10 Places to Camp in Japan

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Red, White & Boom: Celebrating Independence in Japan

Fireworks, beer, and grilling - these are the key components to the quintessential 4th of July weekend, and we were determined to celebrate the way we were raised. I suggested camping for the long weekend so I could bring the dogs with me since Mark was deployed. There is a group of lakes on the northwest coast of the island called the Juniko Lakes, which are known for their aqua blue color.

The celebration began with the Color Run 5K. It was a first time event for the base, so we were very eager to participate. This was also my first 5K, which was a big deal for me because I am not a runner. I brought Jackson with me and he had a great time! Many of the runners got a kick out of how colorful he was by the end of the race, and he loved all of the extra attention.

The most stoic Jackson has ever looked

After scrubbing off all of the color, we hit the road for the Juniko Lakes, located in Fukaura, Aomori. We had debated canceling the trip because it was cold and drizzling in Misawa, but as we drove further west, the clouds gave way to blue, sunny skies and temps in the 80s.

The road to the campsite. It is not a one way.

We drove through dense forests before arriving at the main office cabin of Refresh Village. We explained that we were interested in tent camping, since the area offered both cabin and tent camping. After about 15 minutes of a google translated conversation, we were on our way to setting up our site. 

We had the whole area to ourselves.

Since it was already late afternoon, we decided the best course of action was to set up the tents and then start drinking; it was 4th of July after all. Once we had a decent, and safely built, fire started the shenanigans truly began.

It started innocently enough with sparklers.

On the way to Fukaura, we had stopped by a Lawsons for chicken and chu-his and found bags of fireworks for about $10. Our camp was directly under some power lines, so we were a little leery about lighting off some of the bigger fireworks.

We dug deep inside and found the courage to light off the big boys.

After going through almost all of our fireworks, we ended the night with s'mores and hummus. Unfortunately, our sober selves had purchased the food for the weekend so our munchies were limited to carrots, hummus, and disgusting gluten free pretzels. Major party foul on our part. 

Lucy celebrating freedom.

At this point, we were ready for bed, but we hadn't inflated the air mattresses yet. After blowing fuses in both of our cars, we were finally ready to settle in for the night. The tent was supposed to  accommodate two queen mattresses. This was a lie, so we tried to make them fit. I was putting out the campfire, when I heard expletives coming from the tent. In trying to make the mattresses fit, we put a huge hole in the middle of one. Too drunk to care, we said screw it, and passed out on top of the deflated mattress.

One of the lakes along our hike.

The dogs (and birds), woke us up around 6 a.m. so we made some eggs over the campfire and set off to hike around the lakes. The area was heavily forested and not very crowded so the pups could run off leash.

Lucy took off to go swim immediately, and Jackson spent most of the morning making sure the group stayed together.

We spent a few hours hiking and exploring before heading back to the camp for lunch. Since it was sunny and starting to heat up, we decided to spend the afternoon on the beach. This was probably my favorite part of our campsite. It had the woods for hiking and the beach - can't get any better than that!

We drove back to where we thought we saw a good beach, but there was a lot of trash and the water didn't look too friendly. After googling for a bit, we found a swimming beach that was a little to the south of Refresh Village.

Our perfect little beach

The beach was beautiful with crystal blue waters, and the water was actually warm enough that we could swim in it. This beach was on the Sea of Japan, which is typically warmer than the Pacific, which is where Misawa is located.

Jackson hamming it up. He kept using Sara's boobs as a pillow.

When we returned to our campsite, we found that we would be sharing our area with a Japanese man. Kind of a bummer, but luckily for him, the previous night's festivities caused us all to have a calmer second night.

In the morning, we packed up our equipment and prepared to head back to Misawa. On our way out, we made a pit stop at one of the lakes to rent boats. In standard Asia fashion, we were not given any safety equipment or even asked if we knew how to swim.

Our only instruction was to not break the boats. Arigato gozaimasu!

We paddled around the lake for about thirty minutes before deciding we should have one more beach afternoon. Summer in Japan equals the most beach time we can possibly get!

Torii at the beach

The beach we found was further north than the one from the previous day, and was much busier. It was really hard to keep the dogs from running after people, though luckily everyone there seemed to think they were kawaii, or cute in Japanese. 

Japan's beauty is almost overwhelming at times.

At one point, Lucy took off swimming toward a small girl. We tried to stop her, but failed. The little girl was so excited and started playing with her. I'm so happy we didn't have any incidents with the dogs.

The whole weekend was a success. I couldn't have asked for a better way to celebrate the United State's independence or a better group of girls to spend it with. Our weekend escapade was the exact recharge I needed.

Happy Japanniversary!

Living it up in northern Japan - no questions, no life jackets, no worries...

It's hard to believe another year has passed, and even more amazing is how much one year can really change everything. As you may recall, or if you speak to me on a semi-regular basis, year one was rough. I was missing my friends, my career, and the comforts of the states.

Then, something just...happened. Suddenly everything didn't seem so bad. In fact, everything seemed amazing. Here I am, young, able-bodied, actually living in a foreign country, and what I am doing about it? Nothing. Starting last August, I decided to make this year count. To see everything, truly see it, and allow myself to get lost in my surroundings.

Explore.

Akita Kanto Festival in August

And explore I did. I found likeminded people, as willing and eager to travel as me. At the end of August, I traveled to Bali with a good friend. We had a blast taking in the local culture, petting the monkeys in the Monkey Forest, and day drinking at the beach.

When we returned, Mark and I spent a lot of time on the water. When your house isn't air conditioned, you might as well just be outside.

Jackson at Lake Towada

Big Buddha during Obon, one of the major Japanese holidays

And as the summer cooled off, and fall started, my parents arrived. We got to show them a bit of our world as the leaves slowly started to change color and reveal the most beautiful season in Japan.

Osorezan, a major holy site

Trying to get the hang of chopsticks at CoCo's Curry

After they left, the festival season was pretty much over. Though I did get to face my fears and catch a salmon with my bare hands at the Rokkasho Salmon Festival.

Since Mark was gone for Thanksgiving, I spent it with friends.

With sweet potatoes as big as your head.

To celebrate his return, we spent Christmas in Tokyo. It was our first official visit, and our virgin Robot Cafe venture.

Inside Tokyo Tower

Robot Cafe, the best place in Tokyo

Since winter was in full swing by that point, we spent pretty much every weekend on the slopes.

We weren't the only ones loving the snow

Before Mark left on deployment, we had one last hoorah in Thailand, the coolest country I never even thought I would want to visit.

And pretty soon spring came in hot and heavy, with more flower festivals than you can even count.

Yabusame Festival in Towada-shi

Azaleas in Shichinohe

Nanohana in Yokohama

In May, my baby brother came to visit, so I met him in Tokyo.

Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo

Shibuya Crossing - the busiest intersection in the world

Yoyogi Park on a Sunday

After spending a few days in the city, I took him up north, and used it as an opportunity to go all the places I hadn't been yet.

Feeding the wild horses of Cape Shiriya

Feeling so small in the big world at the Hotokegauara Cliffs

Getting spiritual in the land of 100 torii gates

Just when things seemed like they were about to slow down, I traveled to Cambodia.

Banteay Srei, the temple of women

Ta Phrom

And on a whim, we added Vietnam to the trip.

Looking like locals in Hoi An

The Halong Bay

Thankfully, I got back to Japan for 4th of July. We celebrated with chu his, fireworks, and camping in Fukaura.

The dogs got to come with

And before I knew it, year two was over, with my heart and my passport more full than the previous year. Cheers to year two, bigger and better than year one. Here's to hoping year three, the final year, can keep up!