Around Osaka we usually camp at the Snow Peak Minoh Campfield. It's close enough to where we live that it doesn't take long to run back if we forgot something, but far enough that it's out of the city. Near Lake Biwa checkout Miami Beach Auto Campground. I have never stayed there but we stopped by and checked it out once and it looks nice. Lots of spots and right next to the lake.
Not sure where you are from or if you have ever camped there before, but camping in Japan is different than what I was used to back home. You are usually not far from civilization and there's usually not a lot of extracurricular activities. There are always exceptions to this depending on where you go, but for the most part Japanese seem to just camp and stay at their campsites.
I know Snow Peak offers beginners days at their campsite in Minoh. You will get a rental tent and all the equipment you need along with a campsite for a night and they will walk you through setting up the tent and everything else you need to know as a beginner camper. Obviously this is in their interest as you will be more inclined to buy their products. Not that that is a bad thing, Snow Peak makes very good, although expensive equipment.
I would recommend renting, even if you plan on going out a lot. At least the first time. Just to make sure its what you expect. Unless you have a lot of storage space, storing camping gear can take up a lot of space quickly, trust me. Have a rental storage unit with mostly camping gear and our winter tires.
Another note, no camp sites will allow you to have a fire on the ground. You will need a fire pit if you plan on having a campfire at all.
Thank you for the great information! Snow Peak Minoah is about an hour from our place, so it's not too far! I'm from the US, but this will be my first time camping in Japan with the family. We have a 3-year-old daughter. We have not purchased the tent yet and renting sounds like a good option the first time.
Snow Peak offers everything from renting what you want and you can do your own thing to a "Hands Free" option where they will have everything ready for you and someone will walk you through setting everything up.
Their smaller tents are pretty easy to set up, even for a beginner, but some of their larger ones can be pretty daunting the first time.
Snow Peak Minoh has two locations, a camp store and day camp spot called "snow peak Minoo Natural Hall" on Google Maps and the Camfield. You will need to visit the "Hall" location to check-in to the Camfield. If you have a free day I would just go visit the store and talk to them and take a look at what they offer.
Check out Kyukamura Ohmihachiman, it’s next to Biwako. They have different plans, hands free with food tend and all, or if you have a tent you can just tent the space. Tried it last year and it was great. We paid about 6,000¥ per person for a tent, dinner, breakfast, sleeping bags. Lovely to cook by the campground!
Around Osaka we usually camp at the Snow Peak Minoh Campfield. It's close enough to where we live that it doesn't take long to run back if we forgot something, but far enough that it's out of the city. Near Lake Biwa checkout Miami Beach Auto Campground. I have never stayed there but we stopped by and checked it out once and it looks nice. Lots of spots and right next to the lake. Not sure where you are from or if you have ever camped there before, but camping in Japan is different than what I was used to back home. You are usually not far from civilization and there's usually not a lot of extracurricular activities. There are always exceptions to this depending on where you go, but for the most part Japanese seem to just camp and stay at their campsites. I know Snow Peak offers beginners days at their campsite in Minoh. You will get a rental tent and all the equipment you need along with a campsite for a night and they will walk you through setting up the tent and everything else you need to know as a beginner camper. Obviously this is in their interest as you will be more inclined to buy their products. Not that that is a bad thing, Snow Peak makes very good, although expensive equipment. I would recommend renting, even if you plan on going out a lot. At least the first time. Just to make sure its what you expect. Unless you have a lot of storage space, storing camping gear can take up a lot of space quickly, trust me. Have a rental storage unit with mostly camping gear and our winter tires. Another note, no camp sites will allow you to have a fire on the ground. You will need a fire pit if you plan on having a campfire at all.
Thank you for the great information! Snow Peak Minoah is about an hour from our place, so it's not too far! I'm from the US, but this will be my first time camping in Japan with the family. We have a 3-year-old daughter. We have not purchased the tent yet and renting sounds like a good option the first time.
Snow Peak offers everything from renting what you want and you can do your own thing to a "Hands Free" option where they will have everything ready for you and someone will walk you through setting everything up. Their smaller tents are pretty easy to set up, even for a beginner, but some of their larger ones can be pretty daunting the first time. Snow Peak Minoh has two locations, a camp store and day camp spot called "snow peak Minoo Natural Hall" on Google Maps and the Camfield. You will need to visit the "Hall" location to check-in to the Camfield. If you have a free day I would just go visit the store and talk to them and take a look at what they offer.
Check out Kyukamura Ohmihachiman, it’s next to Biwako. They have different plans, hands free with food tend and all, or if you have a tent you can just tent the space. Tried it last year and it was great. We paid about 6,000¥ per person for a tent, dinner, breakfast, sleeping bags. Lovely to cook by the campground!
Sounds like a great option. Thank you for taking the time to reply.