Experience New Year in Japan on this 15-day campervan road trip beginning and ending in Narita, Chiba. Travelling through milder coastal areas including Kamakura, the Izu Peninsula, Ise-Shima, Wakayama and the Seto Inland Sea, the route combines winter scenery with some of Japan’s most important seasonal traditions. Enjoy toshikoshi soba on New Year’s Eve, make your first shrine visit of the year, relax in seaside onsen and discover peaceful temples, coastal towns and regional winter food along the way. With careful planning, it is a memorable way to welcome the new year on the road. Always check winter forecasts and road conditions before travelling.
New Year is one of the most special times to experience Japan. Rather than countdown parties and fireworks dominating the celebrations, the season is traditionally centred around family, food, temples, shrines and welcoming the year with a fresh start.
This 15-day campervan itinerary begins and ends in Narita, Chiba, and follows a largely coastal route through central and southern Japan. It avoids the colder mountain regions where winter driving is more likely to involve snow and ice, while taking you to places where you can experience some of Japan’s best-known New Year traditions.
Keep in mind that the New Year period is a major national holiday across Japan. Many businesses close or operate reduced hours from around December 29 into early January, so stock up on food and check opening times in advance.
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DAY 1
Narita to Kamakura
Kick your trip off by collecting your campervan in Narita, Chiba. From here, you’ll be heading south towards Kamakura.
For travellers looking for a campervan rental Tokyo option, starting in Chiba makes it easy to leave the city behind and get your road trip underway.
Spend the afternoon exploring Kamakura’s temples, shrines and historic streets. With New Year approaching, you may begin to notice seasonal decorations appearing outside homes and businesses.
DAY 2 and 3
Explore the Izu Peninsula
Continue south towards the Izu Peninsula, where you can spend the next two days exploring its scenic coastline and relaxed seaside towns.
As you make your way towards Shimoda, you can stop at beaches, traditional fishing communities and coastal viewpoints along the route. On a clear winter day, the western side of Izu can also reward you with spectacular views across Suruga Bay towards snow-capped Mount Fuji.
If you fancy, make time for an onsen during your stay. A hot outdoor bath in crisp winter weather is one of the best ways to slow down before the New Year celebrations begin.
DAY 4
Izu to Shizuoka
From Izu, continue towards Shizuoka, following the lower coastal routes and main roads as you head westward.
During this leg of the journey, keep the pace relaxed and leave time to explore along the way, rather than treating this as a simple transfer day.
Before continuing your journey, use your stop in Shizuoka to top up food and other essentials in the campervan, as some shops and restaurants may have reduced opening hours over the New Year period.
DAY 5 and 6
Celebrate New Year in Ise-Shima
Make your way west to Ise-Shima in time for New Year’s Eve.
On December 31, known as Omisoka, you can treat yourself to toshikoshi soba, noodles traditionally eaten before midnight and associated with longevity and leaving the old year behind. At Buddhist temples, you may also hear joya no kane, the ringing of temple bells 108 times to welcome the new year.
On New Year’s Day, experience hatsumode, the first shrine or temple visit of the year. Ise Jingu is one of Japan’s most sacred Shinto sites and makes an especially memorable place to begin the year. Hatsumode is one of Japan’s central New Year customs, when people pray for good fortune, collect charms and sometimes draw omikuji fortunes.
Expect large crowds around major shrines. Plan parking carefully and consider leaving the campervan away from the busiest areas.
DAY 7 and 8
Ise-Shima to Shirahama
After New Year’s Day, continue south around the Kii Peninsula towards Shirahama.
Take your time along the Pacific coastline and enjoy a quieter couple of days after the celebrations. In Shirahama, walk along Shirarahama Beach, visit the dramatic rock formations at Senjojiki and Sandanbeki, and enjoy another seaside onsen.
These relaxed days also give you some flexibility if New Year traffic or opening hours have slowed down the earlier stages of your journey.
DAY 9
Cross to Awaji Island
Travel north from Wakayama to the Seto Inland Sea, then cross onto Awaji Island for the next leg of the journey.
Once on the island, spend the afternoon following the coastline, stopping at scenic viewpoints and soaking up the relaxed winter atmosphere. When it is time to eat, make the most of Awaji’s local specialities, including fresh seafood and the island’s famously sweet onions.
DAY 10 and 11
Takamatsu and the Seto Inland Sea
Cross onto Shikoku and follow the northern coastline towards Takamatsu, one of the main gateways to the Seto Inland Sea.
Spend Day 10 exploring the city, starting with a visit to Ritsurin Garden before heading to the waterfront. Later, warm up with a bowl of Kagawa’s famous Sanuki udon, one of the region’s best-known specialities.
On Day 11, slow the pace and choose how you want to explore the surrounding area. Take a leisurely drive along the Kagawa coast, or leave the campervan safely parked in Takamatsu and catch a passenger ferry to one of the nearby islands for a different perspective on the Seto Inland Sea.
DAY 12 and 13
Kurashiki and the Journey East
Cross back onto Honshu and continue towards Kurashiki, where the pace slows again after your time around the Seto Inland Sea.
Spend the afternoon exploring its preserved canal district, historic warehouses and traditional streets before settling in for the night.
On Day 13, begin the return journey east, breaking up the drive with regular stops at expressway service areas. Continue as far as the Kobe area for the night, giving you a more manageable journey to Shizuoka the following day.
DAY 14
Kobe to Shizuoka
Continue east from Kobe towards Shizuoka for the final overnight stop of the trip. Take the journey at a comfortable pace and allow plenty of time for breaks along the way.
Once you arrive, settle in for a relaxed evening before the final drive back to Chiba. If conditions are favourable, the Shizuoka area may also offer one last glimpse of Mount Fuji before you head back to Narita.
DAY 15 and 16
Shizuoka to Narita
Before completing the final leg of your journey back to Narita and returning your Travellers’ RV, consider making a scenic stop in Yamanashi to view Mt. Fuji from the Fuji Five Lakes. This brings your two weeks of New Year traditions, coastal scenery, and winter road-trip experiences to a magnificent close.
Give yourself plenty of time for the drive, particularly during the busy post-New Year travel period, and enjoy one last stretch on the road before wrapping up your campervan adventure in Chiba.
*Keep in mind that Travellers Autobarn Japan is closed on Sundays, so make sure you plan the day you return the campervan around dates when returns are accepted.
Welcome the New Year on the Road in Japan
Spending New Year in Japan gives you the chance to experience the country at one of its most traditional times of year. From eating toshikoshi soba and hearing temple bells on New Year’s Eve to hatsumode and the quiet atmosphere of the first days of January, the celebrations feel very different from a typical Western New Year.
Travelling by campervan gives you even more freedom to experience the season at your own pace. With careful winter planning, this 15-day motorhome Tokyo itinerary combines Japanese New Year traditions with coastal scenery, onsen, regional food and an unforgettable start to the year.
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