Campsite Guide -Oike Ikoi no mori Campsite-(Joetsu City, Kubiki-Ward)

2024.5.7

campsiteJoetsu CityOike Ikoinomori Kubiki Ward

Focusing on camps that have become increasingly popular in recent years, we are doing our best to publicize the campgrounds that are open in the Joetsu area (Joetsu City, Myoko City, Itoigawa City).  Not only detailed information on each campground, but also spots recommended by the editorial department will be posted.  It’s good to have fun with your family, or to enjoy your time as a solo camper.  Why don’t you go out to play in the great outdoors?

【Open March 15-November 30】A campsite surrounded by beautiful greenery and water! 

This is a campsite in “Oike Ikoi no Mori” in Kubiki-Ward, Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture. 

In Ikoi no Mori, there is a large pond with a circumference of about 3.3 km, and a small pond with a circumference of about 2.5 km. There is also a promenade that is maintained around the ponds. 　It is a place of relaxation for citizens who can enjoy camping, bird watching, walking and cycling. 　There are three campsites; No. 1, No. 3, and No. 4, on the banks of Oike(large pond). 　All locations are equipped with cooking facilities, toilets and toilet paper; perfect for beginners and families.  You can use the campsite for free, but you need to register at the visitor center.  ※ There is no No. 2 campsite.

Campsite No. 1 (200 meters from the parking lot) 

It is on the south side farthest from the visitor center of the administration building.  Located on a small hill surrounded by forests, you can enjoy the great outdoors.  It is very quiet and you can enjoy a great view of Oike from the hill.

Toilet at the entrance of Campsite No.1

The ground is a mixture of grass and soil.  Flat areas are limited.

Campsite No. 3 (50 meters from the parking lot)

When many people think of Oike, they usually think of this site.  This campsite is close to parking lots and toilets, and it is popular among families.  It is located on an island accessable by a bridge, and has an open space in the center. It is surrounded by ponds on all sides.  The ground is grass, and it’s perfect for high-end camping and it is also a good photo spot.  The holiday season is often crowded.

There is a toilet next to the parking lot 

Campsite No. 4 (500 meters from the parking lot)

Campsite No. 4 is for advanced campers and is a little far from the parking lot.  Go past the administration building, cross the “Deai Bridge”, and if you go a little along the mountain road, the first place you will see is the kitchen.  If you go further, you will find the campsite on your left.  Surrounded by forest, the site is characterized by its terraced fields.  The space is not large, but it has a rustic atmosphere surrounded by forests where you can constantly hear the birds singing.  The toilet is about 100 meters away from the kitchen.

The first place you will see on the way to the campsite is the kitchen 

The ground is a mixture of soil and grass:  rather like rice terraces in appearance. 

Walkway between campground 1 and

Visitor center (administrative building)

This is the “Ooike Ikoinomori Visitor Center,” the administrative building.

Use of each campsite is basically free of charge, but since April 2023, a voluntary cooperation fee of 1,000 yen per tent has been requested. To use the campgrounds, you must stop by the Visitor Center and register before or after your stay. The center is closed on Mondays, so if you plan to use the campground on Monday, please stop by the next day.

The Visitor Center sells firewood (800 yen), charcoal (200 yen), and original stickers (2 types / 300 yen each). There are also beverage vending machines and freshly ground coffee for sale inside the facility.

In addition, showers installed in the building have been available since April 2023 (200 yen per shower/advance reservation required).

The Ooike Ikoinomori Campground offers a discount on bathing fees at nearby hot spring facilities as a benefit for visitors. The discounts are available at Nagamine Onsen Yuri-no-Sato (Nagamine, Yoshikawa-ku) and Unohama Ningyokan (Kudohama, Oogata-ku). To use the discount system, you must go through the procedures at the Visitor Center.

＜ DATA＞
■Use Period：March 15, 2024 (Fri.)～November 30 (Sat.)
Visitor Center hours：9:00-17:00 (closed on Mondays) ※No reservations are accepted.
■Fees: Environmental conservation cooperation fee: 1,000 yen per tent (optional)
■For sale: firewood 800 yen, charcoal 200 yen, 2 kinds of original stickers / 300 yen each
※Shower facilities: 200 yen per shower (advance reservation required)
■Parking: 80 cars in all

Recommended by the editorial department

Kubikino Rail Park (Click here for video) 

Near the campsite, there is “Kubikino Rail Park”, which stores the trains that were active on the former Kubiki Railroad.  The steam locomotive Koppel, DC92, Hoji 3 and others are open to the public at regular events.  It is usually not open to the public, so if you would like to see it, please check the regular events on the homepage. 

Sakaguchi Memorial Hall（Click here for the video ）

In addition, there is a museum that honors the achievements of the late Kinichiro Sakaguchi, who was born in Joetsu City, and was a world authority on applied microbiology.  He was known as “Dr. Sake”.  His garden is planted with 200 camellia with 110 varieties, which he liked to collect from all over the country.  The camellia is in full bloom from March to April.

Scenery from the ruins of Karigane Castle (Click here for video) 

On the east side of the campsite is the ruins of Karigane Castle.  It is one of the 120 large and small castles set up to protect Kasugayama castle which was the main castle of the Sengoku warlord, Kenshin Uesugi.  The castle was considered to be the last site for contacting Kasugayama castle using a signal fire.  You can reach the summit in about 20 minutes.  From the top, you can see not only Oike but also Naoetsu and the Sea of Japan.