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    • Spring
      • video

        Finding the Flow from Kansai to Kochi

        Shikoku’s many mountains, valleys and proximity to the ocean has made it a hidden gem for rafting, kayaking and canyoning enthusiasts willing to take a step or two further from the Golden Route of Kyoto and Osaka.

        Solace and Giant Salamanders in Akiota

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        The Oni Trail: Hiking Coastal Kyoto

        The mystical oni is prevalent in Japanese children’s stories, usually as a way to scare kids straight. Adventure Travel Kyoto is shedding a new light on this folklore and developing a new hiking route in the countryside of Kyoto.
    • Summer
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        The World is Our Playground

        The Pasche family has been cycling and living out of a tent in remote corners of the planet for the past 13 years on four continents spanning 50 countries.
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        Adventure Travel World Summit in Hokkaido

        The ATTA will host their first Adventure Travel World Summit in Asia in Hokkaido, Japan. We caught up with ATTA Director Shannon Stowell to find out more about the adventure travel industry and how it continues to grow and evolve.
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        The Sweet Secrets of Brewing Mead

        Wander into the world of mead brewing and find yourself immersed in a fascinating journey spanning centuries and continents.
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        The Knights in White Lycra

        Each year a group of cyclists head to the deep north towards Tohoku’s vast rice fields and coastal trails to help transform the lives of neglected children.
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        Sea to Table in Yamagata

        An unforgettable way to intimately explore the Shonai Region in Yamagata is a culinary experience bringing bounty of the sea straight to your table.
    • Autumn
    • Winter
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        CAMP3 Clubhouse in Madarao

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        New Horizons in Shiretoko

        During another epic powder season, two seasoned winter sports enthusiasts traded their snowboard bags for camera bags and traveled to Eastern Hokkaido to explore the frozen landscape and broaden their winter horizons.
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        Silent Resilience

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        Heritage Hunting in Hokkaido

        Travelers venturing beyond Hokkaido's popular winter resorts will discover a land with a rich cultural and natural history, a proud indigenous people and a community striving to preserve their heritage.
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        Shizukuishi

        Northern Honshu’s Iwate Prefecture, known for heavy snowfall, features Shizukuishi—a powder-rich resort area with views of Mt. Iwate. Snow enthusiasts seeking lesser-known gems can enjoy exceptional snow quality and uncrowded resorts, including Shizukuishi Ski Resort, Amihari Onsen Ski Resort, and Iwate Kogen Snow Park, offering affordability and traditional hospitality.
    • Near Tokyo
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        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Near Kyoto
    • All Regions
    • Article Map
    • Ocean and Beach
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • River and Lake
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        Heritage Hunting in Hokka...

        Travelers venturing beyond Hokkaido's popular winter resorts will discover a land with a rich cultural and natural history, a proud indigenous people and a community striving to preserve their heritage.
        getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Mountain and Land
    • Sky
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Snow and Ice
      • video

        CAMP3 Clubhouse in Madarao

        Keith Stubbs, a veteran in the snowboard industry, transitioned from rider to coach and instructor trainer for Snowboard Instruction New Zealand. After coaching in various Japanese resorts, he has established a permanent base in Madarao, outlining his plans for the area and future snowboard endeavors.
        shiretoko hokkaido outdoor japan

        New Horizons in Shiretoko

        During another epic powder season, two seasoned winter sports enthusiasts traded their snowboard bags for camera bags and traveled to Eastern Hokkaido to explore the frozen landscape and broaden their winter horizons.
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        Shizukuishi

        Northern Honshu’s Iwate Prefecture, known for heavy snowfall, features Shizukuishi—a powder-rich resort area with views of Mt. Iwate. Snow enthusiasts seeking lesser-known gems can enjoy exceptional snow quality and uncrowded resorts, including Shizukuishi Ski Resort, Amihari Onsen Ski Resort, and Iwate Kogen Snow Park, offering affordability and traditional hospitality.
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        Northern Shinshu’s Secret Stash

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        CAMP3 Clubhouse in Madarao

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        New Horizons in Shiretoko

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        Heritage Hunting in Hokkaido

        Travelers venturing beyond Hokkaido's popular winter resorts will discover a land with a rich cultural and natural history, a proud indigenous people and a community striving to preserve their heritage.
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        Shizukuishi

        Northern Honshu’s Iwate Prefecture, known for heavy snowfall, features Shizukuishi—a powder-rich resort area with views of Mt. Iwate. Snow enthusiasts seeking lesser-known gems can enjoy exceptional snow quality and uncrowded resorts, including Shizukuishi Ski Resort, Amihari Onsen Ski Resort, and Iwate Kogen Snow Park, offering affordability and traditional hospitality.
    • Food and Drinks
      • video

        CAMP3 Clubhouse in Madarao

        Keith Stubbs, a veteran in the snowboard industry, transitioned from rider to coach and instructor trainer for Snowboard Instruction New Zealand. After coaching in various Japanese resorts, he has established a permanent base in Madarao, outlining his plans for the area and future snowboard endeavors.
        shiretoko hokkaido outdoor japan

        New Horizons in Shiretoko

        During another epic powder season, two seasoned winter sports enthusiasts traded their snowboard bags for camera bags and traveled to Eastern Hokkaido to explore the frozen landscape and broaden their winter horizons.
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        Curling athlete Sayuri Matsuhashi’s journey to the top of her sport is an inspiration to deaf athletes and women juggling their roles as mothers while also pursuing their professional dreams.
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        Travelers venturing beyond Hokkaido's popular winter resorts will discover a land with a rich cultural and natural history, a proud indigenous people and a community striving to preserve their heritage.
        shizukuishi skiing snowboarding outdoor japan

        Shizukuishi

        Northern Honshu’s Iwate Prefecture, known for heavy snowfall, features Shizukuishi—a powder-rich resort area with views of Mt. Iwate. Snow enthusiasts seeking lesser-known gems can enjoy exceptional snow quality and uncrowded resorts, including Shizukuishi Ski Resort, Amihari Onsen Ski Resort, and Iwate Kogen Snow Park, offering affordability and traditional hospitality.
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No Frills, Simple Outdoor Fun – Muji Campgrounds in Japan

Think MUJI and you probably think in earth tones. The popular brand was built on simple, organic designs and well-made, fashionable goods. Would it surprise you that MUJI also owns and operates three campgrounds in Japan? Probably not; it only seems natural.

Getting back to nature. Leaving behind the excesses of modern life.  Ah, camping. It is the kind of contemplative, sit-down and recharge-your-batteries thing that every urbanite needs.

MUJI, whose award-winning minimalist designs have led to wild success in Japan and overseas, have applied the same concepts to creating camping areas that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Camping and MUJI are both frill-less, so it is only natural they found each other, right? I went to MUJI HQ to find out more. 

One of the first things I wanted to know, as I sat down with MUJI Outdoor manager Masato Ishikawa, was why MUJI decided to open campgrounds in the first place.

“We wanted something to bring an extra dimension to our customers’ lives,” he explains. “We have clothing, household goods and food, but we also wanted recreation for our customers. This was where MUJI Outdoor came from.” 

The locations of the three campgrounds MUJI operates are Niigata, Gifu and Gunma, three areas well known for outdoor recreation. All are beautiful, blue and green bastions of classic Japanese scenery.

Each is situated in the highlands, at high altitudes where summers are cool and the air crisp. Hiking, kayaking and fishing await. It makes me want to pack up a tent and head out right now. What else do I need?

“That’s right,” he adds. Apparently, MUJI provides everything from boats, tents, fishing rods—you name it. 

This is something that particularly interested me. Taking your kids back to nature can be a rewarding, special experience but can lead to headaches; temper tantrums, kids getting sick, falling out of trees, getting lost, insect bites and other critters and no, Jimmy, don’t pick up that snake.  

For parents eager to let their kids experience the outdoors but worried about the potential pitfalls, MUJI Outdoor seems to provide a good balance. I asked what makes MUJI great for families.

“We have many activities for adults and children alike,” Ichikawa explains, “and also many classes for children to take part. Popular ones include kayaking and making stone-fired pizza.” 

However, there seems to be much more to do than he modestly admits. Classes for seemingly everything outdoor-related, from making birdcalls to learning how to fly-fish, are available to those willing to line up for them.

Adults are not left out of the fun either. At the Gunma campsite between Aug. 24-26, there will be a Summer Jamboree with live concerts featuring reggae and R&B artists. Other activities for kids and adults include an outdoor triathlon, mochitsuki (traditional way of making rice cakes) and various arts and crafts classes. 

This summer, when you are sweating it out downtown shopping for new organic pillow cases with the kids, you might want to consider escaping the heat and crowds and getting back to nature—MUJI-style.

“Just don’t forget to bring your raincoat,” Ishikawa warns me, “and make sure to book the kayaking well in advance.” 

MUJI Campgrounds
For reservations, call (03) 5950-3660 or visit the MUJI Outdoor Website at
www.mujioutdoor.net.

MUJI Tsunan Campground
津南キャンプ場
Location: Tsunan, Niigata
Address: Kamigouteraishi, Tsunan-machi, Nakauonuma-gun, Niigata-ken / 新潟県中魚沼郡津南町上郷寺石

MUJI Kampanya Tsumagoi Campground
カンパーニャ嬬恋キャンプ場
Location: Tsumagoi, Gunma
Address: Baragi Kogen, Hoshimata, Tsumagoi-mura, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma-ken / 群馬県吾妻郡嬬恋村干俣バラギ高原

MUJI Minami Norikura Campground
南乗鞍キャンプ場
Location: Takayama, Gifu
Address: Nenohara Kogen, Takane-machi, Takayama-shi, Gifu-Ken / 岐阜県高山市高根町子ノ原高原

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