Shin-etsu Trail tent sites

There are seven designated tent sites along the Trail, allowing you to camp while hiking the Trail.

Carry your tent, camping and cooking gear and spend the whole day right on the Trail—it will make for a much deeper hiking experience! The tent sites are simple campgrounds created specifically for those hiking the Shin-etsu Trail, with just enough space for your tent.

Tent sites

Tent site	Details	Notes
Aka Ike tent site	Access:Five-minute walk from Aka Ike parking lot Water:Available1 Toilet:Available in the parking lot Tent spots available:10 Open:Late June to late October Fee:¥1,000/person Payment:Through the Shin-etsu Trail Store	In principle, staying is free, but we ask that you kindly donate ¥1,000, which will be used for maintenance.
Katsura Ike tent site	Access:On the Trail Water:Available1 Toilet:Yes Tent spots available:5 Open:Late June to late October Fee:¥1,000/person Payment:Through the Shin-etsu Trail Store	The Tarō Shimizu spring is located nearby, but may go dry in summer. Katsura Ike pond water can be used instead.
Togari Onsen Hoshifuru campground	Access:15-minute walk from the Hotoke ga Mine trailhead Water:Available1 Toilet:Yes, in adjacent facility Tent spots available:10 Open:Late June to late October Fee:¥1,000/person Payment:Online pre-payment by card	Please make reservation and payment directly online at Togari Onsen Hoshifuru Campground
Hikari ga Hara campground	Access:15-minute walk from the fork in the Trail leading to the campground Water:Available Toilet:Yes Tent spots available:20 Open:Late June to late October Fee:*See note on the right* Payment:Through the Shin-etsu Trail Store	*For staying at the Hikari ga Hara campground, both the admission fee (￥1,000 per person, according to the number of people using the site) and the site charge (￥1000 per tent, according to the number of tents) are required. ex.1) In the case of 1 person using one tent: Admission fee: ¥1,000 x 1 person + Site charge: ¥1,000 x 1 tent = Total ¥2,000 ex. 2) In the case of 2 persons sharing one tent: Admission fee: ¥1,000 x 2 persons + Site charge: ¥1,000 x 1 tent = Total ¥3,000
Nonoumi Kōgen tent site	Access:30-minute walk from Nonoumi Tōge pass, 10 minutes from Misaka Tōge pass Water:Available1 Toilet:Yes Tent spots available:20 Open:Early July to late October Fee:¥1,000/person Payment:Through the Shin-etsu Trail Store
Echigo-Tsumaari Daigonji Kōgen campground	Access:20-minute walk from the Matsunoyama trailhead Water:Available Toilet:Yes Tent spots available:40 Open:Early June to late October Fee:¥1,500/person3 Payment:At the facility	Please make reservations and payment directly with the facility at Daigonji Kōgen campground
Hishigatake campground	Access:50 minutes from fork in Trail leading to the campground Water:Available1 Toilet:Yes, in adjacent gondola station Tent spots available:None (currently closed) Open:Early July to late October Fee:¥1,000/person Payment:Through the Shin-etsu Trail Store	※Closed from 2022
Katakuri no Yado tent site	Access:On Trail Water:Available Toilet:Yes Tent spots available:20 Open:June to October (irregular holidays, so check ahead) Fee:¥1,000/person Payment:At the facility	Please make reservations and payment directly with the facility, at atakuri no Yado, Akiyama-gō Onsen

To use the tent sites

STEP1 Once you have decided the desired date of use and the tent site, please fill in the reservation form (link below) and submit to the Shin-etsu Trail Store. For Hikari ga Hara and Echigo-Tsumaari Daigonji Kōgen campsites, please make reservations and payment directly with the facilities. If you are with a group and are unsure of the final total number of people, please contact the Trail Secretariat.

STEP2 Go to the Shin-etsu Trail Store reservation form, fill in the dates, number of users, etc., and submit. If payment is not made within five days of making the reservation, it will be canceled. No refunds can be made after payment, but it is possible to alter the schedule.

STEP3 On the day of use, check the information board posted at each tent site, and set up your tent in the designated location. Download or printout the pdf with your reservation information; you can also display on your smartphone. If you are paying immediately before use, make sure that you can show the confirmation email from the Shin-etsu Trail Store.

STEP4 After enjoying your stay, leave a clean site with no trace that you were there!

Rules for tent site usage

The Shin-etsu Trail Club non-profit manages and operates the Aka Ike pond, Katsura Ike pond and Nonoumi Kōgen tent sites. Please follow these rules when camping:

1. ①Please set up your tent in the designated location.
2. ②Use the toilets at the facility.
3. ③Drink water after boiling for three minutes, or after using a water purifier.
4. ④To preserve water quality, do not use detergents or toothpaste.
5. ⑤Always use a camp stove for cooking; do not use open fires.
6. ⑥Take all garbage away with you; do not throw away leftover food, soup broth, etc.
7. ⑦Don’t make loud noises, and be considerate of other hikers.
8. ⑧Pay the usage fee, which will be used to maintain the facilities and Trail.