Glamping on the Bonsai Trail: Bandai-Asahi National Park
This immersive four-day adventure in Bandai-Asahi National Park offers a unique glimpse into Japan's rich bonsai culture and breathtaking volcanic landscapes. Your adventure includes a luxurious camping experience within the park and two nights in one of the oldest ryokans in a historic onsen town.
Open Dates
May ~ October
Length
3 nights, 4 days
Location
Bandai Asahi National Park, Tohoku Region
Price
¥550,000~ /person
Highlights
Dive into Living Bonsai Heritage
Learn the centuries-old art of Japanese bonsai cultivation, rooted in Bandai-Asahi’s natural beauty and volcanic landscapes.
Luxury Camping Amongst the Pines
Spend a night camping inside the national park, with a chef-prepared meal amidst Bandai-Asahi’s serene wilderness.
Rejuvenate Your Senses
Rejuvenate in a historic onsen, savoring local craft beer and sake, while soaking up Japan’s timeless culture.
About
Embark on a unique opportunity to learn from traditional bonsai masters and see up close the rugged landscapes that inspire their art.
Bonsai artisans seek to express the beauty of nature through bonsai trees, emulating the weather-beaten forms of wild Azuma Goyomatsu, a species of white pine native to Bandai-Asahi National Park. The bonsai culture here is unique, with each bonsai starting with a seed taken from within the national park and nurtured by artisans for up to 100 years.
After learning about this art form, you will hike into the park and explore its natural calderas and volcanic landscape.
Bonsai artisans seek to express the beauty of nature through bonsai trees, emulating the weather-beaten forms of wild Azuma Goyomatsu, a species of white pine native to Bandai-Asahi National Park. The bonsai culture here is unique, with each bonsai starting with a seed taken from within the national park and nurtured by artisans for up to 100 years.
After learning about this art form, you will hike into the park and explore its natural calderas and volcanic landscape.
What's included
- One night of luxury camping with chef-prepared meals
- Three days of guiding by a local expert guide
- Pick up to and from JR Koriyama Station
- All transportation
- All meals
Bandai-Asahi National Park, Tohoku
Bandai-Asahi National Park is located in the northeastern Tohoku region of Japan, famous for its serene yet rugged landscapes. The park is centered around the towering Mount Bandai and the surrounding volcanic landscapes shaped by its historic eruptions.
The park features shimmering lakes like the Goshikinuma (Five Colored Ponds), where the waters shift hues depending on the sunlight and minerals, creating a magical, otherworldly atmosphere. Hiking trails of varying difficulty wind through dense forests, past serene waterfalls, and across volcanic terrain, with opportunities to encounter unique wildlife while enjoying sweeping views.
The park features shimmering lakes like the Goshikinuma (Five Colored Ponds), where the waters shift hues depending on the sunlight and minerals, creating a magical, otherworldly atmosphere. Hiking trails of varying difficulty wind through dense forests, past serene waterfalls, and across volcanic terrain, with opportunities to encounter unique wildlife while enjoying sweeping views.
Guide
KEISUKE
Keisuke is a mountain cameraman and adventurer. He has competed in ultra-long distance bikepacking races over several hundred kilometers in Alaska and other Arctic regions.
Since 2020, he has been developing long trail routes and mountain tourism projects in Bandai-Asahi National Park (including the Volcano Trail). He is currently an ambassador for Karrimor International, La Sportiva, and Salsa Cycles and is passionate about regional development, local culture and environmental preservation.
Since 2020, he has been developing long trail routes and mountain tourism projects in Bandai-Asahi National Park (including the Volcano Trail). He is currently an ambassador for Karrimor International, La Sportiva, and Salsa Cycles and is passionate about regional development, local culture and environmental preservation.
Itinerary
Day 1: Dive into Japanese Bonsai Culture
Visit the farm and workshop of a three-generation family-run bonsai nursery established over 90 years ago, integral to the origin of Japanese bonsai culture.
In the evening stay at one the oldest onsen towns in this area, with a history dating back 1,200 years. Dinner at the inn is delicacies from around the country, and local sake is free for enjoying in the cypress wood baths.
In the evening stay at one the oldest onsen towns in this area, with a history dating back 1,200 years. Dinner at the inn is delicacies from around the country, and local sake is free for enjoying in the cypress wood baths.
Day 2: The Bonsai Trail and Luxury Glamping
Your guide will take you on a light hike to Bandai-Asahi National Park, where you can explore the incredible calderas that make up the park and the white pine tree formations that have inspired generations of bonsai artists.
At the end of the day, unwind in a comfortable, private tent set up for you right in the park. There you will be treated under the stars to an outdoor meal using the best of the local seasonal produce, prepared by a team of chefs onsite.
At the end of the day, unwind in a comfortable, private tent set up for you right in the park. There you will be treated under the stars to an outdoor meal using the best of the local seasonal produce, prepared by a team of chefs onsite.
Day 3: Sunrise Over the Mountains
Wake up early to the awe-inspiring sight of a majestic sunrise over a volcano before you sit for another personally prepared meal. After finishing breakfast, your guide will take you on a longer hiking to explore other natural highlights in the area.
By the early afternoon return to your onsen inn for another soak in the hot springs accompanied by a refreshing serving of local craft beer or sake.
By the early afternoon return to your onsen inn for another soak in the hot springs accompanied by a refreshing serving of local craft beer or sake.
Day 4: Departure
Before departing for Tokyo by bullet train, you have the option to visit a local sake brewery or take a short woodland hike.
Accommodations
Accommodation is split between glamping in the national park and staying at a traditional Japanese inn.
For the first and final nights, you will be staying at Oyado Hana-Kanzashi, a traditional wooden inn located at the foot of Mount Adatara in the hot spring town of Dake Onsen. Oyado Hana-Kanzashi is the oldest inn in the town and has been rebuilt many times preserving its traditional characteristics while maintaining a wonderful sense of comfort. All baths, including the open-air baths in your rooms, are from natural spring water.
For the second night, you will be glamping at Jododaira Campground, situated inside Bandai-Asahi National Park. A personal chef will prepare dinner and breakfast onsite, allowing you to enjoy locally sourced ingredients while immersed in the serenity of nature.