Camping in the hardcore campsite "Kofu City Forest Bathing Square" without water or toilets is fun.

Revisited the "Kofu City Forest Bathing Square" located on the Crystal Line in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture. Made full use of carefully selected items to thoroughly enjoy car camping in a place with nothing around.

Kofu City Forest Bathing Square is a campsite close to nature

It appears along the Crystal Line forest road in the northern part of Yamanashi Prefecture, Kofu City Forest Bathing Square. It can be used for free, but there are no toilets or water facilities, making it suitable for those who are accustomed to camping in a more rugged environment. The last time I came here, I didn't have any equipment, so I couldn't stay overnight, so this time I prepared for car camping and challenged myself again.

I discovered a "Bear Sightings" sign that was not present during my previous visit. While this is not limited to this area, it is a location with a higher elevation and fewer people, so the likelihood of encountering wildlife seems higher.

Having a bed kit for car camping makes setup quick

I thought car camping in the summer would be tough, but Kofu City Forest Bathing Square is so cool that I hardly sweat, making it a comfortable place to spend time. Since open flames are allowed, I plan to use the stone-built fireplace that other users have likely used for a campfire. First, I'll set up the stand table and prepare the dining area.

The author's article has appeared many times, but the car sleeping bed kit is today's sleeping spot. It's always left in a frame state, so all that's left is to lay out the top board and spread the mattress and sleeping bag, and it's all set. It can be set up in a few minutes, so recently, the tent has been used less often.

Abundant firewood and the combined BBQ grill from Cainz are a big hit for dinner.

I forgot to bring the lighter, but I was able to successfully ignite the fire with the birch bark that had fallen. Pruned branches are scattered all around, so we can fully enjoy the campfire. Starting with small branches, the time spent nurturing the fire is always exciting, no matter how many times I do it.

Once the fire is going, it's time to prepare the ingredients. Today, I want to make the famous Miyazaki-style charcoal grilled chicken. It's "style" since it's not from the local chicken. Speaking of preparation, it's just cutting into bite-sized pieces and seasoning with salt and pepper, so it's very easy. From my research, I found out that there are "points to pay attention to in the cooking method," so I'll be trying that here.

The grill I purchased for grilling dried fish from Cainz is also proving useful here. Since the handle is stainless steel, it's easy to use even with wild direct flames. It's perfect for high-heat cooking where you want to flip things quickly and easily, and I really like this item.

Pouring chicken fat made at home on the chicken, I roast it in the style of Miyazaki (sort of)

The biggest point in the roasting method is to pour the "chicken fat", increase the heat, and produce a smoky flavor and a charred, coal-like appearance. By the way, the day before, I roasted chicken skin to extract the chicken fat.

When I pour the chicken fat, the flames shoot up high and you can hear the sizzling sound. I was unsure whether to pour it from the beginning, but after cooking it to a certain extent, I tried pouring it on, although I'm worried that it might be overcooked. I wanted to try it at home before coming here, but I didn't expect the flames to rise this high. It's dangerous, so I'm glad it was at the campsite.

The result has both the flavor and appearance that I envisioned, so it feels good. It’s a bit overcooked, and it lacks the bounciness of free-range chicken, so it doesn't quite match the real thing. However, when eaten with yuzu pepper and cabbage, it is very delicious. Outdoor cooking should be this wild and simple.

Having filled my stomach, it's relaxation time. When I turn on the lights, a terrifying number of bugs come flying, so I couldn't point them towards myself. There’s no one in the area, and the surrounding darkness stretches endlessly, so the buzzing bugs distract from the feeling of loneliness, making it not a bad mood at all.

Waking up before dawn to go fishing, the day begins from a completely dark campsite

Since I was planning to fish in a different location the next day, I decided to wake up before dawn and set out. Honestly, I thought it was scary to drive on a forest road in the dark, but for the sake of fishing, there was no choice. While warming up the engine, I shook off my drowsiness.

The Kofu City Forest Bathing Square, which is close to a camping environment, seemed like it would have many dangers deep in the mountains, but it was a wonderful campsite that was very quiet and rich in nature. If you have the preparation for the lack of infrastructure and the mindset and plan to avoid polluting nature, anyone should be able to enjoy it. I definitely want to come back here again.

Text and Interview / Kazuma Tanaka

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