Glamping at TOCORO Mt. Fuji Camp & Glamping: Camping for Beginners

2533-1 Oishi, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru District, Yamanashi 401-0305, Japan

When planning our trip to Kawaguchiko, I knew I wanted to experience glamping at least once. Traditional camping sounded a little too adventurous for me, and since neither of us had any camping experience, glamping felt like the ideal way to enjoy the outdoors while still having a proper bed, heating and modern facilities.

TOCORO. Mt.Fuji CAMP & GLAMPING seemed like the perfect compromise. Nestled in a forest near Lake Kawaguchiko, the property offers a camping experience with many tents enjoying views of Mount Fuji, all while providing comforts that regular camping simply doesn't.

Arrival Day: Rain, Rain and More Rain

Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans for us.

It was a wet and rainy day when we arrived. Even so, TOCORO still felt like stepping into a peaceful nature retreat. The white tents scattered throughout the forest looked charming against the misty backdrop, creating an almost fairytale-like atmosphere.

We booked one of the more affordable options for two people, the Premium Bell Tent 3, which promised views of Mount Fuji. Sadly, the famous mountain never made an appearance. Between the rain, clouds and poor visibility, there was no sign of Fuji on either arrival day or the following morning.

Needless to say, I was pretty disappointed. One of the main reasons for choosing TOCORO was the chance to wake up to a Mount Fuji view, but weather is one thing no accommodation can control.

The Tent

The bell tent was cosy, although slightly tighter than I expected. Thankfully, there was a heater because the temperature dropped quite a bit at night.

The heater, however, became a bit of an adventure on its own.

It runs on gas and seemed to develop an error after being used continuously for two to three hours. Thinking we could manage without it, we switched to the one-hour timer mode before sleeping.

Big mistake.

Throughout the night, I woke up several times absolutely drenched in sweat as the temperature fluctuated. By 3 a.m., I finally gave up and turned the heater back on normally. Sure enough, by around 7 a.m., the error message appeared again.

Not exactly the most restful night's sleep.

Shared Facilities

One thing potential guests should know is that the toilets and shower facilities are shared among all guests, with separate sections for men and women.

This wasn't a problem during the day, but at night it meant climbing down the outdoor steps in the dark whenever nature called. If you're expecting a fully private glamping setup, this is something worth noting.

That said, the facilities were clean and functional.

Excellent Service Recovery

What impressed me most was the staff's response to the heater issue.

To make up for the inconvenience, they offered us the use of the bonfire heater free of charge the following morning. It was a thoughtful gesture and showed that they genuinely cared about the guest experience.

Good service can make a huge difference, and TOCORO scored points with us for how they handled the situation.

Dinner BBQ Experience

One of the highlights of glamping is getting to cook your own meal, and TOCORO makes this very beginner-friendly.

Instructions were provided, so even first-time campers like us could figure things out without much stress. It felt like camping without the hard work. The accommodation prepares everything beforehand, and guests simply cook and assemble the food themselves.

As for the food itself, it was a mixed bag.

The BBQ meats were fairly standard and didn't particularly wow us. However, there were a couple of dishes we really enjoyed:

• Toasted bread with creamy Camembert cheese

• Le Creuset baked herb chicken

Those dishes felt a little more special and elevated the dining experience beyond a simple BBQ.

The dinner is made even better by the mini bon fire we set up ourselves in the ourdoor terrace through the night. 

Breakfast Was Better

Personally, I enjoyed breakfast more than dinner.

There was granola with yoghurt, bread that we could toast ourselves, and ingredients to assemble our own breakfast muffins. We were also able to grind coffee beans and make our own drip coffee.

There was something satisfying about preparing breakfast in the cool morning air, even if Mount Fuji remained hidden behind thick clouds.

It felt like camping, just with all the ingredients thoughtfully prepared for you. We still got the fun of cooking and making our own food without any of the planning, shopping or cleanup that comes with actual camping.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes travel doesn't go exactly as planned, but sleeping in a tent surrounded by nature and making our own breakfast the next morning still made for a memorable experience. Hopefully next time, Mount Fuji will decide to make an appearance.