7 articles
Camping in Japan: A Practical Beginner's Guide to Campsites, Booking, Gear, and Etiquette
From types of campsites and the Nap-Camp booking site to all-inclusive rental plans, glamping, costs, no-open-fire and pack-out-your-trash rules, and bear, insect, and weather safety, here is what first-timers and visitors driving a rental car need to know.
Summer Mountain Safety in Japan 2026: Why the Ridge Storms While the Base Stays Clear
For visiting hikers on Mt. Fuji and the Japan Alps: the weather mechanics that make a sunny forecast at the trailhead fall apart on the ridge, which forecasts to trust, how to dodge lightning and hypothermia, and the three pieces of backup that matter — a climbing plan, a search service, and the right insurance.
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.