This series by sleeping professionals has been very popular since its release. Early spring is the best season to try sleeping in the car. There are still opportunities to go out. Let's learn a little more. Next, let's introduce "How to find a place to stay in the car" in the third installment.
Where are you staying? The point of choosing a spot for staying in the car
Where should I stay when traveling to the snowy mountains overnight in the car? Of course, it depends on the destination, but there are common points like this that are important points when searching for and choosing a suitable accommodation spot for staying in the car.
As a major premise, whether the place is a place where you can stay in the car
Sleeping in the car is not possible anywhere you can park your car. There may be many people who sleep in the car at roadside stations and highway service areas, but the response to sleeping in the car differs depending on the place, and there are places where it is completely prohibited.
Find out if you can stay in your car at the parking facility you want to stay in. It is important to confirm whether it is a place where it is OK to stay in the car publicly, or if it is a place where you can take a nap. For example, in parking lots of service areas/pas and roadside stations, there is a lot of tacit approval for taking a nap as an extension of a break. Some roadside stations clearly state that overnight stays are prohibited, while others welcome overnight stays. Of course, if you have a roadside station with an RV park, you can stay in the car fair and square.
Regarding parking lots at ski resorts, some ski resorts prohibit staying in the car itself so as not to cause problems with snow removal on the road to the ski resort or trouble in the parking lot. It is a good idea to contact the ski resort directly in advance.
Whether there is a toilet that can be used 24 hours a day
Before going to bed and after waking up, it is quite inconvenient that there is no toilet near the parking lot. It can be said that it is an essential condition for choosing a place to stay in the car. In addition to whether or not there is a toilet, of course, whether it can be used 24 hours a day, whether the toilet is clean, whether it has a flush, whether it is Western style or Japanese style, is not a point you want to check if you are traveling in a car with women or children. mosquito.
If you search for "toilet" on Google Maps, you can search for nearby public toilets. Try it. However, there are places where the toilets are closed during the winter due to problems such as snow removal and frozen water supply. It's a big deal if you can't use it when you go, so be sure to check it out in advance!
Is there running water
Water is a necessity for brushing your teeth and washing your face while sleeping in the car. Most overnight stays in the car in winter will be in parking lots at ski resorts, roadside stations, public parking lots, etc. It's okay to use the toilet water for brushing your teeth and washing your face as long as it's within common sense. Thank you for this. However, the parking lot is not a campsite, so it is a bad idea to use it for cooking and washing dishes. It's a good idea to bring your own if you need it.
Whether there are day trip hot springs and restaurants nearby
It's normal to be drenched in sweat on a snowy mountain, or chilled to the core by a blizzard. A bathing facility that keeps your body clean and relaxes your tired body is the ideal environment for staying in the car. If there are bathing facilities such as hot springs and spas that can be used for a day trip near the car overnight spot or on the route, the comfort and security of the car trip will increase significantly. If you are traveling with a small child or a woman, this is an even more important point.
There are many places where restaurants are attached to day-trip hot spring facilities. It's overwhelmingly easier if you can take a bath and eat in one place. First, find out if there is such a facility nearby.
Can you feel safe in terms of crime prevention?
Even if you lock your car while staying in the car, it doesn't mean it's completely safe. From a crime prevention point of view, it would be safer to stay in a place that is managed by people as much as possible, and where there is a certain amount of light when you go to the toilet at night.
Is the parking lot flat and not noisy?
If there is even a slight incline in the place where the car is parked, it will feel unexpectedly uncomfortable. Spending long periods of time or sleeping not parallel to the ground can be very uncomfortable. If you actually stop the car and lie down, you can clearly see it, but it seems difficult to sleep well. Not only that, but it can also cause, for example, swelling, headaches, and poor physical condition. The fact that the ground is flat is directly linked to comfort. A flat parking spot is therefore desirable.
Also, if the surroundings are noisy, it is difficult to get a good rest. Of course, even with the windows closed, loud noises can still be heard from outside. Places near construction sites or where there is a lot of noise are not allowed.
Whether snow is removed in winter
When traveling to a snowy mountain in a car, it is also important to check whether the place where you plan to stay in the car is cleared of snow even in winter. If it's a roadside station or SA, it probably doesn't seem to be a problem, but there are cases where the snow is not removed even in public parking lots and ski resort parking lots. This is another point to keep in mind.
Sleeping place in the car often used in winter 4
① Expressway service area (SA)
The service area of the expressway used when heading to the snowy mountains is a reassuring base for car trips. There are restrooms, restaurants, and a rest area, so it's convenient, and an overwhelming number of people use it as a place to stay in the car. Our family has also stayed in the car for the purpose of taking a nap in the service area on the way, when we have to run a long distance to the destination, such as on a "trip around Hokkaido".
However, the service area is a so-called "rest facility" where you can refuel and take a break in the process of using the expressway. Therefore, staying in the car for several days is NG. It is used under the common understanding that it is OK to use it for a nap from night to early morning while moving. Let's understand that properly. Also, it is strictly prohibited to bring in garbage or flush the toilet with water, and manners should be observed so as not to cause trouble.
Let's pick up the benefits and concerns of using the service area
[Benefits]
・In addition to the toilets, there is also a food court and a gas station, so you can rest assured in case of emergency
・You can stay in the car without getting off the highway (saving the highway fee)
[Concerns]
・The car traffic is intense and the engine Somewhat noisy due to noise
・During Golden Week and summer holidays, the parking lot may be full and you may not be able to park.
②Road station
With 1,204 stations nationwide (as of the end of February 2023), Michi-no-Eki (Roadside Stations) are extremely popular places to stay overnight on the train.
・Equipped with toilets, washrooms, and space for changing clothes, the facilities are clean and comfortable. ・The
can be
used 24 hours a day, so there is no need to
worry . Some facilities have hot springs
・Quite spacious and relaxing
・Quiet environment
For these reasons, it is very convenient and easy for anyone to use, which is a big point. In areas we are unfamiliar with, Michi-no-Eki is a reliable place to stay on the train, so we have used it several times regardless of the season.
But it is. Originally, Michi-no-Eki is a rest facility for safe and comfortable road use, not a lodging facility. Therefore, staying in the car at a roadside station is not officially encouraged. However, some stations dare to declare that they are "welcome," while others state that they are "prohibited." Generally speaking, I feel that many roadside stations accept or tacitly allow overnight stays in the car.
Collect information on the internet in advance to see if it is possible to stay in the car, and when you arrive at the site, check to see if there are any signs or notices that say "No overnight stay in the car".
There are various facilities (one-day hot springs, restaurants, shops, parks, experience facilities, tourist information, etc.) attached to roadside stations. Events that introduce local industries are also often held at roadside stations. If you use it well after researching various things on the official website etc. in advance, your trip in the car will be more convenient, comfortable and enjoyable.
◇Roadside Station Official Homepage: https://www.michi-no-eki.jp/
Benefits and Concerns of Using Michi-no-Eki
[Benefits]
・
If it is a facility that has a day-trip hot spring and restaurants, everything can be completed at the roadside
station . I'm worried about the noise at the roadside station
③ski resort parking lot
Of course, there is also the option of staying overnight in the parking lot of the ski resort. Rather, being able to reach your destination and stay in the car is ideal for aiming for the first lift or powder in the morning. However, some ski resorts make announcements such as, "We kindly ask that you refrain from staying overnight in the car." Also, public restrooms are not always open 24 hours a day, and some ski resorts close their parking lot entrances at night.
By the way, there are many ski resorts in Tohoku and Hokkaido where you can't sleep in the car ( there are no toilets available at night). In that case, you will probably use a roadside station near the ski resort.
It's a good idea to research carefully in advance if you'll be staying in a car in a ski resort parking lot. We recommend that you contact the ski resort in advance. As a skier or snowboarder who loves to play in the snowy mountains, please follow the rules and manners of the ski resort.
Advantages and concerns of using ski resort parking lots
[Benefits]
・You can go up the mountain as soon as you wake up.
Powder first! ・You
can
get plenty of sleep and go up the mountain with full energy . ]
・Not all parking lots are permitted to stay in the car
・Since the parking lot will be cleared of snow early in the morning, cooperation such as moving the car is required
④Public parking lot
There is also a method of using public parking lots near the snowy mountains you are looking for, or at sightseeing 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 contrary, it is possible to stay in the car if there is a toilet. However, public parking lots are used by many people, so please do not disturb others. If you plan to stay in the car, you should consider arriving late at night and leaving for your destination as early as possible in the morning.
Benefits and Concerns of Public Parking Lot
[Merits]
parking
space
there is
a sense of security . too many
Summary of this time
In the third installment of the series, we introduced how to find a place to stay overnight in the car.
・Whether there is
a restroom that can be used 24 hours a day ・Whether
there
is running water
are hot springs for day trips and restaurants nearby・Whether the place is noisy・Whether snow is removed in winter, etc.
With multiple points mentioned above, what is often used when traveling in a snowy mountain car is…
①Expressway Service Area (SA)
②Michi-no
-Eki ③Ski Resort Parking
④Public Parking
That's what it means. The snow melts early in the 2022-23 season, but there are still many ski resorts that are open until Golden Week in May I also hear that there is enough remaining snow in the backcountry area. How about taking on the challenge of staying in the car to Haruyama?
In the next 4th installment, we plan to deliver "Spots where you can stay in the car around the popular ski resorts for STEEP users"!
someone who can tell me
To-chan is the Tennenperm Family
A family of four who enjoy surfing, skiing and snowboarding while traveling from the sea to the snowy mountains all over the country with Hiace for 40 to 50 days a year. As a surfer, I started sleeping in my car because I wanted to be close to good waves, and have been sleeping in my car for over 20 years. From 2016 to 2019, he also conquered Japan with his family overnight in a car. From the winter of 2019, I started a two-base life (dual life) in Yuzawa Town, Niigata Prefecture. He is a YouTuber and influencer who spreads the charm of a free way of life and staying in the car on SNS.
https://www.instagram.com/tennenperm_daddy/
https://www.youtube.com/user/masatoikebe