“Glamping” has become well established in general, and new facilities and services are increasing. Glamping is a coined term combining glamorous and camping, and refers to a new style of camping. In Japan, the use of the service has gradually begun to spread since around 2015, and dedicated facilities with a variety of services are opening one after another.

We would like to introduce three facilities in the Kansai region that are attracting attention as places where even beginners to camping can enjoy themselves and have a luxurious outdoor experience.

1．【KYOTO】RETOUR KYOTO
2．【KOBE】KOBE TERRACE
3．【OSAKA】PALM GARDEN MAISHIMA by WBF

RETOUR KYOTO is located about 1 hour and 45 minutes by bus from JR Kyoto Station, in a mountainous area rich in nature called “Kyoto of the Forest”. The headwaters of the Hozu and Katsura Rivers flow before your eyes, and one lodge and three villas stand side by side in a paradise-like setting surrounded by lush greenery, clear streams, and the chirping of birds. Each building is a detached, completely private space, and is a popular facility for a luxurious glamping experience in a secluded resort stay.

Each of the villas has a separate outdoor dining area where you can enjoy the BBQ and outdoor cooking that only glamping can offer. Necessities such as grills and charcoal are of course always provided.

For meals, glamping BBQ enjoyed over charcoal is recommended. You can enjoy thick-cut sirloin steak of specially selected A5-rank Kameoka beef, Kyoto Tanba chicken, Miyama selected sausages, Kyoto vegetables, grilled young ayu fish nurtured by clear streams, and other local ingredients from Kyoto and Keihoku. What better way to savor these exquisite delicacies, grilled slowly over charcoal and packed with umami, than in a private dining room in the midst of nature!

After filling up on a full meal, you can relax in the private dining room, which is located in an excellent location. The murmuring of a clear stream, the chirping of birds, the rustling of trees…what a luxury to be able to relax while quietly enjoying the sounds of nature! The rooms are fully air-conditioned and equipped with a refrigerator, cooking appliances and utensils, as well as bath towels and other amenities. There is also a spacious living room and a convenient kitchen.

The bath where you can have the greenery outside the window all to yourself is a natural hot spring! The sodium calcium chloride spring water, which has a high heat-retaining effect, will heal your body from the core of daily fatigue. Enjoy an extraordinary time of relaxation while admiring the beauty of the scenery as it changes from season to season.

A clear, shallow stream flows right in front of the facility, and visitors can enjoy playing in the river. And one of the attractions is the outdoor sauna that integrates you with nature. You can enjoy a sauna in a tent set up on the riverbank, and then enjoy the ultra-luxurious experience of getting cooled off in the river! There are also a number of other activities available at this location, such as the Heian Cedar Sightseeing Guided Walk and a woodworking experience using local wood (advance reservations required).

There is also one log cabin-style lodge that is available only for overnight stay with no meal. It has a different atmosphere from the villa, and you can also enjoy the experience of a mountain cabin.

All facilities are completely private spaces where you can relax in a location full of nature. Why don’t you go and spend a special time that you cannot easily experience in the city?

Opened in March 2021 in Kobe, a charming city sandwiched between mountains and the sea. It is conveniently located at the foot of a mountain, just a 15-minute walk from Shin-Kobe Station in the center of Kobe, and yet it is still close enough to nature to hear birdsong and other sounds. This glamping facility is attracting a lot of repeat visitors as a glamping spot where you can enjoy an extraordinary experience with a view of the cityscape.

A terrace with a view of the city of Kobe below. In front is a grassy auto camping space. It’s an outstanding location, right in the city, but with a sense of freedom that makes you feel as if the sky is close by!

Both terrace and sofa seats are private and can be used in a relaxed atmosphere. At night, you can enjoy the beautiful night view.

The secret of this facility’s popularity is that it is attached to “Kobe Saryo Houunan,” a restaurant specializing in kaiseki cuisine that is limited to one couple each for lunch and dinner each day by reservation only, and offers a BBQ featuring a variety of high-quality ingredients produced by a Japanese chef. The BBQ plan, which includes all utensils and ingredients, is completely self-service! (Advance reservations required.) The ingredients include black or Kobe beef, fresh seafood such as live abalone, live conger eel, live octopus, and carefully selected vegetables, and the lineup is as luxurious as a full course of top-notch teppanyaki.

The appetizers made with seasonal ingredients are authentic in taste and appearance. What a treat to enjoy it outdoors! There is also a plan for use of the facility only, where you can bring your own equipment and ingredients (equipment rental available). The terrace can accommodate up to 30 people, making it a great place for a large crowd.

Another attraction is the “flying tent” shaped like a UFO. It is a tent that floats in the air as if it were flying in the sky, giving visitors a very strange sensation when they enter. It was the first of its kind to be introduced in the Kansai region, and since there are still only a few facilities where this tent can be used, many people visit for this very reason. If the thought of floating so high in the air is a bit intimidating, hammocks are available for rent, so you can relax in one of them.

The terrace house is attached to the building and has separate men’s and women’s restrooms, AC power, Wi-Fi, and other amenities. It is also safe to bring small children. No need for extensive preparations, you can leave empty-handed, and it is located close to the nearest station, so it is recommended for those who want to enjoy glamping without having to stay the night!

Located in the Bay Area, less than an hour from central Osaka by train and bus, this is the first all-weather glamping facility in Osaka City. The location, facilities, and everything about the site, which is designed in the image of Miami, is perfect for social networking! The free shuttle bus service from JR Universal City Station is another great point! (Reservations not accepted, first-come, first-served; see website for details)

The site is dotted with American luxury campers and trailer houses. The ocean stretches out in front of you, the breeze is pleasant, the sky is blue, and the clouds are white. You may think, “Is this really Osaka?”

There are three types of trailer houses available for up to eight people. The rooms include a living room and bath, making you feel so relaxed and at home that you won’t feel like you are in an outdoor space. There is a refrigerator, microwave, kitchen utensils, and amenities. Wi-Fi is also available. Even if you have small children or are a beginner at camping, you won’t have to worry!

Here is the Airstream, a luxury camper born in Ohio, each one different and completely private. The vintage type, available for day use, is the last year model built in Los Angeles, the birthplace of the company.

The rooms, which are mainly furnished with sofa beds and equipped with showers and toilets, offer the feeling of stepping back in time to the old United States. The maximum number of guests is 2, but for day use, the room can accommodate up to 4 people. You can enjoy BBQ on the terrace and take a rest indoors for a special glamping experience in a campervan.

Other day-use BBQ corners include a large deck that can accommodate up to 126 people and a sofa-type terrace, where you can enjoy a relaxing BBQ in a great location overlooking Osaka Bay.

With the theme of “wild extravagance,” the BBQ is easy to prepare, yet the quality and taste of the BBQ is so high that anyone can easily enjoy the authentic taste of the BBQ. The BBQ set includes plenty of meat (beef, pork, and chicken), bone-in sausages, head-on shrimp, scallops in shells, big marshmallows, and other gorgeous ingredients that are both photo-worthy and mouthwatering.

The facility offers a free rental service of photogenic items that make glamping and BBQ fun. There are many photo-worthy spots, and if you ask the staff, they can guide you to the best places at the time, depending on the season and time of day.

The most beautiful view of the seaside in the evening. This is a luxurious location where you can see such a beautiful sunset, chosen as one of the “100 best sunsets in Japan”. This is a recommended spot where you can easily enjoy authentic glamping in Osaka City, with plenty of exotic and special atmosphere.

How was it?

In recent years, glamping has become a booming activity because it can be enjoyed without contact with people, even in the Corona Disaster. Even those who could not afford camping, which requires a variety of equipment, can enjoy glamping in a casual way.

Let’s enjoy the outdoors at a popular glamping facility!