Back Again for a Camping Trip with Good Friends!
As it turned out, we had picked the perfect weekend—without even realizing it, it was the night of the full moon.
Still half asleep, we met up before sunrise as usual, rubbing the sleep from our eyes before hitting the road.
Like every trip, our first stop was the local grocery store to stock up on food and drinks before heading into the mountains.
On the way, we did a final check of the camp menu while watching groups of slightly drunk salarymen stumbling home after a long night out.
Our team was made up of three very different people.
One friend probably spends more money on gummy candy than subscription services.
Another’s favorite phrase is, “I’ll leave everything to you.”
And me? Naturally, I was in charge of cooking—or rather, I volunteered for it. It’s the best way to make sure the menu includes exactly what I want to eat.
Somehow, everyone’s interests line up perfectly.
Maybe that’s why the three of us end up working surprisingly well together.
Our usual philosophy kicked in: “It’s better to have too much than not enough.”
Besides, alcohol doesn’t go bad… or at least that’s what we like to tell ourselves.
Before we knew it, the shopping basket was so overloaded it looked ready to snap off its handles.
The weather couldn’t have been better—a cloudless blue sky stretched as far as we could see.
This is probably the moment when the excitement reaches its peak.
With upbeat music like this playing in the background, we set off toward our campsite.
Traffic always seems to slow down around this stretch of the highway.
Then, almost on cue, Mount Fuji peeked out from behind the clouds.
A quick coffee stop at a service area—complete with one of those vending machine coffees that somehow taste better on a road trip.
The breeze was cool and refreshingly dry.
“Do you think it’ll be colder at camp?”
No matter how many times we go camping, we always end up having the same conversation about the temperature.
Getting off the highway is only the beginning. We still had a long drive ahead before reaching camp.
Seeing the Southern Alps always reminds me of one of Japan’s most famous bottled water brands.
If this drive looks familiar, you probably know where we’re headed.
That’s right—it’s the same route as our last camping trip.
And this time, our destination was…
By popular request, we headed back to the same campsite as our last trip.
And so began another camping weekend.
Comfortable temperatures, clear skies, and just enough breeze—it was one of those perfect days made for camping.
It didn’t take long to find a spot with a great view.
Before we knew it, camp was up and we were ready to settle in.
Right in front of our campsite, a crystal-clear stream stretched out like our own private retreat.
For a moment, it felt as though we had the entire view to ourselves.
It might have been an even better spot than the one we had last time.
With our campsites set up and our little base camps complete, it was finally time to relax.
And as always, the first toast marked the official start of the weekend.
Ahhh… now that’s the taste of camping.
The mountain stream quickly became our natural refrigerator, keeping every drink ice cold.
It was just about lunchtime, and after skipping breakfast, we were more than ready for our first real meal of the day.
Alright… let’s get cooking.
What better way to start a camping weekend than with pizza?
A quick blast with the torch from both sides, and it was ready to serve.
The smell alone was enough to have everyone leaning forward in anticipation.
The beers didn’t last long, so we moved on to the next drink.
With something like this playing in the background, the afternoon slipped by at an easy pace.
This trip, we decided to try cooking something a little different—Chinese food.
We’ve made fried rice and dumplings plenty of times, but Mapo Eggplant was a first for us.
It turned out to be a huge hit.
We blasted it with high heat from both above and below.
Before long, the campsite was filled with the mouthwatering aroma.
No schedule. No rush.
Just good food, good drinks, and good company.
And of course, grilled eel skewers made another appearance.
The smell must have traveled farther than we thought—even the dog at the next campsite came over to investigate.
A quick sear until the outside turned golden and crispy, and it was ready to serve.
And of course, don’t forget the sansho (Japanese pepper).
The gentle sound of the stream was enough to lull us into a nap.
I’d been looking forward to trying this one for a while.
After all, when you think of camping and sweets, there’s one dessert that’s hard to beat.
That’s right—crepes.
I’d thought about making the crepe batter from scratch, but cleanup at camp can be a bit of a hassle, so for our first attempt, we went with the easy version.
The ingredients were wonderfully simple:
Ingredient
Chocolate bar
Bananas
Whipped cream
Ready-made crepe wrappers
Quick camp-friendly shortcut
Just chocolate, bananas, whipped cream, and ready-made crepe wrappers—simple ingredients that somehow feel extra special outdoors.
Once the chocolate had melted, all that was left was to fold it over—and it was ready to enjoy.
Who would’ve thought camp desserts could be this good?
Simple ingredients, minimal effort, and a result that felt far more indulgent than expected.
One lesson we learned: save the whipped cream until the very end. The warmth of the crepes softens it almost immediately.
Out here, life gets wonderfully simple. Eat. Drink. Sleep. Repeat.
It was still broad daylight, and we were already a little tipsy.
Okay… maybe more than a little.
Hey… your eyes are closed.
Someone had already started sneaking in an afternoon nap
We also kept an eye out for the family of monkeys we spotted on our last visit.
No luck this time, though.
The sky slowly turned shades of amber, signaling that it was almost time to light the lanterns.
With the last light fading away, it was time to get the campfire ready.
Before we knew it, the sun was already beginning to dip below the horizon.
Taking turns, we kept the campfire going with armfuls of driftwood.
If you don’t feel like gathering your own, firewood is also available at the reception.
“Why is it still so bright?” someone asked.
A quick look up gave us the answer.
The full moon had quietly risen above the mountains.
With nothing but open sky above us, countless stars filled the night.
The temperature hovered around 18°C (64°F)—just about perfect for camping.
With a song like this quietly playing in the background, the night felt even more magical.
The moonlight shimmering across the river created an almost dreamlike scene.
To be honest, it looked at least three times brighter in person than it does in the photos.
Go on, help yourself.
The chocolate we’d quietly stashed away somehow tasted even sweeter out here.
Maybe it’s just one of those mountain camping things.
If there’s one thing that rivals chocolate…
It’s a cup of instant noodles in the mountains.
Let’s gather around the campfire and dig in.
Tonight’s choice was a regional instant ramen inspired by Niigata’s famous back-fat ramen.
Exactly what we needed.
With full stomachs and that wonderfully lazy feeling setting in, sleep was starting to win.
“Hoo… hokekyo.”
The unmistakable call of a Japanese bush warbler welcomed the new day.
Just like last time, I woke up under an open sky—no tent roof above us, just fresh mountain air.
What a difference a setting makes.
Waking up to the song of a Japanese bush warbler is a world away from waking up to crows back in the city.
Coffee in hand, we sat quietly, letting the morning slowly wake us up.
I might even play a song like this
Brunch was next…
We cut the baguette into bite-sized pieces and toasted them until golden.
Trying My Hand at Cheese Fondue.
This turned out to be an absolute winner.
It fit camp cooking so perfectly, we couldn’t believe we hadn’t thought of it sooner.
Bread, of course, pairs perfectly with tomatoes.
Taking your time to enjoy it at your own pace is a real treat.
It’s easy to share, so I highly recommend it.
Recipe
Baguette
Cherry tomatoes
Mushrooms
Cheese (melting varieties such as Camembert, mozzarella, etc.)
White wine
Garlic
Cherry tomatoes.
Mushrooms
All it takes is to toast some baguette and warm up the cheese.
It’s simple, satisfying, and perfect for a relaxed camping brunch.
For a bit more color and flavor, we’d definitely add broccoli, bacon, or asparagus next time.
The original plan was to change into our swimwear and jump in.
But the water felt so refreshing that simply soaking our feet turned out to be more than enough.
We lined up our chairs by the river and simply soaked in the fresh mountain air.
Every now and then, a cool breeze drifted through, making the moment even more relaxing.
We started packing away the lights and kitchen gear, knowing it was almost time to head home.
If camping under the stars isn’t your style, the campsite also offers several cabins.
Until next time. Thanks for another wonderful stay.
As much as we didn’t want to leave, it was finally time to make our way back to Tokyo.
A laid-back camping trip surrounded by a full moon and the beauty of nature.
Another unforgettable weekend in the outdoors.
Until the next adventure.
Fin.
Hakushu Tourism Ojiragawa Valley Campground
8886 Shirasu, Hakushu-cho, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan