Shodaisanfurusatoshizen Koen Visitor Center Maruyama Camping Ground

I have been using this service several times a year for the past 3-4 years.It's a home campsite so to speak ^_^The campsite has toilets and a kitchen located on the upper and middle floors, respectively.The manager is also kind and will teach you a lot of things for first-timers. If you have permission, you can drive close to the site, and depending on the situation, you can also park your car.Please fill out the paper reception form at the visitor center and place it in the designated reception box, it will be on a first come, first served basis.You can't make reservations, so you won't know which sites are available until you visit.To get to the site, you have to go up a steep cobblestone road about 2 meters wide, so even if you get permission to drive in, you won't be able to drive in a large or low vehicle or if you are not confident in your driving skills. I think it would be better to park in the parking lot and go up with your luggage.There are about 20 sites along mountain roads, and most of them are clean sandy sites that seem to have been maintained by local high school students several years ago.Some of these sites allow you to park your car next to them, so these sites are convenient for loading and unloading your luggage, but they are also popular and are often booked up depending on the time of day.Most of the sites are the size of solo plots, so I think it would be better to consider setting up around 3.5 x 3.5 m.Depending on the site, setting up a family tent for 4 to 5 people can be quite difficult, and it may be difficult to load and unload a tent because you may not be able to park your car next to it.There are some reviews that mention wild boars, but up until about a year ago, wild boars appeared almost every time, but recently it seems that countermeasures have been taken and there is almost no damage.I haven't felt any signs of getting close for the past year either.As a precaution, it is important not to leave food or garbage outside.If you have a car, be sure to keep it in your car, or put food scraps in a cooler box and inside your tent to avoid attracting wild animals to the scent.Regarding insects, there are a lot of insects from early summer to autumn because this is a mountain campsite with a stream running through it and a water source.There are a lot of mosquitoes especially in the summer, so I honestly don't recommend summer camping.I have also gone camping in the summer using forest incense and insect repellent products, but it is not something that can be overcome...You won't be able to see the night view or the stars as it's in the forest, but you can climb a small mountain, so if you finish setting up early, you can climb to the Maruyama Observation Deck at the top of the mountain and see Aso if the weather is good.Recently, I get the impression that many users are respecting the fact that it is operated as a free camping site and using it in a good manner. (During the camping boom a few years ago, the number of lively users increased somewhat)When I use the site, I don't have anywhere to spend my money, so I at least buy ingredients at a local supermarket, and of course I make sure to take all my trash home with me, even picking up trash around the site. .I don't want to make the water too dirty when washing dishes, so I try to wash them after I get home.In order to continue to be able to use such a good campsite for free, I would like to at least continue to use it while being careful so that everyone can use it comfortably.

I liked the campground as it was very quiet, but as of 3:30am, I was bothered by the noise of a group of young men and women playing loud music. At a time like this, I don't know where to turn for advice, so how should I deal with people like this?

I don't know the details because I just happened to pass by, but it's amazing that it's free.I would also like to try solo camping someday.

Free camping not too far from Kumamoto city. The facilities are good relative to other free campsites. Running water, kitchen block with fire grills, tables and plenty of space. Nestled in the forest, it’s really beautiful. Lots of good hiking around.We arrived late at night and the administration building was closed, so we didn’t register though it appears you should check in on arrival. The manager didn’t come up to us or check on us in the morning though, so he seemed fine about it. It’s creepy if you arrive late at night, so try to arrive in daylight. The car park is about 5 minutes from the campsite which is further up the hill, though we saw some cars drive up so maybe you’re allowed to drive all the way up? I don’t knowWould definitely recommend for a free campsite