I Looked Into Lake Motosu Campground

This blog has been going through various facilities in series, mostly campgrounds and day-trip hot springs, but this time I looked into something a bit different: a "lakeside free site."

What caught my interest about Lake Motosu Campground was the free-site format where you can park your car right next to your spot. I'm actually a driver in name only who barely ever gets behind the wheel, so I probably won't be parking a car myself, but when I learned you could choose not just tents but also bungalows and cottages, I wanted to check out the full range of accommodation styles.

What's this free site along the shore of Lake Motosu like?

Lake Motosu Campground is apparently located on the shore of Lake Motosu in Fujikawaguchiko Town, Yamanashi Prefecture. It's run by the Lake Motosu Tourism Association, and seems to be a historic facility that has been operating as a campground since 1948. The operating season is typically listed as April 1 through November 30, though the start and end dates can apparently shift depending on snowfall conditions, and in some years only the tent area has opened early. It seems the campground can also close temporarily when a typhoon is approaching, so checking the latest announcements before visiting might be a good idea.

Tent sites apparently don't require reservations, and the system seems to be reception at the office on the day of your visit. Check-in is generally around 8:00 AM, with checkout around 12:00 PM. As for pricing, it looks like you'd need to pay a usage fee of 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for elementary and junior high school students, plus a site fee of 1,000 yen per tent and 500 yen per tarp, along with 1,000 yen per vehicle. Since no reservation is needed, it's easy to just drop by, but I wasn't able to find out how competitive it gets for spots during busy periods.

• Operating season: typically April 1 to November 30 (varies by year)
• Tent sites: no reservation needed, same-day check-in, with check-in generally starting around 8:00 AM
• Day camping: 1,000 yen for adults, 500 yen for elementary/junior high students, vehicles from 1,000 yen
• Reservations: only bungalows and cottages require advance phone reservations

I couldn't find any mention of credit card payment being accepted, and the cancellation policy also wasn't listed on the official website. It's probably safer to assume it's cash only.

Komorin

A tent site you can just show up to without a reservation seems like a lower hurdle than I expected. That said, since I don't drive, this is all under the assumption that someone else is giving me a ride.

From tents to bungalows to cottages, it seems you can choose your accommodation style

What's interesting about this facility is the surprisingly wide range of accommodation choices. There appear to be multiple types of bungalows/lodges, with pricing set in tiers from a 4-tatami-mat type up to a 12-tatami-mat type. The rooms apparently come with lighting and an outlet, but the outlet seems to be limited to things like charging devices, with use for things like lighting equipment prohibited. There was a note warning that if a breaker trips, it causes trouble for the neighboring bungalow too, so it seems like relying heavily on the power supply for anything major wouldn't really work.

As for cottages, there's only one type, and it apparently comes with a bathroom, toilet, and kitchen inside, along with bedding included. Since the tent area and bungalows don't have bathing facilities, if you want a proper bath, it seems you'd either need to choose a cottage or use the coin-operated shower behind the shop (300 yen for 5 minutes, with a 100 yen extension for 2 more minutes).

• Bungalows: from about 5,250 yen for the 4-tatami-mat type up to around 12,600 yen for the 12-tatami-mat type (lighting and outlet only, no bedding)
• Cottage: 18,900 yen (comes with bathroom, toilet, kitchen, and bedding; only 1 of 7 types)
• Shower: coin-operated shower, 300 yen per use (5 minutes), 100 yen extension for 2 minutes
• Rentals: blanket 270 yen, futon mattress 300 yen, pillow 50 yen, etc.

I couldn't find any clear mention of Wi-Fi on the official website. Some general search results suggested it's available, but I wasn't able to confirm this for certain. If you're planning to use it for work, it's probably worth checking in advance.

Checking the rules on campfires, fireworks, and pets

Open flames directly on the ground are apparently prohibited, and using a fire pit stand is required. Used ash and charcoal seem to need to be brought to a collection point at the office. Fireworks appear to be allowed until 10:00 PM, though larger, loud ones like aerial fireworks or firecrackers are prohibited. Speakers and musical instruments also seem to be restricted to conversation-level volume, with a rule against use after 8:00 PM. From 10:00 PM to 6:00 AM is apparently designated as quiet hours, during which visitors are also asked to refrain from moving vehicles in and out.

Pets seem to be allowed as well, though the usual campground rules apply: no letting pets roam free, and owners are responsible for cleaning up after them. When it comes to playing in the lake, it seems consideration for other guests is required if a pet is present, and there was also a note stating that owners are liable for damages if something happens to a third party. So if you're visiting with a pet, it's probably worth keeping good manners in mind.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

When I checked this facility's location using the official My Area Connectivity Simulation tool, the overall rating came back as "C." I'm noting this as the result I actually confirmed using the tool.

Given that it's a lakeside location, it seems like signal conditions are worth checking in advance. If you're planning to spend a long time in the tent area, or if you need reliable connectivity to get work done, it might be a good idea to consider a backup means of communication given this rating.

Komorin

With a C rating, it seems like it'd be worth preparing a bit ahead of time when it comes to connectivity. Personally, I'd probably just plan to go in assuming I'll be offline the whole time.

Nearby sightseeing, hot springs, and roadside station information

Lake Motosu is right across the road from the campground, and it apparently only takes about a minute on foot to reach the shore. There seem to be years when a limited kokanee salmon fishing season opens up, but according to the latest updates, there was also a year when the season was canceled for resource conservation reasons, so if you're visiting specifically to fish, it seems essential to check the latest information.

The official website doesn't have specific details about nearby hot springs or roadside stations, but based on general search information, it looks like there are a few day-trip hot springs and roadside stations within about a 20-30 minute drive. For shopping, the shop at the Lake Motosu parking area is about a 1-minute drive away, while for a bigger shopping trip, Forest Mall Kawaguchiko is reportedly about a 30-minute drive. I wasn't able to confirm the actual travel times for either of these, so it's best to treat these as rough estimates.

Wrapping Up

Pulling this all together, my overall impression of Lake Motosu Campground is that it's a campground right by the lake where you can freely park your car next to your site, with a choice of accommodation styles ranging from tents to cottages. While there's a real convenience to not needing a reservation for tent sites, there were still some things, like payment methods and cancellation policies, that I couldn't figure out from the official website alone.

As for the Rakuten Mobile signal, it came back with a C rating, so if connectivity is a priority for you, checking the official tool ahead of time might give you some peace of mind. I'll keep looking into other campgrounds that catch my interest going forward.

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Related Links

• Official Site