Glamping is perfect for anyone looking for a fun way to enjoy the natural beauty of the Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi area, with all the cozy comforts of a hotel stay.

For this trip, travel writer and full-time tour guide Miyu Shimada, a lover of everything from nature to cities to resorts, teams up with two Live Japan editors: Chen, an avid camper from Taiwan, and Kaori, a Japanese editor with a preference for the indoors trying out glamping for the first time. The destination? Hoshifull Dome Fuji, a relaxing glamping retreat right near Mt. Fuji, surrounded by the lush nature of the Lake Kawaguchi area.

Join them as they share their 2-day, 1-night stay, offering insights into what makes Japanese glamping so fun, and new ideas for exploring the Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi area.

The word “glamping” is a combination of the words “glamorous” and “camping.” It first became popular in the UK in the 2000s and eventually spread to other countries. In Japan, it started gaining attention around 2010 and quickly became a major trend as a new style of outdoor travel.

The best part of glamping is that you can soak in the great outdoors without forgoing the comforts of a proper stay. Since Japan has less open space compared to many other countries, glamping sites may feel more compact, but that also means a cozy, private atmosphere where you can truly unwind.

Japan’s four seasons make glamping here a completely different experience depending on when you go. There’s cherry blossoms in spring, fresh greenery in summer, colorful foliage in fall, and snowy landscapes in winter. Many glamping sites also allow you to experience regional specialties, such as hot springs, local cuisine, seasonal outdoor activities, cultural experiences, and traditional festivals.

All of these touches make glamping especially appealing for visitors from overseas, offering a glimpse into a side of Japan that’s rich in nature and culture, far removed from the hustle and bustle of the cities.

Another big draw of glamping is stargazing! Unlike bright cities that never sleep, these nature-rich areas let you enjoy a night under the star-filled sky, a rare sight for those used to the urban glow.

BBQ is another staple of glamping, however in Japan, it goes beyond just grilling meat and vegetables. You’ll often find local specialties and seasonal ingredients, adding a unique Japanese twist. Paired with the crisp mountain air and clean water, the fresh local eats are an experience in itself!

Another great thing, especially for international travelers, is that these sites often provide everything you need for a full-course BBQ. No need to shop at the local grocery store or worry about language barriers. Just show up and enjoy a hassle-free Japanese-style BBQ. For those who want a more DIY experience, some places allow you to bring your own ingredients. Just be sure to check in advance.

To enjoy all that Japanese glamping has to offer, we visited Hoshifull Dome Fuji in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, at the base of Mt. Fuji. Just an 8-minute drive from Kawaguchiko Station, this retreat lives up to its name, offering a private stay in the forest under the stars.

The grounds feature seven spacious dome tents, each positioned with plenty of distance from each other for privacy. Every tent also has its own private BBQ area.

Each dome is around six meters in diameter with lots of space inside, including four single beds, a large reclining sofa, a table, and a fridge. And with both heating and air conditioning, you’ll be comfy all year round!

Each tent has a theme, with a matching name like Mori (forest), Sora (sky), or Taiyo (sun), and a color scheme and interior to match. Ours was called Riku (land), a clean white dome with a welcoming interior and warm earthy furnishings, creating a cozy space inspired by the surrounding nature and wildlife.

All bathrooms and showers are in the Central House, the site’s main building, which also includes the reception desk, shop, and dining area. Check-in is easy, with multilingual tablets (Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese, and Korean) and special carts to help you carry your luggage with ease.

The shop sells original souvenirs along with drinks like juice, beer, and wine, as well as food and ice cream. Just about anything you might need during your stay!

There are separate showers and restrooms for men and women, with five shower rooms and six toilets total. It’s more than enough to avoid any wait time! Even with four other groups staying on the same night, we never had to wait around. The sink area is stocked with the essentials, like hair dryers, toner, toothbrushes, and more, and is accessible 24/7. Other amenities include razors, hairbrushes, cotton pads, hair ties, makeup remover, and lotion, and are available at the front desk.

As we wandered the site, we couldn’t help but gasp in delight at all the thoughtful touches and the nature around us.

“Please enjoy your stay, and let us know if you need anything!” Kubota-san, one of the warm and welcoming staff members, greets us with a smile. Everyone we met was just as kind and helpful. Since many international travelers visit Hoshifull Dome Fuji, the staff are also mindful of language and cultural differences, and can assist in basic English too!

After dropping off our bags, we headed out to enjoy one of the best parts of glamping: enjoying the great outdoors.

At the heart of the site is the Event Garden, a public area open to all guests. Wildlife occasionally makes an appearance here too. If you're lucky, you might even spot flying squirrels or deer!

There’s a play space with swings, logs, and hanging rings, and you can borrow balls, frisbees, and other toys for free. So let the kids run around and play while the adults relax nearby in hammocks. It’s a great way for everyone to enjoy!

In the summer, guests can also enjoy a tent sauna. It’s a must-try for sauna lovers, and anyone looking to unwind in nature’s refreshing breeze.

As we kicked back in the great outdoors, before we knew it, it was time for the main event. Without further ado, here are some of our most exciting glamping experiences!

Hoshifull Dome Fuji offers several hands-on activities. One that especially caught food-lover Chen’s attention was the wood-fired pizza-making experience (4,000 yen per group). Naturally, we had to give it a try!

Everything is provided, from the oven to the ingredients, so you can just show up empty-handed. Choose from three types of pizza: Margherita, seafood, or mashed potato and corn. We went with Margherita.

We carefully stretched out the sticky, fermented dough, spread the tomato sauce, and added the mozzarella and basil. Getting the dough just right takes a bit of finesse, while choosing the toppings is half the fun. The three of us got totally into it as we prepared our pizza together.

Finally, it was time to put our pizza into the 400°C wood-fired oven.

Every 20 seconds or so, we had to rotate the pizza to make sure it cooked evenly. It may sound simple, but it’s trickier than it looks! Chen struggled a bit at first, but luckily, the staff were there to help!

From prep to baking, staff members are available to guide you at every step of the way, making it a fun and easy hands-on experience for everyone, including families with young kids, to enjoy!

Before long, our creation is complete! The crust was golden and fluffy, and the cheese perfectly melted. It looked absolutely mouth-watering! We cut it up and dug in while it was still hot and fresh.

With its chewy crust, tangy tomato sauce, stretchy cheese, and aromatic basil, Margherita really is the king of pizzas! And because we made it ourselves, it tasted even better. Chen and Kaori were more than satisfied, and I finished mine so fast, I wished we had made seconds!

There’s something special about gathering around a fire in the great outdoors and cooking a meal together. For dinner, we enjoyed a BBQ at the accommodation.

Shown here is the Deluxe Premium BBQ Plan, a meat lover’s dream with dishes like premium sirloin steak and thick-cut beef tongue, as well as other meats like beef, pork, and chicken. There’s also side dishes like ajillo, bagna càuda, cheese fondue, freshly made pot-au-feu, and dessert. Just looking at this feast had our seasoned camper Chen eager to dig in, and even Kaori, who was new to this kind of thing, couldn’t help getting excited!

We were able to have our meal right at the BBQ space next to our dome. However, in the event of bad weather, or even if you’d simply prefer not to eat outside, guests are also able to BBQ in the dining area of the main building.

The charcoal grill gives you that bold, smoky flavor you just can’t get at home. And thanks to the high heat, everything cooks in no time at all!

The meat comes off the grill with that delicious charcoal aroma, crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside, with rich flavor in every bite. A pinch of salt and pepper is all you really need. But a dab of wasabi and soy sauce adds a nice Japanese twist, too.

Yamanashi is one of Japan’s top wine-producing regions, and its local Koshu wine has been gaining international attention in recent years. Naturally, we had to try it. It was fruity, smooth, and the perfect match for our BBQ. You can also order a variety of other alcoholic drinks on-site to go with your meal.

No camping trip is complete without a campfire, and you can enjoy one here too! After sunset, the staff lights the fire in the center of the garden space.

For those who prefer a more private setting, there's a fire pit set available for rent (3,000 yen), so you can enjoy your own personal campfire right next to your dome.

There’s something calming about watching the flames flicker that puts you at ease. Maybe it was that peaceful setting, but we found ourselves forgetting all about work and diving into some deep conversations, completely losing track of time.

Even after a delicious BBQ and relaxing by the bonfire, the night is far from over. Being in nature doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. In fact, there are many ways to enjoy the evening!

The dome tents are transparent on one side, offering great views even from inside. Cool in summer and warm in winter, it’s the perfect spot to gaze up at the stars in total comfort.

You can also borrow a telescope for free (limited availability) for a closer look at the stars, and even the craters of the moon! Chen gave it a try, carefully adjusting the focus. It was a bit cloudy that night, so we didn’t get to see much of a star-filled sky. But we did catch sight of a flying squirrel gliding between the trees, which was almost as magical!

When the sky is clear, it looks like your very own natural planetarium!

Sometimes it’s nice to take it slow indoors while admiring the painting-like scenery through the windows. Whether it’s a hot summer day, a chilly winter night, or even a rainy or snowy afternoon, relaxing with a warm drink inside the dome is pure bliss.

It’s also nice to just kick back in the dome during the day and watch the outside world go by.

You can also rent a projector for a theater-style movie night in your room. It usually costs 3,000 yen, but on rainy days it’s free! Project your screen onto the wall or even the ceiling. It’s just another one of the perks of staying in a spacious dome.

They also have board games, card games, and Jenga for even more indoor fun.

It had been a while, but we were quickly reminded at how fun these simple games could be! We took a break from our screens for some old-fashioned fun, allowing ourselves to let loose and play like kids again.

Take a deep breath of fresh morning air. It’s the best energy boost you can ask for! Waking up with the sun and heading out for a morning walk is the perfect way to stat the day.

For breakfast, there’s hot DIY sandwiches. Along with sandwich ingredients, there’s also hot soup, yogurt with lots of fruit, and eggs you can cook or put in your sandwich. You can also help yourself to hot milk, coffee, or tea.

Everyone carefully picked their ingredients, trying not to get too carried away.

There’s something special about a breakfast made just the way you like it. It’s a one-of-a-kind creation to start the day.

After one last walk around the site, before we knew it, it was time to check out.

One of the perks of glamping in the Mt. Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi area is that there are many attractions nearby. From Oshino Hakkai and the Fuji Five Lakes to Fuji-Q Highland and Forest Adventure, there’s so much to explore. After recharging in nature, it’s the perfect starting point for your next adventure.

"Glamping is really popular in Taiwan too, and it’s something we do a lot with family or friends. The air in Japan is so clean, and the scenery here is completely different from what I’m used to back home. It really made this feel like a uniquely Japanese experience, especially being so close to Mt. Fuji, compared to busy cities like Tokyo. Hoshifull Dome Fuji was also super comfortable! They give you everything you need for the BBQ and pizza, so you can just show up with nothing. That’s a huge plus for overseas visitors. If you’re visiting Mt. Fuji or Lake Kawaguchi, I definitely recommend staying here."

"This was my first time glamping, and since I don’t own any camping gear, I was honestly a bit worried about how comfortable it would be. But there was no need to worry at all. The dome was nice and clean, and the air conditioning kept things comfortable. I was surprised at just how cozy it was! Spending time in nature ended up being more relaxing and luxurious than I had imagined. And there’s something really special about glamping near Mt. Fuji. I have two young daughters, and I think they’d love these kinds of outdoor experiences we don’t usually get to do. I’d love to bring my family next time. For anyone new to glamping like me, this place is absolutely perfect."

"What impressed me most was how well-maintained and spotless the entire place was. Even the amenities, like hair ties, makeup remover, toner, and lotion, were better than what you get at some hotels! Normally, when you’re out in nature, you just expect to deal with things like bugs, heat, cold, or dirt. But here, there was none of that. On top of that, the hospitality of the staff was top-tier, even by Japanese standards. They respect your privacy while still being ready to help whenever needed. This is the kind of place that really lets you experience the warmth and quality of Japanese service."

If you're looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and recharge in nature without sacrificing comfort, glamping is the perfect choice. Even if it’s your first time, or if you’re worried about accessibility, cleanliness, and comfort, Hoshifull Dome Fuji is the perfect place to start.

With incredible views of Mt. Fuji, peaceful surroundings, and outstanding hospitality, a stay at Hoshifull Dome Fuji is bound to leave you with unforgettable memories of your trip to Japan.