This issue introduces five carefully selected locations from the Goshi, Ishikari, Sorachi, Iburi and Hidaka areas that you can only visit with your campervan. At each of these spots, you can enjoy the beauty of nature, as well as local products and hot springs on your journey.
Contents
1. Goshi area: Cape Shakotan Misaki
- Recommended time: best during the day when the weather is clear. You can enjoy an exhilarating view of the clear blue sea.
- Parking spot: you can stay overnight in your car at the free car park around the cape. The quiet environment allows you to relax and watch the sunrise.
- Information on nearby hot springs: Bikuni Onsen is a 20-minute drive away. You can relax in the open-air baths while enjoying the beautiful sea view.
- Local foods and specialities: Shakotan sea urchin and squid are fresh and exquisite. We recommend tasting them at a restaurant near the local fishing port.
- Roadside stations and markets to stop by: get fresh seafood and specialities at Roadside Station Shakotan and enjoy cooking them in your campervan.
2. Ishikari area: Ishikari Beach Beach
- Recommended time of day: Early in the morning when it is quiet and you can enjoy the lakeside scenery and birdsong.
- Parking spot: You can stay overnight in your car at the parking lot by the lake. You can relax in a quiet environment.
- Information on nearby hot springs: 15-minute drive to Mikasa Natural Hot Springs Taiko no Yu. This hot spring is a great place to relax and relieve fatigue while enjoying the beautiful scenery.
- Local foods and specialties: Dishes using fresh local fish are popular. Also, don’t miss the vegetables and fruits produced in Mikasa.
- Roadside Stations and Markets to Stop by: It is a good idea to buy local specialties and fresh foods at Michi-no-Eki Mikasa and incorporate them into your meals by the lake.
3. Sorachi Area: Lake Katsurazawa in Mikasa City
- Recommended time of day: Early in the morning when it is quiet and you can enjoy the lakeside scenery and birdsong.
- Parking spot: You can stay overnight in your car at the parking lot by the lake. You can relax in a quiet environment.
- Information on nearby hot springs: 15-minute drive to Mikasa Natural Hot Springs Taiko no Yu. This hot spring is a great place to relax and relieve fatigue while enjoying the beautiful scenery.
- Local foods and specialties: Dishes using fresh local fish are popular. Also, don’t miss the vegetables and fruits produced in Mikasa.
- Roadside Stations and Markets to Stop by: It is a good idea to buy local specialties and fresh foods at Michi-no-Eki Mikasa and incorporate them into your meals by the lake.
4. Iburi Area: Lake Shikotsu
- Recommended time: Early morning to mid-morning is best. The lake is quiet and you can enjoy the scenery.
- Car parking: There is a private parking lot at the lakeside campground, where you can relax and enjoy the view of the lake.
- Hot spring information: 15 minutes drive to Marukoma Onsen. The open-air hot spring is fed by the water of Lake Shikotsu, so you can enjoy the hot spring while feeling the nature.
- Local food and specialties: The hime-masu trout dish from Lake Shikotsu is a must-try. Enjoy fresh fish dishes at a lakeside restaurant.
- Roadside Stations and Markets to Stop by: Purchase fresh local foods at Roadside Station Forest 276 Otaki, which is perfect for a picnic by the lake.
5. Hidaka Area: Nijuma Road Cherry Trees in Shinkan
- Recommended time of day: If it is cherry blossom season, it is ideal to visit early in the morning or evening to avoid the crowds and enjoy the tunnel of cherry blossoms.
- Car Parking Spots: Free parking spaces are available around the rows of cherry trees, and it is possible to stay overnight in your car in a quiet environment.
- Information on nearby hot springs: It is a 20-minute drive to Shizunai Onsen. After a day of cherry blossom viewing, the hot springs are the perfect place to relax and unwind after a long day.
- Local foods and specialties: Wagyu beef and horse sashimi from Shinkan are excellent. Enjoy fresh meat dishes at local restaurants.
- Roadside Stations and Markets to Stop by: Purchase local specialties and fresh vegetables at Thoroughbred Road Shinkan Roadside Station to make your trip memorable.
Conclusion
By using a campervan, you can make your own special trip, unbound by time or place. Each area is filled with seasonal attractions, and new discoveries await you each time you visit. We hope you will take advantage of your campervan and enjoy the great outdoors to your heart’s content.
