There’s so much to love about traveling in Japan - the food is excellent and excellent everywhere, the people are incredibly friendly, the scenery is consistently breathtaking and for most of the world the exchange rate is greatly in our favor. But without a doubt my favorite part is the totality of it all, and how easy it is to travel around the country for just a little investment of time, money, and planning. This was the impetuous for this journey: to explore more of the countryside in the country's northern half and camp 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.
Getting to the North Island of Hokkaido
Hokkaido, and specifically Snow Peak’s Campfield on the northern island at Tokachi Poroshiri would be the starting point. To get there, I gave myself a full day in Tokyo to say hi to a few friends, grab some food, and try my best to shake off some jet lag. The first two I was successful in, but the last would take me a couple more days. On the morning of my second day, I hopped on the morning commuter train from inner Tokyo to Haneda’s small domestic terminal to take a flight up north.
The plane was of normal size, a 737, so the total flight time was only about 45 minutes. Barely enough time to reach cruising altitude and a quick beverage service before starting our descent. At $120 for the one-way ticket, it was far cheaper and much faster than any other method of reaching the Obihiro region of Hokkaido.
However, while the Obihiro Airport gets you close to Campfield, it is still about a 30-minute drive away. Taking a taxi is relatively easy, but I strongly recommend renting a car. Driving in Japan is incredibly easy, and if you’ve never driven on the right side of the vehicle before it’s easy to cruise around the parking lot or countryside to get a slower feel for it. You will need an international driver's permit ($20 and 15 minutes at any AAA location for Americans), and while there are a couple of differences in road rules, such as the need to treat railroad crossings as a stop sign, for the most part, is a smooth transition. It also allows you to pop into town, hit a Hard-Off, grab some groceries, and maybe pick up a meal or some shopping before driving into the countryside. If you’re staying for a couple of days, it also helps get to hikes, shrines, and more locals off the beaten path. It will cost around $50 per day, assuming you’re returning it to the same location you picked it up from, but you’ll spend far more time and/or money using public transit or taking cabs around.
Booking at Snow Peak Campfield's in Japan
In addition to getting there, you will likely need to make a reservation, especially if staying on a Saturday night (the busiest night for camping in Japan). There are three main hurdles to this for most Americans,
- This does require knowing a bit of Japanese, or being comfortable quickly translating using an app.
- You will need a Snow Peak Japan account, which requires a Japanese address.
- You may need a Japanese credit card, as there is a different online security protocol to which many American cards get blocked through.
However, if you can cross those off, checking-in to any Campfield reservation is very easy.
For this first leg of the trip, I oped for the Jyubako as I knew it would be unlikely that I would have everything I needed to successfully camp. However, if you’d prefer to not worry about that you can rent a full campsite worth of gear which will be setup and ready for you when you check-in. This option will run approximately $300 [fact check].
Because of this, the Jyubako at approximately $90 per night was the obvious choice.
What makes the Tokachi Poroshiri Jyubako Different?
Interestingly, this is one of the few places in the country left that still has the original model Jyubako from 2014. Because it is such an early model, it's pretty different from most others you'll find, and vastly different from those at Snow Peak Campfield Long Beach in America.
The Size
Immediately when walking in you'll notice these are smaller in both height and overall length. With over a foot less of headroom, the Jyubako feels much cozier, you're closer to the unfinished plywood ceiling, and the aromatics as the wood heats through the day become much more potent. For the most part, the shorter length goes unnoticed, as the living space remains the same overall footprint.
The Features
So, if the living space is the same size, what is missing? Simply put, the bathroom (and if you've stayed in an American Jyubako) and the kitchen area. For how I was traveling, the kitchen was not overly missed. It's a feature unique to the American version, and my camping plan had meant I wasn't intending to use it anyway.
For shorter overnight trips, it's easy to grab some food in Obihiro, or swing by the store at check-in to grab some Snow Peak Eat food. And for longer stays, I would suggest heading into town to pick up groceries, and you can easily use the included camp-stove to heat and cook.
Though, you'll need to bring or purchase cookware. The only included components are:
- Snow Peak BiPod Stove with Fuel
- Snow Peak Classic Kettle 1.8
- Snow Peak Eco Cups
- Snow Peak Home & Camp Lantern
There are also a few pieces of furniture, however they're required to stay indoors and can't be brought outside for cooking/use. They are
Heating/Cooling
While there is some insulation, the large windows and plywood do allow a lot of the ambient temperature to soak through. Without A/C or heat, this means during the day it will get warm, and during the night it will get cold. While closing the curtains will mitigate this to some degree, we found both extremes did need a little bit of work to stay comfortable.
A Snow Peak x Makita Camp Fan is included to help keep air moving during the day, but thankfully the cook Hokkaido weather meant simply being outside was more that comfortable. Taking a walk, or sitting outside was an enjoyable reprieve.
Thought during the night, while the blankets are warm and incredibly soft, we did still find ourselves needing to turn on the kerosene heater to stay cozy. If you've never used a kerosene heater before, there's no need to be intimidated. Simply turn the dial to raise the wick, then either give it a light with your lighter or use the auto-ignition (model dependent).
While kerosene heaters aren't common in most parts of the US, they are quite common in Japan. A PPM & CO meter is included in the Jyubako to monitor air quality levels.
Amenities Around Camp
Snow Peak's Tokachi Poroshiri is a lovely space, and easily the most remote of the Campfields that we've visited. Because of that, it does feel the most like a traditional American campsite, though with the unmistakable amenities of Japan.
Snow Peak Camp Store
Like every Snow Peak Campfield, you can expect to find a very well stocked Camp Store as the hub of the space. This building is where you'll check-in, can pick up necessities like firewood, charcoal, and food. As well as shop a wide array of Snow Peak Gear and Apparel.
Bathroom & Wash Facilities
As we mentioned, the earlier Jyubako models do not feature plumbing or their own bathroom/shower. Thankfully, the Campfield is well equipped with multiple buildings that allow you to clean up.
With restrooms, showers, and even laundry in the Camp Store building, the central hub is often pretty bustling, especially in the morning and after meal times as people clean dishes.
All bathrooms and wash areas were clean and well maintained, featuring the typical creature comforts in Japan of heated bidets on each toilet.
Coal & Disposal
In a couple places around camp, you'll find large concrete pads. These simple spaces are for coal disposal after you're done with your campfire. Remember, you don't need to worry about lugging a Takibi Fire & Grill all over the country, they can easily be rented for about $20 per night.
The Campfield
Scattered all over the Campfield are wonderfully lush trees and foliage. Unlike many Campfields, they also spread into camp itself, creating a bit more of a buffer and privacy for those choosing to tent camp.
With around 50 sites to choose from, it's rather easy to find a space that suites your needs. And while the presence of bears and monkeys is always a consideration, Snow Peak has opted to fence the entire property with a mild electric fence to protect the safety of campers. However, you should still practice responsible camping behaviors, cleaning up food, disposing of trash, and leaving no trace.
Final Thoughts
While the Jyubako at Snow Peak Campfield Tokachi Poroshiri in Hokkaido isn't quite as luxurious as American visitors may be used to, it is at a wonderfully low price point and still offers an incredible value and ease for those looking to spend time outdoors in Japan.
However, to get there you'll need to spend a bit more money in taxi or rental car fees, plus the flight up North. Because of that, our recommendation would be to spend a couple days and really explore the area so you get the best value for your money.
