Nature / Culture · Yasuoka, Nagano
Shinshu Kids’ Sanzoku Camp
Tent living, fire and cooking, with children helping decide how their group spends its days.
- Ages / grades
- Grades 1–9
- Duration
- Basic: 4 or 5 days
- Attendance
- Child-only boarding
- Language
- Japanese, practical nature living Teaching language and starting level
Past edition · next season unverified
Multiple 2026 sessions 21 Jul–23 Aug; basic 4–5 days, advanced 8–12 days. 2027 unannounced.
- Past edition · 2026/07/21–08/23 / selected sessions Sources and official information
- Past edition · Winter 2025 edition documented; next dates unconfirmed Sources and official information
Overlapping holiday tags help you browse broadly. School breaks vary; check the stated year, actual dates and duration.
Sources checked ·Who can apply
A public nationwide camp with overseas child participants and Tokyo handover options.
Basic course: grades 1–9 and the child’s own willingness; initial allocation uses a lottery. Families unable to collect an ill child onsite cannot apply. Zero additionally requires returning campers in grade 4+.
Teaching language and starting level
| Item | Published information |
|---|---|
| Instruction / activity language | Activities and group life require Japanese. |
| Required starting proficiency | Must speak and understand Japanese at about Japanese grade-1 level. A sibling or friend cannot act as a substitute interpreter. |
| Japanese-language support | Japanese is the operating language; the FAQ says staff and volunteers generally cannot speak other languages. |
| Chinese-language support | Chinese support is not established; the published Japanese requirement cannot be met through Chinese alone. |
| Korean-language support | Onsite Korean-language support is unverified. |
A translated website does not establish on-site language support. Reconfirm support tied to particular staff or weeks.
Included costs and the family budget
| Item | Published details |
|---|---|
| Published programme total | ¥48,000 |
| People covered | 1 child |
| Duration and edition | 4 days / 3 nights · 2026 summer |
| Accommodation | Lodging included |
| Included in this amount | Food, equipment, facilities, supervision, programme operation, insurance and tax |
| Extra / to confirm | Separately contracted travel, Shinjuku estimate around ¥14,000; personal medical costs and required personal gear extra |
| Fee source | Official 2026 terms, fees, travel and cancellation2026-10-04 |
Verified refundable deposits are separate from programme fees. They are not the same as booking deposits or non-refundable registration charges.
Additional fee notes
2026 basic 4-day ¥48,000; 5-day ¥58,000, including food, equipment/facilities, supervision, insurance and tax. Published Shinjuku return estimate around ¥14,000 is not a fixed quote.
JPY estimates use 2 October 2026 reference rates, normally rounded to ¥1,000, with whole-yen values near filter boundaries. Payment rates and fees differ. Rates and sources
What the days look like
Build fires and cook, play in rivers/forest, and help plan activities through group discussion.
Parents, accommodation and transport
Tents at Yasuoka campsites; roughly five hours by escorted bus from Shinjuku, separately contracted/charged.
Why it is in this guide
A distinctive choice for practical cooperation, cooking and self-direction rather than a packed sightseeing itinerary.
Who it may suit
For children who choose to attend and accept insects, dirt and tent living.
What to weigh up
Families unable to collect a child locally cannot apply. Continuous one-to-one adult support is not assured.
Operating history and evidence
Official winter 2025 and summer 2026 material confirms recurrence. A 25 Aug 2026 parent account describes tent/cooking/group decisions; one family cannot establish safety or overall satisfaction.
Read participant accounts
Independent account · Published / experience date: 2026-08-25
2026 parent account
Describes a three-night tent/cooking experience and child-led decisions, emphasizing its ruggedness.
Single family, incentives unknown; fit depends strongly on comfort expectations.
Read the sourceBefore you book
Check the child’s willingness, pickup plan, outdoor living, allergy support, final transport price and rain arrangements.
Cancellation and refunds
14–8 days: ¥5,000; 7–2 days ¥8,000; previous day 50%; day-of/onward 100%, plus ¥1,000 refund fee. Transport separately becomes nonrefundable from 20 Jul 2026.
Sources and official information
Sources checked ·
- Official 2026 terms, fees, travel and cancellation
- Official summer camp
- Parent account, August 2026
- Official winter 2025 brochure
- Official overseas participation and language FAQ
- Official nationwide/Tokyo access
An editorial comparison based on official information and attributed agency or media sources, not first-hand reviews, rankings or a safety guarantee. Match the school calendar, language needs, independence and the adults’ plans together.