"We asked a snowy mountain car camping pro" - 3. How to find a place to camp in your car

This series, written by car camping professionals, has been a big hit since its release. Early spring is the perfect season to try car camping. There are still plenty of opportunities to go out. Let's gain a little more knowledge. In the third installment, we will introduce "How to find a place to camp in your car."

Where to stay? Key points for choosing a car camping spot

When traveling to snowy mountains and camping in your car, where should you stay? Of course, it depends on your destination, but there are some common points to consider when searching for and choosing a suitable place to stay in your car

The first thing to consider is whether the location is suitable for sleeping in a car

Sleeping in your car isn't possible just anywhere you can park your car. Many people sleep in their cars at roadside stations or highway service areas, but the policy on sleeping in your car varies depending on the location, and some places completely prohibit it

Make sure to check whether car camping is allowed at the parking facility you want to use as a car camping spot. It's important to check whether the location officially allows car camping, or whether it's OK for a short nap. For example, parking lots at service areas, parking areas, and roadside stations often tolerate short naps as an extension of a break. Some roadside stations explicitly state that "car camping is prohibited," while others welcome car camping. Of course, if the roadside station has an RV park attached, you can openly camp in your car there

Regarding parking at ski resorts, there are issues with clearing snow from the roads leading to the resort, and some resorts even prohibit sleeping in cars to avoid any trouble in the parking lot. It's best to contact the ski resort directly in advance

Are there any toilets available 24 hours a day?

Not having a toilet near your car camping spot can be quite inconvenient, both before you go to sleep and after you wake up. It's one of the essential factors when choosing a place to sleep. If you're traveling with women or children, you'll want to check not only whether there's a toilet, but also whether it's available 24 hours a day, whether it's clean, whether it has a flush toilet, and whether it's Western-style or Japanese-style

If you search for "toilet" on Google Maps, you can find nearby public toilets. Give it a try. However, due to issues with snow removal and frozen water pipes, some places close their toilets during the winter. It would be a pain if you went to a place and found it unusable, so be sure to check beforehand!

Is there running water?

Water is a necessity for brushing your teeth and washing your face when sleeping in your car. In winter, most people who sleep in their cars will be in ski resort parking lots, roadside stations, or public parking lots. It's okay to use the water in the toilet to brush your teeth and wash your face, as long as it's within the bounds of common sense. This is appreciated. However, since parking lots are not campsites, using water for cooking or washing dishes is completely out of the question. The basic rule is to bring water with you if you need it

Are there day spas and restaurants nearby?

It's natural to get drenched in sweat on snowy mountains or get chilled to the bone by a snowstorm. Bathing facilities that help you stay clean and soothe your tired body are definitely a desirable environment when camping in a car. If there are bathing facilities such as hot springs and spas that can be used for day trips near your camping spot or along your route, the comfort and peace of mind of your car camping trip will increase dramatically. This is an especially important point if you are traveling with small children or women

Many day-trip hot spring facilities also have restaurants attached. It's incredibly convenient to be able to bathe and eat in one place. First, find out if there are any such facilities nearby

Can you feel safe from a security standpoint?

Even if you lock your car when sleeping in it, it doesn't mean it's completely safe. It's best to stay in a place that is as safe as possible from a security standpoint, such as on a well-maintained premises, with some light on when you go to the toilet at night, etc

Is the parking spot flat and not noisy?

If the place where you park your car is even slightly sloped, it can feel surprisingly uncomfortable. It's very unsettling to spend a long time or sleep on a surface that's not parallel to the ground. If you actually park your car and lie down, you'll see that it's difficult to get a good night's sleep. Not only that, it can also cause swelling, headaches, and other physical discomforts. Having a flat surface is directly related to comfort. Therefore, a flat parking spot is desirable

Also, if the surroundings are noisy, it's hard to rest. Of course, even with the windows closed, loud noises can still be heard. I don't like places near construction sites or other noisy areas

Is snow removed in winter?

When traveling to snowy mountains and camping in your car, it's important to check whether the place you plan to camp in your car has been cleared of snow, even in winter. Roadside stations and service areas probably won't be a problem, but even public parking lots and ski resort parking lots may not be cleared of snow. This is also something you should be aware of

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4 popular places to sleep in your car during the winter

1. Expressway service areas (SA)

When heading to snowy mountains, highway service areas are a reliable base for road trips. They are convenient and appreciated as they have toilets, restaurants, and rest areas, and the overwhelming majority of people use them as places to sleep in their cars. My family and I have also slept in our car at service areas along the way on several occasions when we had to drive long distances to reach our destination, such as on our "Car Camping Trip Around Hokkaido."

However, service areas are merely "resting facilities" where you can refuel and take a break while using the expressway. Therefore, sleeping in your car for several days is not allowed. It is generally accepted that it is OK to use them to take a nap from night until early morning while traveling. Please make sure to understand this. Also, bringing in trash and flushing household water down the toilet are strictly prohibited, and you must observe good manners so as not to cause a nuisance

Let's take a look at the benefits and concerns of using service areas

[Advantages]
In addition to toilets, there is also a food court and a gas station, so you can rest assured in case of an emergency.
You can sleep in your car without getting off the highway (saving on highway tolls)
[Concerns]
There is a lot of traffic and the engine noise can be quite loud.
During Golden Week and summer vacation, the parking lot is full of cars, so you may not be able to find a place to park.

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②Roadside Station

There are a total of 1,204 roadside stations across the country (as of the end of February 2023), and they are extremely popular places to stay overnight in your car

・Toilets, washrooms, and changing areas are fully equipped, and the facilities are clean and comfortable.
・Toilets are available 24 hours a day, so you can feel safe.
・There are shops, restaurants, vending machines, etc.
・You can also purchase local ingredients.
Some facilities also have day-trip hot springs.

・Quiet and spacious.

For these reasons, the fact that roadside stations are very convenient and easy for anyone to use is a major point. We have used roadside stations in unfamiliar areas several times, regardless of the season, as they are reliable places to stay in our cars

However, the truth is that roadside stations are essentially rest facilities for safe and comfortable road use, not accommodation facilities. Therefore, sleeping in cars at roadside stations is generally not officially encouraged. However, there are stations that explicitly state that it is "welcome" and others that it is "prohibited," and the attitude towards sleeping in cars varies. Generally speaking, it seems that most roadside stations tolerate or tolerate sleeping in cars

Gather information online beforehand to see if it is possible to sleep in your car, and when you arrive at the location, check to see if there are any signs or warnings that say "sleeping in cars is prohibited."

Each roadside station has a variety of facilities (day spas, restaurants, shops, parks, experience facilities, tourist information, etc.). Roadside stations also often hold events to introduce local industries. If you use the facilities wisely after researching the official websites in advance, your car camping trip will be more convenient, comfortable, and enjoyable

◇Roadside station official website: https://www.michi-no-eki.jp/

Benefits and concerns of using roadside stations

[Advantages]
・If the facility has a day spa or restaurant attached, you can complete everything at the roadside station.
・Since many people stay overnight in their cars, it is safe from a security standpoint.
[Concerns]
・If the roadside station is popular for car camping, noise can be a concern.

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③Ski resort parking lot

Of course, you can also stay the night before in the ski resort's parking lot. In fact, getting to your destination and sleeping in your car would be the ideal option if you want to catch the first lift or powder in the morning. However, some ski resorts have announcements such as "We ask that you refrain from sleeping in your car the night before." Public toilets are not always open 24 hours a day, and some ski resorts close the entrance to their parking lots at night

By the way, many ski resorts in Tohoku and Hokkaido do not allow overnight stays in cars ( toilets are not open at night). In that case, you will have to use a roadside station near the ski resort.

It's a good idea to do thorough research beforehand when it comes to sleeping in your car in a ski resort parking lot. We highly recommend contacting the ski resort in advance. As skiers and snowboarders who love playing in the snowy mountains, be sure to follow the rules and etiquette of the ski resort

Benefits and concerns of using ski resort parking lots

[Advantages]
・First of all, you can head up the mountain as soon as you wake up. Be the first to hit the powder!
・The sense of relief that you've already arrived at your destination, and you feel at ease
・Get plenty of sleep and head up the mountain full of energy
・Depending on the time of day, you can also use the ski resort facilities, such as day spas and toilets
[Concerns]
・Not all parking lots allow overnight stays in your car
・Snow removal from parking lots occurs early in the morning, so cooperation is required, such as moving your car

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④Public parking lot

You can also use public parking lots located near your destination snow-capped mountain or at tourist spots along the way. Compared to service areas and roadside stations, there are hardly any hot springs or restaurants, and many places do not have adequate toilet facilities, but on the other hand, as long as there is a toilet, you can sleep in your car. However, public parking lots are used by many people, so please be careful not to cause inconvenience to those around you. If you are sleeping in your car, you should be mindful of arriving late at night and leaving for your destination as early as possible in the morning

Advantages and disadvantages of public parking lots

[Advantages]
・The parking lot itself is a public space, so there is a sense of security
. ・You can stay for multiple nights.
[Disadvantages]
・Some parking lots do not have toilets or running water.
・Snow is often not removed.

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Summary of this article

In the third installment of this series, we introduced "How to find a place to sleep in your car." To recap, the key points to keep in mind when searching for and choosing a spot to sleep in your car are..

- Is it possible to sleep overnight in the car?
- Is there a toilet that can be used 24 hours?
- Is there running water?
- Are there day spas or restaurants nearby?
- Is it safe from a security standpoint
? - Is the parking spot flat? - Is it in a noisy area?
- Is the snow removed in winter?

Taking into account multiple points above, the most popular options for car camping trips in the snowy mountains are:

① Expressway service areas (SA)
② Roadside stations
③ Ski resort parking lots
④ Public parking lots

That's about it. The snow melts early in the 2022-2023 season, but ski resorts where you can ski right up until Golden Week in May . I've also heard that there is plenty of snow left in the backcountry areas. Why not try camping in your car in the spring mountains?

In the next installment, we will be introducing "spots where you can sleep in your car near ski resorts that are popular with STEEP users!"

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