9 articles
Choosing Camp Overalls That Survive the Fire: Why Synthetics Melt and How to Pick by Price
Overalls earn their place against campfire sparks, dirt, and the morning chill. From why synthetics melt to the real limits of flame resistance and how to choose between Workman's 3,900 yen and NANGA's 29,700 yen, here's a field-tester's breakdown.
"Itadaki Kanpai Beer": The Craft Beer You Can Only Drink at Japan's Highest Point—But First, Let's Talk About Oxygen
Sold exclusively at Chojo Fujikan on Mt. Fuji's Fujinomiya-route summit from July 10, 2026. A 350ml can stamped with your summit date sits behind the hard realities of 3,776m. A field tester's honest take on altitude risk, logistics, and gear.
My Reserved Campsite Was Closed: Rethinking Bear Country Camping in Hokkaido's Onuma Area
In June 2026, Higashionuma Campsite in Nanae Town closed due to a Ezo brown bear sighting—the latest in a season of repeated closures. This recurring pattern demands a fundamental shift in how campers plan trips in the southern Hokkaido wilderness.
Beating Heatstroke on a Summer Camp — Reading the "Cool" with WBGT and Altitude
Pitch by air temperature alone and a summer tent gets hotter than you'd guess. This is how to turn WBGT (the heat index), the Ministry of the Environment's heat alerts, and the altitude lever (about 0.6°C per 100 m) into a routine. The 2026 thresholds are checked against primary sources.
Bear Sightings in Japan Are Up About 2.2x in 2026 — You Can Still Camp. How to Read the Numbers and Check Before You Book
Bear sightings across Japan in April 2026 ran about 2.2 times higher than a year earlier (Hokkaido not included). Most campground closures are short and reopen — so the real shift isn't fear, it's adding a few checks before you book.
Fumotoppara at the foot of Mt. Fuji: the complete 2026 guide
Reservations, where to pitch, and wind strategy for the iconic Fuji-view site.
8 solo tents, weighed and wind-tested
Ranked by measured weight, pitch time and wind resistance — not spec sheets.
5 dead-simple campfire smoking recipes
Cheese, eggs, nuts — entry-level smoking with almost no gear.
Gearing up for rainy-season camping — rain is not the enemy
Empty sites, the deepest greens of the year, and rain on the fly. With the right kit, tsuyu is prime camping season.