If you love the outdoors and untouched nature, then Kochi is definitely a prefecture you need to add to your travel bucket list! It is the perfect place to travel in your camper van since there are an abundance of places you can stay overnight for free. We heard that it is acceptable to camp anywhere in Kochi prefecture but locals prefer it if you stay somewhere with a toilet nearby.
We spent around 2 weeks travelling arounds Kochi in our camper van and in this blog post, we will introduce our 5 favourite places to stay the night while enjoying van life in Kochi.
This list will include a combination of roadside stations, campsites and random locations. The places we list will also be spread out over the whole of Kochi prefecture so that if you are planning a 5 day trip, for example, you can use each location while exploring the entire prefecture.
When staying overnight, there are always two important factors which we look for in addition to the place being free of charge.
- Toilets (if they are clean, then that is a huge bonus)
- Running water
Other factors that we like but are not necessary:
- Safe
- Quiet
- Nearby Onsen
- Nearby Amenities (for example: supermarket or convenience store)
- Nice View
1. Road Station Kiramesse Muroto
This roadside station is located on the Muroto Cape and is a nice place to stay if you plan to spend some time in this area exploring the natural landscape, temples and caves. The roadside station is small compared to others we have visited but it has spectacular views over the Pacific ocean and if you visit on a sunny day, you can see the most amazing sunset like we did.
The toilets are clean and there is an outdoor sink for washing dishes. The shop inside the roadside station starts discounting many items from 4.30pm so you can get some delicious food for your dinner for a bargain price.
Below is a video we made while staying at this overnight spot.
2. Hokigamine Forest Park Camping Ground
This is a beautiful free campsite located inside a forest located around 40 minutes from the city centre of Kochi City. This campsite has everything you need for a comfortable stay including clean toilets, an undercover BBQ area and free cold showers. It is necessary to register at the reception when you arrive.
3. Miyazakinokawahara Camping Ground
Along the banks of the Niyodo river there are many places available for camping but we liked this spot since there is a big pool for swimming. It is possible to stay on the banks of the river, however we were worried our vehicle might get stuck so we parked at the top beside the toilets and had a wonderful view over the river.
There is also a large car park which is flat and perfect for an overnight stay, however there is no view of the river from the carpark.
Below is a video we made while staying at this overnight spot after fishing on the river.
4. Hoshigakubo Camping Ground
This is one of the best campsites we have ever stayed at and it is free! It is located at 1400m altitude and requires a very scary drive along narrow roads to reach the top.
It also is quite cold at night, even during summer so it is recommended to bring some ling trousers and a sweater with you. The views from this campsite are incredible and there are many flowers and a small pond which you can enjoy while drinking your morning coffee.
You can see this campsite in a video we made about visiting the Niyodo River.
5. Kanyoto Park
This is a park located on a small island so there are wonderful views of the ocean. In the winter it is also a famous spot for seeing a daruma sunset. There are clean toilets, free cold showers and clean running water.
This spot also seems to be popular with locals for morning exercise and fishing. There is a hotel with an onsen next door and a town nearby so it is very convenient to pick up groceries or visit the coin laundry.
Van Life In Kochi Prefecture
We hope this blog post was helpful for those of you who are planning van life in Kochi prefecture. We absolutely loved Kochi and can’t wait to return again someday. It’s full of amazing nature and beautiful rivers and the perfect place to spend some time enjoying the beauty of the earth.
