Slow and Tranquil: A Japanese-Inspired Camping Experience

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Campfield Long Beach camp site (Zazo, 2024).

The distinct vibe of Campfield

The vibe of Campfield forces campers to slow down. You won’t find massive camp trailers or heavy-duty pickup trucks parked next to tent at this 25-acre location. Vehicles stay in the parking lot, and campers hike their gear down a boardwalk and gravel paths to their site. Here, you can stop and breathe; jumping from activity to activity is almost discouraged (Zazo, 2024).

American vs. Japanese camping culture

At American campgrounds, campsites tend to serve one purpose: a ‘basecamp’ to return to after a day spent offsite hiking, mountain biking, or fishing… Campfield views the campsite as a way to reconnect with nature and each other rather than a means to an end to access outdoor recreation activities (Zazo, 2024).

Experiential camping amenities at Campfield

On-site, campers can relax in the Japanese-style Ofuro Spa… The facility features a pool-sized hot tub, sauna, and cold plunge pool… Campers can also explore meadow trails or stop in the Campstore to shop more Snow Peak gear, order a coffee or local beer, or pick up thoughtfully curated Japanese treats like ramen, seaweed-wrapped onigiri, and a selection of bougie instant ramen (Zazo, 2024).

Analysis

During the research, I read many articles that stated that one of the main reasons why pickups or SUVs are over half of Americans’ choice over sedans is the growing interest in camping. The author shared her exciting journey at Campfield Long Beach and the Japanese-inspired camping experience in this article. Rather than most American campgrounds’ more fast-paced, activity-oriented culture, Campfield Long Beach provides a distinctive camping experience stressing slowing down and embracing serenity and seclusion. Incorporate the Japanese culture; the camp site prioritizes the deeper connection with nature, promoting communal activities like forest bathing and stargazing. This article helps me learn that there are many different types of camping options, and different regions might also have different camping cultures. Camping is a growing trend all over the world, and learning about American’s, the author’s, opinion toward Japanese camping style is very valuable to my research.

Reference

Zazo, E. (2024, September 11). Live the slow art of Japanese camping at this new PNW Site. Backpacker. https://www.backpacker.com/trips/the-slow-art-of-japanese-camping-rules-at-this-new-pnw-site/