I Looked Into Nasu Takahara Auto Campsite

I keep researching campsites and day-trip hot springs on this blog, but I realized I hadn't covered the Tochigi area much yet, so this time I decided to look for campsites in the Nasu area.

Amid that search, what caught my eye was "Nasu Takahara Auto Campsite." I was drawn to the fact that it has an open-air bath, plus a wide range of options from cottages to cabins to trailer houses, so I decided to look into it in more detail.

What Is Nasu Takahara Auto Campsite Like?

It's an auto campsite located in Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture, apparently about a 10-minute drive from the Nishinasuno-Shiobara IC on the Tohoku Expressway. As for the operating season, search results suggested it runs seasonally from March through December, closing in January and February, but I couldn't find a page on the official site that clearly stated this, so it's probably best to treat it as reference information only. On the other hand, the operating period for the open-air bath seemed to be clearly stated on the official site as "late April (Golden Week) through early November (until the November holidays)."

Check-in was listed as 13:00–17:00 for auto sites and 14:00–17:00 for lodging facilities, with check-out at 11:00 for both. Reservations appear to be accepted online or by phone, but an online reservation apparently isn't confirmed the moment you submit it—you get a reply later by email or phone. Phone reservations are also apparently possible, but I'll leave out the number in this article.

As for pricing, a standard auto camping plot was 5,000 yen (6,000 yen on specific dates), with an additional 1,200 yen for an AC power hookup for regular cars, or 1,300 yen for RVs and campervans. There's also a dedicated site for motorcyclists, set at 3,000 yen for up to two motorcycles per plot (4,000 yen on specific dates). On the lodging side, prices seemed to vary widely depending on group size and preference: the 8-person log cottage (only one available) starts at 23,000 yen, the 4–5 person version starts at 18,000 yen, the 8-person wood cabin starts at 18,000 yen, the 4–5 person version starts at 14,000 yen, and the 6-person trailer house starts at 12,000 yen. On top of these, there's apparently a separate facility usage/management fee that includes bathing (1,200 yen for adults, 600 yen for children).

Komorin

It struck me as unusual to see this many types of lodging offered. Even though I don't own a tent myself, I felt like I could probably stay in a cabin or trailer house, and looking at the map, my imagination started running a little wild.

Checking Out the Seasonal Open-Air Bath and Facilities

Naturally, the open-air bath was the point that caught my interest most as a feature of this facility. There's apparently a rock bath and a hinoki (cypress) bath, both equipped with a changing area, washing area, and showers. During the operating period, staying guests apparently get free bathing (included in the facility usage/management fee), but according to the guide page on the official site, it seems to only be available on Saturdays and the days before public holidays during the operating period, from 18:00 to 21:50, with same-day reservations required. However, another page (the facilities page) didn't mention any day-of-week restriction, so if you're actually planning to use it, it's probably safest to check the latest details by phone or another method.

On days when the open-air bath isn't running, or during the winter (mid-November through mid-April), it seems only the private family bath in the management building (16:00–20:30) operates. If you want to reserve the family bath privately while the open-air bath is running, there's apparently an extra charge of 3,500 yen for 45 minutes. That said, the official FAQ apparently states that the open-air bath itself cannot be reserved exclusively, so that's a point that might be easy to mix up. Bathing itself isn't available in the morning (9:00–11:00), but there was also a note saying shower-only use is available for about 400 yen per person for roughly 15 minutes.

Powered sites are available as an option at the lawn plaza sites and the lawn plot sites, and the dedicated campervan plots apparently also have their own power hookups. As for amperage, search results turned up a mention of "up to 15A total," but I couldn't find a specific figure anywhere on the official site, so I'll treat this as unconfirmed information. Similarly, while some information suggested Wi-Fi is "available," I couldn't find any mention of it on the official site, so if you want to use it, it might be reassuring to check in advance.

Restrooms with washlets are apparently installed both in the sanitary house and near the open-air bath, and the cooking areas—both at the barbecue plaza and the sanitary house—apparently have water taps with a hot water supply. As for laundry, there are apparently two washing machines inside the sanitary house. Regarding pets, it seems you can bring a pet to the auto camping sites for 500 yen per night per animal, while at the lodging facilities, small dogs only are allowed, up to two per unit, at 1,000 yen per animal per night. However, at the lodging facilities, bringing your own cage, pet sheets, and a lint roller is apparently mandatory, and there's a rule against letting pets on the bedding.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

When I checked this facility's location using the official "My Area Communication Simulation" tool, the overall rating came out as "C." This might be worth checking in advance.

The mountainous terrain in this area might be a factor, but since this rating came directly from actually running the tool myself, if signal quality matters to you, it's probably a good idea to think ahead about how you'll stay in touch during your stay.

Komorin

Since I'm also a Rakuten Mobile user myself, I was glad to find out about the C rating ahead of time. I don't drive much these days and rarely get to travel far, so just being able to check this from my desk felt like a small win.

I Also Looked Into Nearby Hot Springs and Sightseeing Spots

I looked into some of the surrounding area as well. There seem to be several day-trip hot spring options nearby: Shiobara Akatsuki no Yu is about a 10-minute drive away, the Shiobara Onsen area is about 15–40 minutes, and the Itamuro Onsen area is about 25 minutes. For sightseeing, Senbonmatsu Farm is apparently about a 10-minute drive, and Nasu Garden Outlet is about 20 minutes. There's also a riverside park along the Hoki River about a 5-minute drive away, but the official site clearly states it's "outside the campsite's management," so it seems to be a spot you'd visit at your own risk. Convenience stores and supermarkets are also apparently within a 5–20 minute drive, with several options available, so it seems unlikely you'd have trouble stocking up on supplies.

Wrapping Up

To sum it up again, my impression of Nasu Takahara Auto Campsite was that its charm lies in the seasonal open-air bath and the wide range of lodging types to choose from—cottages, cabins, and trailer houses. It also offers powered sites and pet-friendly sites, so the facilities seem set up to be easy to choose even for camping beginners. That said, there were a few things I couldn't fully confirm from the official site alone, such as the amperage of the power sites, whether Wi-Fi is available, and which days the open-air bath operates, so if you're actually considering using it, it might be reassuring to check the latest information by phone or another method. As for Rakuten Mobile signal, the result came out as a C rating, so if that's a concern for you, it's probably a good idea to check in advance using Rakuten Mobile's official tool.

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Related Links

• Official Site