Kanna River Aihara Campsite Riverside Garden (神流川相原キャンプ場 Riverside Garden) will open on Saturday, October 17, 2026 in Kanna Town, Tano District, Gunma Prefecture.
This hideaway-style auto campsite combines the natural surroundings along the Kanna River with a clubhouse renovated from a traditional old house (kominka) about 120 years old.
A Clear Stream in View, an Old House to Unwind In
The campsite's concept is "Gaze over a clear stream and unwind in an old house. A place to step away from everyday life for a while and create something special." It aims to be a place where visitors can find their own "something special" in a mountain hamlet that stands quietly out of sight.
A Campsite Beside the Kanna River
The campsite is located in a village in a valley carved out by the Kanna River, a clear stream that flows along the border between Gunma and Saitama prefectures, about two hours by car from central Tokyo.
From Honjo-Kodama Interchange in Saitama Prefecture, it is about 60 minutes by car. The route leaves the urban area behind and runs past mountain and river scenery before reaching the campsite.
The grounds have 8 tent sites that make use of the riverside setting.
Spring buds, cool riverside air in summer, autumn foliage, and winter stillness.
Kanna Town is in the southern part of Gunma Prefecture. This mountain location gets relatively little snow in winter and is not easily affected by strong seasonal winds.
Even in winter, which is often thought of as the off-season, visitors can enjoy clear air, starry skies, and the warmth of a campfire while spending quiet time in the mountains. The campsite is open year-round, with a different charm in every season.
A Clubhouse Renovated from an Old House About 120 Years Old
One of the campsite's highlights is the old house, about 120 years old, standing beside the river.
The existing building was renovated, making use of what was already there, and now serves as a clubhouse for campers.
Inside the old house are the reception desk, a lounge, a washing area, flush toilets, and shower rooms, among other facilities.
Time spent in a tent enjoying nature, and time spent catching your breath in the old house. By letting guests move between outdoors and indoors, the facility makes camping more comfortable.
The washing area is set up indoors in the old house rather than outside. It has 4 sinks, 2 of which also provide hot water, making it easy to use in rainy weather and in winter.
Inside the old house are 4 flush toilets with warm-water bidet seats and 2 shower rooms, all available 24 hours a day.
Nature as Interior: Where Inside and Outside Blur
Kanna Town sits among mountains that rise steeply like walls, with the Kanna River flowing between them. Away from the bustle of the city, the setting gives a sense of being wrapped in a single space even while outdoors.
"Feeling nature while being able to simply 'be' there with peace of mind."
The Kanna River flowing right in front, the green of the mountains, the sound of the river, the air of each season, and an old house that has spent a long time on this land.
The aim is to make the most of what is already there and create a place where guests can feel comfortable even while away from everyday life.
A Place for Visitors, Made Possible Because the Area Is Depopulating
In mountain areas such as Kanna Town, population decline and aging have led to a growing number of vacant houses and places that are no longer used.
Places where people once lived gradually return to nature once no one is left to use them.
Riverside Garden was also created by connecting houses and gardens where people once lived, along with the surrounding land, into a single campsite.
The idea is to create a new reason for people to visit a place that has finished its former role. Precisely because the population has shrunk and unused places have appeared, those places can take on a new role.
The campsite is one attempt at this.
It aims to give visitors, local residents, people with ties to the land, and other regions facing similar challenges a chance to rediscover the value of what remains in a community.
Facility Overview
- Facility name: Kanna River Aihara Campsite Riverside Garden (神流川相原キャンプ場 Riverside Garden)
- Address: 33-1 Aihara, Kanna Town, Tano District, Gunma Prefecture
- Opening: Saturday, October 17, 2026
- Season: Open year-round
- Tent sites: 8 sites in total (auto campsites)
- Check-in: 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
- Check-out: By 11:00 AM
- Main facilities: Clubhouse (old house), lounge, washing area, flush toilets, shower rooms, shop
- Access: About 60 minutes by car from Honjo-Kodama IC on the Kan-Etsu Expressway
Reservations
Overnight stays can be booked through the campsite reservation site Nap (なっぷ).
Reservation page: https://www.nap-camp.com/gunma/16982
Official Website and Social Media
Official website: https://camp.sitelink.co.jp/
