Japan Spring Road Trip by Campervan: 14+ Day Itinerary, Packing List and Weather Guide

After picking up your campervan in Chiba, ease into your RV trip by heading southwest toward the Mount Fuji Five Lakes area. Rather than tackling mountain passes, it’s best to approach the Fuji Five Lakes area using well-maintained lower-elevation roads. Spring brings cherry blossoms with Mount Fuji still capped in snow, creating a classic contrast. During your time here, you can explore:

• Lake Kawaguchiko
• Roadside viewpoints and cafés
• Easy lakeside cycling or walks

Nights here can be cool in Spring, but roads are generally clear from late March onward.

After enjoying the Mount Fuji area, head south to the Izu Peninsula. This area is ideal for motorhome travellers thanks to its coastal roads, frequent rest stops, and abundance of onsen. While here, you can enjoy sights such as:

• Jogasaki Coast walking trails
• Ocean-view drives along Route 135
• Onsen towns like Ito and Shimoda

Izu is comfortably warm in spring and avoids the higher elevations where late snow can linger.

From central Honshu, continue west toward Kyoto, using expressways selectively to manage distance and keep a good pace. Once you’re ready to explore, park on the outskirts and use public transport or bicycles to see the highlights around Kyoto. As the former Imperial Capital of Japan, Kyoto oozes history and culture. Take the time to explore some of the temples, shrines and other attractions such as:

• Philosopher’s Path cherry blossoms
• Arashiyama bamboo grove
• Traditional neighbourhoods away from peak crowds

Kyoto works well as a slower-paced cultural stop after several driving days. There’s plenty to do, and it has so much character that you will struggle to get tired of exploring all the nooks and crannies.

After Kyoto, you can dip briefly into Osaka for food and urban energy, then head south to the Wakayama coastline. This area is underrated for campervan travel and stays mild through spring.

We strongly recommend Wakayama for a daytrip for a few reasons, namely:

• Dramatic coastal scenery
• Access to hot springs such as Shirahama
• Quiet overnight stops near the sea

This stretch balances city energy with open-road relaxation. So, take this time to recharge your batteries and soak up the beauty of coastal Japan.

From Wakayama, you can cross to Shikoku either by ferry or via the Seto Ohashi bridge system, depending on your route. Shikoku is a spring favourite, as it’s rural, uncrowded, and ideally suited for campervan travel. A few key stops for you to consider on the way include:

• Naruto whirlpools
• Iya Valley (stick to main roads only)
• Coastal towns with relaxed pacing

Stick to coastal and valley routes to avoid colder mountain sections. This will help you soak up the beautiful coastline without risking hazardous sections of road in your RV.

This part of the leg has you taking a long route back to Honshu by following the Setouchi Inland Sea coastline toward Hiroshima. This is one of Japan’s most pleasant spring driving regions, with mild weather and frequent roadside stops. During your journey, you can stop and enjoy:

• Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park
• Local speciality oyster dishes along the coast
• Sunset drives by the inland sea

The climate here is stable, and RV infrastructure is excellent, giving you plenty of options to explore the area on your terms.

Begin the journey back east, breaking up the drive with overnight stops near Nagoya or coastal Shizuoka. Hakone is a final scenic highlight before returning to Chiba, offering inviting hot springs and classic views.

We advise that you try to stay on major routes and avoid minor mountain roads if temperatures dip.

Springtime weather in Japan is variable depending on the region, but generally speaking, it is quite pleasant. Below, we’ve outlined some key details about what weather to expect in Japan during Spring:

• Daytime: 12 to 20°C depending on region
• Nights: Can drop below 10°C inland
• Snow risk: Minimal on this route from late March onward
• Rain: Occasional spring showers, but manageable with planning

Spring conditions vary across Japan, so it helps to be prepared. If you’re renting your campervan, Tokyo is a great place to pick up supplies you may need. We suggest opting for flexible layers and useful items for your journey. So be sure to pack:

• Light down jacket or insulated layer
• Waterproof jacket
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Hat and sunglasses
• Compact bedding for cooler nights
• Reusable bags for food and roadside stops

Check out some of our recommended Itinerary here:

• See Our Enjoying Sakura By a Campervan Road Trip
• See Our Seasonal Places to Visit in Japan: Spring and Summer
• See Our 2-Week Spring Flower Road Trip in Japan

Looking for more? Find a huge range of different routes and road trip itineraries across Japan.