I Looked Into RetreatCamp Mahoroba

I've been looking into campsites and lodgings one after another, focusing on whether I could get there without a car and whether it would be comfortable for an indoor type like me.

This time I looked into “RetreatCamp Mahoroba.” What got me interested was learning that you can stay in a Pao tent or a trailer house, and I wanted to picture the experience for myself. Since I don't drive, I was also curious about how the access works.

A Rent-a-Unit Style Stay in Fujikawaguchiko Where You Can Sleep in a Pao or a Trailer House

It's located in Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi Prefecture, and the official website describes it as a “campsite.” However, I couldn't find any pitch sites for setting up your own tent, and it seemed like you stay in one of the six prepared room types. So this time I looked into it as a glamping-style accommodation facility.

According to the official website and the Q&A, the basic information was as follows.

• Reservations: It looked like you can book online through the official website. I couldn't confirm on the official website whether phone reservations are possible.
• Check-in / check-out: Check-in is from 3:00 PM and check-out is by 10:00 AM the next day. Apparently neither early check-in nor late check-out is possible. Check-in is done at the management building on the grounds.
• Payment: Apparently major credit cards are accepted.
• Pets: Not allowed, it seems.
• Cancellation fees: 100% every day from 5 days before the stay through the day of, and apparently this applies even in bad weather. Only for FujiView Deck and FujiView Suite, if a storm, heavy rain, or heavy rain flood warning is issued for Kawaguchiko town, it becomes 70% two days before, 70% the day before, and 0% on the day.
• Operating status: I didn't find any notice of closure on the official website. That said, I couldn't confirm whether it's open year-round.

Prices aren't listed on the official website, so it seems you check the plan list on a booking site. For reference, on a glamping booking portal I saw room-only, tax-included prices starting from 14,000 yen for the FujiView Suite and from 40,000 yen for the Pao, trailer house, and Retreat House. But since I couldn't confirm that on the official website, it seems best to check the actual price when you book.

Komorin

A 100% cancellation fee from 5 days before felt like a pretty strict policy to me. I imagine a lot of people book while staring at the weather forecast.

Can You Get There Without a Car? I Checked the Access

By car, it's apparently about 20 minutes from Kawaguchiko IC if you're coming from the Tokyo direction. From the Shizuoka or Nagoya direction, it seems to be about 17 minutes from Fujiyoshida IC. The route goes across the Kawaguchiko Ohashi Bridge and then about 2 minutes uphill along the road beside Kawaguchi Asama Shrine.

By train and bus, it's apparently about 25 minutes from Kawaguchiko Station. You take a bus bound for Kofu Station from stop No. 5 at the station, get off at the “Kawaguchi Police Box” stop, and walk about 15 minutes. Apparently they don't currently offer a pick-up service.

For nearby shops, a convenience store is about 4 minutes by car and a supermarket is about 10 minutes by car. As someone who holds a license but never drives, I got the impression that buying food and drinks around the station beforehand would give me more peace of mind. Apparently you can bring in your own food and drinks, and you can also use the BBQ grills provided.

Checking the Rooms and Facilities as an Indoor Type

The rooms page on the official website listed the following six types.

• Mahoroba Dome Tent: 2 units, capacity 5 people, and no vehicle access. It has power, a kitchen, a BBQ grill, a portable gas stove, and cookware and tableware, and it seemed like the toilet and shower are shared.
• Pao Tent: 1 unit, capacity 6 people, and up to 1 car. It seems to come with power, air conditioning, a kitchen, a tap with hot water, a toilet, a shower, an outdoor deck, a fridge, a hair dryer, and a BBQ grill.
• Mahoroba (Trailer House): 1 unit, capacity 5 people, and up to 1 car. The facilities are the same as the Pao Tent, but it's a trailer house rather than a tent.
• Retreat House (tatami room): 1 unit, up to 1 car, and the facilities are the same as the Pao Tent. The capacity was listed inconsistently within the official website, but the Q&A said 4 people.
• FujiView Deck: 4 units, capacity 4 people, and no vehicle access. It has power, a kitchen, an outdoor deck, and a BBQ grill, and it seemed like the toilet and shower are shared.
• FujiView Suite: 1 unit, capacity 2 people, and no vehicle access. The facilities seemed to be the same as the FujiView Deck.

It looked like only three types, the Pao, the trailer house, and the Retreat House, have a toilet and shower provided as part of the room's facilities. As an indoor type, I think that's a good yardstick for how comfortable the stay will be. Air conditioning is also only in those three types, and for the FujiView Deck the info said a fan in summer and a kerosene fan heater in winter. I got the impression that how it feels could differ quite a bit by season.

As for shared facilities, apparently there's a shower room that guests can use for free, 24 hours a day. Shampoo, conditioner, body soap, and a hair dryer are also provided. The toilets are separated by gender and have heated seats, and there also seems to be a kitchen space with dish soap and sponges.

The thing that caught my attention was that there's no Wi-Fi. Apparently that's because they encourage a digital detox. There also seems to be a tent sauna. The Sunday morning yoga held every week was listed on the official website as currently suspended. For campfires you use a fire stand, and they ask guests to avoid open fires. They also ask guests to refrain from fireworks on the grounds, and from playing music or karaoke through speakers. I felt like this is a place that values spending time quietly. You can also check the details on the official website.

Rakuten Mobile Signal Conditions

When I checked this facility's location (the Kawaguchi area of Fujikawaguchiko) on the official “my Area Network Simulation,” the overall rating came up as “C.”

Looking at this result, it seems like a good idea to check the connection situation ahead of time. Since the facility has no Wi-Fi, if you're thinking of watching videos or doing work online, it seems better to plan for that in advance. On the flip side, if you're thinking of a stay where you spend some time away from your smartphone, this environment might suit some people.

The actual signal conditions may also change depending on the position of your unit, the weather, and so on. If you're curious, please check for yourself with Rakuten Mobile's official network simulation.

Komorin

No Wi-Fi and a signal rating of C could be called ideal for a digital detox, but being an indoor type, I found myself wanting to download videos and things to read beforehand.

Wrapping Up

To sum it up, my impression of RetreatCamp Mahoroba is that it's a place where you can choose from six room types, including a Pao tent, a trailer house, and dome tents, and spend quiet time without Wi-Fi.

Only three types, the Pao, the trailer house, and the Retreat House, have a toilet and shower provided as room facilities, and it seems air conditioning is also limited to those three. If you go by bus, it's apparently about a 15-minute walk from the “Kawaguchi Police Box” stop. The nearby shops are also a car ride away, so it seems wise to plan your shopping beforehand. I'd also want to understand the cancellation fee conditions before booking.

For Rakuten Mobile signal conditions, the official tool's rating was “C.” If you're concerned about your connection, please check it with your own eyes using Rakuten Mobile's official “my Area Network Simulation.”

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Related Links

• Official Site