I Looked Into Shomaru Kids Auto Campsite

This blog is where I quietly research campsites, day-trip hot springs, and inns from the perspective of someone who doesn't drive a car, checking whether I could actually get there myself. This time, I looked into another facility in the Saitama area.

What I looked into this time is "Shomaru Kids Auto Campsite." With "kids" right there in the name, it seemed like it would have a family-friendly vibe for people with children, and I was also curious since it apparently used to go by a different name, so I decided to dig in.

A Campsite Reborn From Its Former Name

This facility apparently used to operate under a different name before being renewed into what it is now. As far as I could check on the official website, there's no sign of the old name anymore, and it's now listed under the name "Shomaru Kids Auto Campsite." It's located in the Ashigakubo area of Yokoze Town, Chichibu District, Saitama Prefecture, and seems to be about a 10-minute drive from the roadside station Kajuen Ashigakubo.

There are apparently 10 auto camping sites, with only 1 of those having a power hookup. Pricing seems to vary by season, and the base rate (up to 2 adults, 4 children, and 1 car, per site per night) looks to run around 12,000 yen in the regular season, 8,000 yen in the off-season, and 14,000 yen during peak season. If there are more than 2 adults, there's apparently an extra charge added on.

Reservations can be made via the website, as well as through the campsite booking site "Nap." On-site payment is cash only, and purchases like firewood or charcoal also need to be paid in cash, so it might be a good idea to bring a bit more cash than usual.

Komorin

Whenever a facility has changed its name, I get a little nervous checking whether there's any mismatched info tied to the old name. This time the official website's listing was clear, so that made things easier.

Checking the Facilities That Matter to an Indoor Type Like Me

As someone who leans more toward indoor comforts, what catches my attention first is the plumbing situation and power availability. From what I found, here's what seems to be available:

• Restrooms: There's a sanitary building with flush toilets, including separate stalls for men and women, plus an additional separate stall just for women
• Showers: Hot water shower rooms seem to be available for free, open from 8am to 9pm. That said, there's apparently no bathtub on site, so if you want to soak in a proper bath, you'd need to visit a nearby hot spring facility
• Cooking area: There appears to be a cooking area equipped with hot water
• Powered sites: Only 1 out of 10 sites has power, so if you want electricity, it's probably worth confirming at the time of booking
• Shop: The management building apparently sells firewood, charcoal, lighters, and gas canisters, but there's no food or drink for sale and no vending machines, so you'll need to bring your own food and drinks ahead of time
• Lights-out rule: There's a strict 10pm lights-out and bedtime rule, which apparently applies to campfires as well. Open fires directly on the ground are prohibited, so a fire stand is required
• Pets: Small dogs seem to be allowed, but apparently with conditions requiring a leash at all times and proper cleanup after them

I couldn't find any mention of Wi-Fi in the official facility information, so I'll leave that as unknown. If you want to get work done while you're there, it's probably worth checking on the connectivity situation ahead of time given this.

Looks Like a Great Setup for Family Camping With Kids

With "kids" right there in the name, I got the impression that the play areas for children are really well thought out. Besides the "Kids Park," which has the shallow parts and sandy spots along the Yokoze River plus playground equipment from a well-known manufacturer, there's apparently also a two-story log house with indoor play equipment that can be used even on rainy days. Having an environment where kids can play regardless of the weather might be a reassuring point for anyone considering a family camping trip.

Nearby, there seem to be day-trip hot springs like Bukou Onsen and Naguri Onsen Sawarabi no Yu, both about a 20-minute drive away, so if a shower alone isn't quite enough for you, it might be worth planning a stop at one of these. Venture out a bit further and there also seem to be leisure spots like Moominvalley Park.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

When I checked this facility's location using the official "My Area Connectivity Simulation" tool, no result came up, and instead it showed something that looked like a maintenance notice. It seems this kind of display can happen when there isn't enough data for a given area, so this time I couldn't get anything definitive about the Rakuten Mobile signal conditions.

At this point, the Rakuten Mobile signal condition comes back as unknown. Since it's neither confirmed good nor bad, if you're actually planning to visit, it might be worth double-checking on your own device before you head out.

Komorin

Honestly, it's a bit frustrating when no result comes up at all. Since I use Rakuten Mobile myself, in cases like this I just try to be upfront and say "it's unknown" rather than forcing an answer.

Wrapping Up

Pulling it all together, Shomaru Kids Auto Campsite left me with the impression of being a campsite with plenty to enjoy for families with kids, thanks to the shallow river and sandy areas along the Yokoze River and a log house you can use even on rainy days. It apparently used to operate under a different name, but it's now being introduced under its new name along with renewed facilities.

Only 1 out of 10 sites has power, and whether Wi-Fi is available remains unknown, which is a bit of a concern for someone like me who leans indoor. As for the Rakuten Mobile signal conditions, the official tool didn't return a result, so I wasn't able to share anything definitive there either. If this matters to you, you can check it yourself using the official Rakuten Mobile tool, so it might be worth taking a look before you visit.

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Related Links

• Official Site