At the Japan Camping Car Show sponsored by the Japan RV Association (held from January 30 to February 2, 2026), there is an award ceremony for the “RV Park Award,” which is voted on by RV park users. Niwatoco RV Park (144-180 Yokobayashi, Nasushiobara City, Tochigi Prefecture), which we used this time.
Elderberry, which is also the name of the facility, is the name of a tree. It is a deciduous shrub that is generally planted as a garden tree (mainly for site boundaries), and Nasu Shiobara is said to have been a place where many of the Elderberry trees grew wild.
Niwatoco RV Park was created by Niwa, a camper user and owner who has traveled extensively, with the goal of creating the “ideal camper accommodations,” and he selected, developed, and constructed the land himself.
The site is vast, covering an area of approximately 2,000 tsubo (approximately 2,000 m2), and 25 sites have been built within it. Each site is large enough to accommodate a large camper with a side awning and table. There is even a site where visitors can enter with a large trailer in tow. I have visited many RV parks in the past, and I would say that this is the largest in terms of the size of each site.
All sites are leveled and the ground is covered with “tile chips,” a light pebble colored flooring material. This brightens up the atmosphere of the sites and at the same time keeps the ground reasonably firm, making it suitable for parking heavy campers. It also drains well, making it comfortable even on rainy days.
Next, let’s list the types of sites. There are five “terraced sites,” which are the most popular. The size of each site is slightly different, but they are large, approximately 10 x 10 meters.
The sites are separated from the neighboring sites by a fence, and furthermore, as the name suggests, each site is “terraced” at its boundary, so they are very private. The terraced sites have “dog-free sites” surrounded by a 90-cm-high fence for dog owners, and are set at site numbers 4 and 5.
Next is the “spacious site”. This site is approximately 10 x 16 meters and has two lots. The spacious site is also a dog-free site, so many visitors with their dogs come here for this reason. The ground is the same tile chips used in Elderberry RV Park. The sites are surrounded by a fence.
The fence is 90 cm high, so it is private enough, and the sidewalks between the sites keep the distance from the neighbors. Thanks to this, you can hardly notice what is going on next door, and if you have a dog that is sensitive to strangers or other dogs, you will probably appreciate this space and distance.
The above is an introduction to the sites on the “front” side of Ewatoco RV Park. The symbolic building of the park is the “Sanitary Building,” and sites are also available on the back side of the park. The sites differ from those on the front side in that they are “no fires allowed,” so if you want to build a fire, choose the sites on the front side as described above.
The site next to the sanitary building is compact in size among the Ewatoco RV parks. The fee for this site is a reasonable 2,000 yen. Although it is the smallest site among the facilities, it is still comparable to the standard sites in most RV parks, so you will not feel cramped.
Incidentally, if you have a light camper such as the N-VAN, you may be able to deploy a car-side tarp next to the car without any problem. If you have a standard body of Hiace, you may be able to fit a car-side tarp just barely, depending on its size.
© Source travel watch