Popular December Campervan Destinations in Japan
Are you planning to visit Japan in December by Campervan, Motorhome or RV Rental?
Winter in Japan begins in December; it gets very cold in some parts and snows heavily, making the roads exceedingly hazardous. However, with JAPAN ROAD TRIP you can be assured that all of our rental vehicles are equipped with winter tires during the winter season.
You can also choose where to rent a campervan, motorhome or RV based on how you begin your journey.
*Click here to see our rental location list*
And in this blog will provide recommendations for places to visit and events to attend while traveling by campervan, motorhome or RV rental in December.
VISIT THE CHICHIBU NIGHT FESTIVAL AT SAITAMA BY CAMPERVAN
The Chichibu Night Festival takes place yearly on December 2 and 3. The festival started 300 years ago and is now recognized as one of Japan’s three most popular float festivals, together with the Kyoto Gion event and the Hida Takayama Festival. There are six floats, including two called “Kasaboko,” which means flower parasols.
This festival is Chichibu Shrine’s most significant event. People pull lovely floats around Chichibu, and in the floats, people play the taiko drums and kabuki is performed inside them.
The festival’s other appeal is its fireworks display, which lasts about two and a half hours and provides a rare opportunity to watch Japanese fireworks during the winter.
The festival’s eve will be December 2, with 4 floats being pulled around Chichibu City. During the day, you may be able to pull the floats ropes.
The fireworks display will begin from 7 p.m. until 8 p.m.
The main festival day, December 3, will include six floats being pulled around the city. The festival will begin early in the morning and go until the next morning. The festival’s peak will be at night, when the fireworks will be displayed from 7:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. The ambiance of the floats varies throughout the day and night, therefore it is recommended to view both.
For more information visit there website:
https://www.chichibu-matsuri.jp/en/
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VISIT THE NANKINMACHI LANTERN FAIR AT KOBE BY CAMPERVAN
Nankinmachi is a small Chinatown in central Kobe that serves as the Kansai Region’s Chinese community. After Kobe Port opened to foreign trade in 1868, Chinese merchants relocated nearby and developed the neighborhood. As the Chinatown grew, it became known as Nankinmachi, after Nanjing, the former Chinese capital.
Nankinmachi is a famous tourist destination, and also a shopping and dining neighborhood. Two main streets pass through the district, intersecting at a small square in the center.
This illumination event, which began in 1996, takes place in December 7 until December 25.
Chinese lanterns are strung all around town, primarily along the main street, creating a Chinese atmosphere with their warm lights. In addition, Azumaya in Nankinmachi Square is decorated as a special spot, with a lighting ceremony occurring on the first day.
For more information visit there website:
https://www.nankinmachi.or.jp/
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VISIT THE ATAMI MARINE SEA FIREWORS AT ATAMI BY CAMPERVAN
Atami is a beautiful coastal city in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is situated on the Izu Peninsula’s eastern coast, facing the Pacific Ocean’s Sagami Bay. For generations, Atami has been a prominent hot spring resort location, famous for its medicinal Onsen (hot spring) water.
The name “Atami,” written with the kanji for “hot sea,” is believed to come from the extreme boiling of hot springs rising from the sea, which turns seawater into searing hot water. It was originally known as “Atsumigasaki” before becoming “Atami.”
Atami is also famous with there fresh seafoods cousins straight from Sagami Bay.
The Atami Seaside Fireworks Festival is a historical event that began in 1952. It is a popular Atami event that takes place more than ten times a year, not just in the summer.
The venue, Atami Bay, is bordered by mountains on three sides and has a bowl-shaped landscape, so the sound of the fireworks launched over the water reverberates, producing an acoustic impression similar to the sound of a large stadium.
The fireworks event will take place on December 8 and 22. Organizers may cancel events, change timetables, or change entrance restrictions without prior warning. Always verify official websites before attending an event.
For more information visit there website:
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VISIT THE NABANA NO SATO AT NAGOYA BY CAMPERVAN
Japan has numerous stunning winter illuminations each year, but many have a Christmas motif with Christmas trees, Santa Claus, and reindeers, so they usually cease around January.
However, Nabana No Sato has one of the best winter illuminations in Japan, and it lasts for more than half a year, giving you plenty of time to enjoy the illumination display throughout your stay to Japan. From October to May (or perhaps June) every year. This year’s illumination started on October 21, 2023 and it will run until June 2, 2024.
To access the park, you must pay an admission cost, which varies based on when you visit the park. The admission fee will include an in-store coupon for usage throughout the park. This can be used to buy souvenirs from the stores or to pay for a meal at one of the numerous restaurants located throughout the park.
Near Nabana No Sato, there is a theme park, a shopping mall, and an Onsen where you can go before or after the illumination.
Park admission fees in December depending on date:
December 1–December 22 will be 3,000 Yen (1,000 Yen in-store coupon include).
December 23-25 will be 3,000 Yen (1,000 Yen in-store coupon include).
*Only on these dates from 3 p.m., you must reserve a ticket in advance to enter the park, and the fee will be 5,000 Yen with 2,000 Yen in-store coupon include*
December 26–January 5 will be 3,000 Yen (1,000 Yen in-store coupon include).
For more information visit there website:https://www.nagashima-onsen.co.jp/nabana/illumination/index.html
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VISIT THE HAGOITA-ICHI AT ASAKUSA BY CAMPERVAN
In Sensoji Temple’s from December 17 until December 19 Hagoita Fair will be held. The fair dates back to the Edo era (1603-1867), when Hagoita painted with kabuki actors’ faces were sold at year-end markets.
From the Edo period to the Taisho era (1912-1926), it was customary to give Hagoita as a year-end present to families with children. To accommodate the end-of-year demand, the number of Hagoita shops increased, and by the middle of the Showa era, the year-end market had become known as the “Hagoita fair.”
Sensoji Temple’s year-end market was one of Edo’s most important festivals and the oldest market. It has lasted 350 years without cancellation, even after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and through World War II.
Hagoita are wooden paddles used to hit shuttlecocks made of soapberry seeds and bird feathers in the traditional Japanese New Year’s game Hanetsuki. The paddles have been decorated with a variety of images, some in relief, capturing women in kimono, kabuki actors, and so on. Japanese people believe that playing Hanetsuki is a technique to ward off evil spirits because the movement of the Hagoita is similar to the Harau motion (a Japanese word meaning “to drive away”).
For more information visit there website:https://www.senso-ji.jp/annual_event/21.html
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VISIT THE KASUGA WAKAMIYA ON-MATSURI AT NARA BY CAMPERVAN
The celebration was originally intended to pray away a disease epidemic. It then became connected with ensuring a successful harvest. Because harvesting was so important in ancient Japan, the festival lasted four days from December 15 until December 18. If you can only attend one day, choose December 17, which is the event’s main day.
The variety of traditional performances, such as kagura, music dedicated to the gods, and Bugaku, court music with dancing, will definitely leave you with an interest for traditional Japanese music.
The music of the Kasuga Wakamiya On-Matsuri has been classified as an Important Cultural Property of Japan. The dances are passed down from generation to generation, and many of the musical acts are unique to this festival.
For more information visit there website:https://www.kasugataisha.or.jp/onmatsuri/
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VISIT THE ZAO SNOW MONSTER FESTIVAL AT YAMAGATA BY CAMPERVAN
Mt. Zao, located on the boundary of Yamagata and Miyagi prefectures, is well-known for its spectacular snow monster structure. These “monsters,” called as Juhyo in Japanese, are actually fir trees that have been covered in snow up to their tops by the harsh weather system.
During the Zao Juhyo Festival, which runs from December 11 to March 31, the snow monsters are illuminated for evening viewing, making them appear even more otherworldly than they do during the day. Take in the all aspects of vibrant colors from several vantage points, including the rooftop observatory, restaurant, and the outside.
On the slopes, you can also engage in winter sports like skiing and snowboarding.
For more information visit there website:https://zaoropeway.co.jp/winter/index.php
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VISIT THE HUIS TEN BOSCH CHRISTMAS TOWN AT NAGASAKI BY CAMPERVAN
Huis ten Bosch is a theme park in Japan , in which a faithful replica of a Dutch town with all kinds of Dutch buildings has been created.
Going to famous theme parks to celebrate Christmas is fun but experiencing new theme park is much memorable. In Huis tan Bosch you can feel the happiest moment in the happiest time of the year. There Christmas event starts at November 10 until January 8.
At night, there will be a show that uses amazing projection mapping and heart-pounding gospel music from New York to bring joy to the entire area. Alternately, you might enjoy ice skating on the rink. Admiring the European cityscape as you glide along the canal beneath the bright winter sky. You may also take in the popular illumination there, which is one of the biggest illumination displays in the world with over 13 million lights.
They also have hotels inside the theme park that you can stay to celebrate Christmas-eve and Christmas.
The park admission fee for one day will be 7,400 Yen for adult and 3,700 Yen for 4 years old to less than elementary school students.
For more information visit there website:
https://www.huistenbosch.co.jp/
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VISIT THE WINTER COMIC MARKET AT TOKYO BY CAMPERVAN
The winter edition of Comiket is one of Japan’s biggest comic-related events in Tokyo. It is held each year at Tokyo Big Sight. This year the event will be held in December 29 and 30.
Comic Market are more commonly known as Comiket or Comike is a semiannual doujinshi (self-published) convention in Japan. Comiket is the largest fan convention in the world, growing from fewer than 10,000 attendees in 1982 to over half a million by 2004. Since 2007, attendee numbers have fluctuated in the region of 500,000 for Winter Comiket and 560,000 for Summer Comiket.
There are several ticket types to select from:
Early admission to the Cosplay Changing Rooms is available for an extra fee of ¥3,000 at 9:30 a.m. You can enter the event at 10 a.m. for ¥5,000. Both tickets will be offered on TicketPay using a lottery mechanism, with a service fee of ¥330.
Organizers may cancel events, alter schedules, or change admission requirements without notice. Check Official sites before going to the event.
For more information visit there website:
https://www.comiket.co.jp/index_e.html
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VISIT THE INUBOSAKI AT CHIBA BY CAMPERVAN
In Japan there is tradition to see the first sunrise in new year causing famous spot to be crowded. Inubosaki is also one of famous places to see the first sunrise of the year.
The eastern most point on the mainland is Cape Nosappu in Hokkaido, however due to the earth’s axis, sunrise occurs earlier at Inubosaki during certain winter months, including New Year’s Day.
However, this is a popular location for the first sunrise of the year, and traffic limits are enforced every year.
Because it is a popular sunrise sight, parking is restricted, so if you are traveling with a camper, arrive early.
Parking Lot: 1,500 available
Free parking lots list:
For more information visit Choshi City website:
https://www.city.choshi.chiba.jp/kanko/index.html
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Summery
December in Japan may be popular where you go, You can also visit Kyoto Or Hokkaido for more different winter experience. However, you will be able to experience an additional way of celebrating Christmas and New Year. There are many other things to do in Japan in December, such as winter sports, Onsen’s, and much more. If you have a certain destination in mind, JAPAN ROAD TRIP will assist you and equip you with a Campervan, Motorhome or RV’s that meets your needs.
We hope you enjoy the most amazing winter trip with us!
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