MIHARU, Fukushima Prefecture—A campground has opened beside a dam lake here to offer tourists more to do in this sleepy town than just observe a famous cherry tree.
Lake Sakura Campsite and Kayak Port kicked off operations on Aug. 23, following a ceremony the previous day that offered visitors a chance to try out the new tourist spot.
The site was designed and supervised by Osaka-based outdoor goods maker Mont-Bell Co. so that even beginner campers can sleep comfortably under the stars.
Miharu town in spring is packed with sightseers from across Japan, eager to see the magnificent Miharu Takizakura cherry tree, famed for its waterfall-like appearance.
For the rest of the year, the northern municipality is relatively serene.
In February 2022, the Miharu town government signed a general partnership agreement with Mont-Bell to explore ways to develop outdoor leisure into a tourist draw.
The partners considered Lake Sakura at the Miharu Dam as a prime location for the project.
Outdoor Village Miharu, which houses a directly-run Mont-Bell store, a visitor center and a climbing experience facility, opened in April this year ahead of the campground’s debut.
Located near Outdoor Village Miharu, the campground consists of 15 lots. Ten of them feature hut-like housing units each furnished with a sink, gas stove, refrigerator, toilet, shower room and free Wi-Fi, among other amenities.
These features eliminate the need for guests to travel to a shared cooking site or public restroom.
Camping gear, including tents, sleeping bags, cooking utensils and tableware, can be rented, while food can be purchased at the nearby Miharu no Sato Denen Seikatsukan commercial complex.
Even guests who show up empty-handed can camp comfortably at the site.
Following the inauguration ceremony, 15 people from five groups took part in an experience session in the afternoon. Elementary and junior high school students, along with their guardians, listened to the guidance of the Mont-Bell chairman, Isamu Tatsuno.
In his lecture, Tatsuno, 78, explained the inspiration behind the new campsite.
Tatsuno, a well-known mountaineer who has scaled the tough north face of the Eiger in Switzerland, said he believes camping is something done unwillingly because it is essential for mountain climbing. Therefore, if camping can be made comfortable, then nothing could be better.
“I wanted to free guests from the stress of having to go to a common restroom,” Tatsuno said. “Camping is not the goal. I would like you guys to discover other sources of enjoyment, whether cycling, kayaking or observing nature.”
The participants in the trial paddled on Lake Sakura in kayaks. They also split firewood and built a fire for a barbecue party.
Tatsuno’s interest in the project was stimulated by the fact that the late Junko Tabei, the first woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest, hailed from Miharu, according to Miharu Mayor Hiroyuki Sakamoto.
Sakamoto visited the Mont-Bell main office in Osaka four years ago in what he described as “my bold attempt with no expectations of results.”
Reservations for the campground can be made through the Mont-Bell website in Japanese at (https://booking.montbell.jp/lodging/facility.php?facility_id=42). Bookings for the New Year’s holiday season are already starting to come in.
Author: www.asahi.com
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