lifestyle

Japanese ski resorts luring crowd-averse 'glampers'

9 Comments
By Yasuko Kishimoto

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I checked out one glamping spot in Okutama that looked nice but was really expensive, provided no food and check in wasn't until 3 pm, check out 10 a.m.. They brag about the wonderful scenery and environment, but you only get a few short hours to enjoy it.

Let's have better check in/out hours with flexibility (convenient to the customer, not management), which I normally get when traveling in Thailand and other countries.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

I checked out one glamping spot in Okutama that looked nice but was really expensive, provided no food and check in wasn't until 3 pm, check out 10 a.m.. They brag about the wonderful scenery and environment, but you only get a few short hours to enjoy it.

Had to laugh at this. I go camping (not glamping - yet) occasionally, and we always get to the gorund early and they basically have to kick us out late in the afternoon. By the time we've set up, had a snack, gone for a hike and then relax for a few beers, perhaps 60-70% of the Japanese campers rock up mid afternoon, set up their impressive state-of-the-art kit, knock up a banquet and drink till they drop, then get up at the crack of dawn to make breakfast and pack up, scrambling out by mid morning.

They sure know how to relax and enjoy themselves!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

We used to call it going to the countryside.

How has staying in a full functioning house got anything to do with camping? Going to the supermarket, or the dentist had got as much in common with camping.

It's like the current generation have never left the confines of their own homes.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The above comment hints at it, but basically there are two types of camping, one where you carry everything on your back and the other where you just fill up the car with as much consumerism-driven, comfort-giving stuff as possible. Glamping is the logical extension of car camping. Why buy a HiAce van and lots of camping gear to fill it, if there are camp sites with the stuff already there?

This is not to say outdoor sports, including camping out of a rucksack, aren't driven by consumerism, because they are too. The important thing about being in nature is being in nature, not being in nature with a Garmin watch, North Face rucksack, Patagonia shirt, Timberland boots, etc. etc.

The other hint we have in the story about what is going on here is that the ski resort originally made a campsite with a grand total of four glamping tents. A campsite for four groups is for rich people only. Thanks to its success, they have increased it to eighteen, still smaller than the number of pitches most regular car camping sites in Japan. This stands as another example of hollowing out of the economy where the only families left doing leisure activities are rich ones.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Definitely looking to do this sooner than later with the family. Did a bit of the old school camping back in the day and it was fun but staying in the beautiful outdoors now and having the comforts of a hotel, I just basically drive there and everything is ready sounds good to me. No need to bash this concept, it's just something new and if there is a market for it then I say capitalize. Die hards might say your soft or whatever, but in theory it's no different than people picking two different restaurants to go to or different movies to watch. Everyone has their own interests and comfort levels, let's let everyone enjoy them accordingly.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

These places are really fun especially when you bring much older/female relatives. But the father and boys should experience true camping with a tent at least once or twice.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I think this is a great way to promote the usage of ski accommodations during the non-skiing off-season. It is especially good for the family that doesn't want all the stress of camping but still want to clear their lungs.

Sure it isn't camping but neither is electrical lanterns, foldable recliners, and smartphones. If you are not chewing on bark, boiling your drinking water, running from bears, and performing your ablutions in a glacial lake, you are not camping either.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It's one of the many choices we can have. If some people choose glamping over normal camping, then it should be respected. I like the discomforts brought by regular camping because they keep my brain working. Glamping can be quite interesting though but I have never experienced it yet.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Such a ridiculous moniker. Nowhere near the true definition of camping and nothing even close in regards to experience good or bad.

More or less for people too soft or too lazy to do the real thing.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

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