If we can’t go outside, then we’ll just have to make our indoor life more exciting! These were the thoughts of numerous people as they purchased camping goods to enjoy the thrill of luxurious “veramping” on their own properties.

Through this, children, adults, and even solo people can relish an outdoor lifestyle using everyday items without actually venturing outside.

This new trend has recently started picking up on Japanese Instagram, with over 57,000 #veramping posts at the time of this article. #solocamp, #homecamp, and others are also gaining significant momentum lately.

In addition, blogs and articles introducing veramping to beginners have been getting an extraordinary number of new clicks. It’s safe to say that this trend is here to stay...at least until the “new normal” ends!

▼“Kens,” a Mega-popular Instagrammer Building DIY Home Spaces

A DIY veranda made to look like paradise - perfect for veramping!

Even at 100-yen shops, the popularity of camping and outdoor equipment is increasing every year. These lineups have grown to include products costing over 100 yen with innovative and high-quality design, allowing beginners to easily purchase camping gear without paying a fortune.

From this extensive lineup, we’ve chosen 5 field-tested products recommended by experienced campers!

You can’t enjoy the outdoors after dark without a lantern! With a sophisticated, vintage design, this Daiso lantern will instantly bring forth a cozy, romantic environment.

Despite costing just 550 yen, its bargain price doesn’t come at the expense of quality. It also boasts extensive controls allowing one to change the color and brightness of the light.

Despite appearing bulky, we were delighted to see it was surprisingly light! The handle is large and long, allowing it to be easily hung up just about anywhere. You can use it immediately after putting three AA batteries in the base (batteries not included).

Using it is super simple! As you toggle the ON-OFF switch, the color of the light changes, allowing one to find the setting that suits you easily.

One setting emits an enchanting orange glow reminiscent of flames, swaying magically as if it were real. Staring into the lantern at night while unwinding on your veranda is sure to fill you with utter contentment.

Changing it to the white light emits a completely different aura - being bright enough to light up your hands thoroughly, you’ll be able to cook and clean at night with ease! In addition to using it outdoors, it also makes for the perfect nightlight to place by your bedside.

Hook clips are super-useful items allowing one to easily hang up items and add a touch of color to homes and backyards. This particular hook clip is just around 100 yen, an absolute bargain considering the same quality of product by famous camping brands can reach over 5 times that price!

The clip itself is sturdy and strong, gripping onto objects with considerable force. The inside is lined with a sponge strip, preventing it from slipping or leaving damage.

Particularly when outdoors, delicate items like bags, hats, and wet clothes are best not left on the ground. Carrying around a clip like this is the perfect solution to keeping your stuff clean and safe while camping.

Unlike S-shaped hooks, which can’t be attached to vertical pipes or bars, this hook clip can be stuck onto just about anything! It can support up to 500g.

There are loads of ways to use it, including hanging up plastic bags, affixing a lantern, or stringing up a piece of cloth to create shade. Even indoors, it makes for a great way to hang coats, hats, or whatever else!

If you’re going to be cooking outdoors, a windshield is an absolute necessity! While some may question whether or not it’s truly essential, let us assure you, it most certainly is!

Even on calm days, the slightest wind can make short work of your flame, even when using solid fuel. Alternatively, the wind may fan the flame and make it spread, which is extremely dangerous.

While there are cheaper windshields available for just 100 yen, they are generally not flameproof and are often thin, unstable, and difficult to use. This windshield from Can Do is made with aluminum, making it extremely sturdy and able to be used repeatedly whilst standing ever firm.

As pictured above, you can adjust it to encircle the flame completely. If you hook the two ends together, it will form a complete circle to protect your cooking thoroughly.

After setting it up, it came out like the picture above. It worked really well to keep the wind from affecting our cooking and allowed us total peace of mind. Be aware that, in Japan, certain residential areas, facilities, beaches, rivers, and more, do not allow cooking with an open flame. Make sure to confirm in advance before setting anything up.

Using a Sierra cup really makes it feel like camping! As with the above, there are plenty of options available for just 100 yen; however, most of them are plastic and can’t be heated with fire. Appearing stylish and slim, this highly practical stainless steel version offers a vastly superior solution.

As it boasts a wide opening, it can be used as both a cup and as tableware. The hook-style handle is long and easy to hold and can be hung up after washing for quick drying.

The inside of the cup is also marked with a scale. Whether it be instant ramen or a measuring cup for rice, this is a vital tool helping to ensure the success of outdoor dishes! What is essentially the same product sells at specialized camping stores at double price or more, making this a fantastic deal for arguably equal quality.

To test if it’s really as durable as claimed, we put it on an actual flame. The fuel and burner tripods we used were also purchased from a 100 yen store.

As stainless steel has high heat conduction, our cup of water began to boil in no time! When camping in the mountains or veranda camping during winter, if you want to get something hot in you quick, this is the way to go!

Of course, the texture of stainless steel is also cool and sleek, making it feel equally refreshing amidst Japan’s stifling summers!

The last item we’re going to introduce is this handy foldable compact table. Items like this truly mark the difference between just spending time outside and having a full-on, authentic outdoor experience. At only 550 yen, it’s a steal - especially considering specialized outdoor shops and brands offer a similar product at 5x or more the price!

Folded down, it comes in roughly the same size as a yoga mat, preventing it from becoming too bulky and difficult to carry, which is further augmented by its handy storage bag. Weighing just 950g, even those of smaller builds or children can carry it around with ease. It can support a load of up to 10kg.

The chair is also fixed with two drink holders.

Plastic bottles fit perfectly inside, allowing one to rest easy, knowing they won’t be knocked over. While the actual tabletop is made of fabric, it is completely stable. It will easily support dishes and other tableware, allowing it to be used the same way as a regular table for most items.

When you want to use it, simply fold out the sides. After you’ve finished, perform the reverse, and it’ll naturally return to its original size without any resistance. This will be more than enough for beginners to outdoor life who want to use it for veramping or picnics!

Responding to Japan’s boom in “veramping” and other activities, 100 yen shops strive to create the perfect range suitable for all kinds of outdoor needs. Many of these items can’t be found overseas, let alone purchased for such a low price, so don’t miss the chance to grab a few while you’re in Japan!

In addition, high product rotation and limits on available inventory means that the range often differs. In particular, large camping and outdoor items are often bought up straight away, leading to shortages in stock. So if you see one of the above or another product you’re interested in, don’t hesitate to buy it!


*The items and prices introduced in this article are current as of June 2021. For the latest information, always check the official site or store.