibi fires outside that you may be free to sit at - just ask ahead of time.
Of Course, You Can Camp!
In addition to that, you get to have all the fun of a normal camping trip - you'll just be in another country.
Final Thoughts
As mentioned, for a three-day, two-night stay you'll likely have plenty to do provided you partake in the above and relax at camp. If you have a car, the towns and places to visit are a little far to be able to pop in and out, with an hour of drive time to and from the closest city.
The range of experiences can vary greatly in cost, around $20 at its cheapest, and $3,000 at its most expensive. But while the specifics of your stay may vary, the pieces we've outlined will remain consistent.
HQ1 is a place that once you've visited, you'll be pondering how to return on your next visit. While out of the way from the typical Tokyo - Kyoto - Osaka tour of the country, it's a detour worth making. It's also one of the easiest Campfields in the country to access for visitors.