Laid-Back Camp Pilgrimage Guide: Lake Motosu, Fumotoppara, Minobu, Izu & Oigawa Bridges

Sharing cup curry noodles by Lake Motosu, gathering around a tantan gyoza hot pot in front of Mount Fuji, and lighting a compact grill at Lake Shibire—Laid-Back Camp portrays real campgrounds and the unhurried hours spent outdoors.

From the lakeshores of Yamanashi and the streets of Minobu to Shizuoka's Izu Peninsula and Oigawa River, this guide pairs the story scenes of each location with current reservation rules and public viewing conditions.

From Lakeside Campgrounds and Minobu’s Stations to Izu and the Oigawa River

1Koan Campground & Lake Motosu: The Lakeshore Where Rin and Nadeshiko First Met

In Season 1, Episode 1 of the TV anime, solo-camping high school student Rin Shima climbs the Motosu-michi road and emerges from Nakanokura Tunnel to the sweeping view of Mount Fuji across Lake Motosu, where she meets Nadeshiko Kagamihara.

Having just moved from Shizuoka, Nadeshiko bicycles up to Lake Motosu hoping to see the Mount Fuji view printed on the 1,000-yen bill, falls asleep until nightfall when clouds hide the peak, and is rescued by Rin—sharing a campfire and cup curry noodles before watching Mount Fuji appear across the water.

Located at 2926 Nakanokura, Minobu Town, Yamanashi Prefecture, Koan Campground lets visitors pitch tents along the lakeshore by advance reservation, experiencing the exact lakeside view of Mount Fuji that opens the series.

Sources: Yamanashi Tourism — Episode 1 Location / Anime Official — Meeting at Lake Motosu / Koan Campground — Reservation Guide

2Fumotoppara: Rin’s Solo Camp and Hot Pot in Front of Mount Fuji

Featured in Season 1, Episodes 2 and 3, Fumotoppara in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture is where Nadeshiko tracks down Rin's solo camp after asking Rin's friend Ena Saito for the location, bringing fresh ingredients to cook tantan gyoza hot pot as thanks for the curry noodles at Lake Motosu.

Located in Fumoto, Fujinomiya City, the expansive grassland campground facing Mount Fuji requires advance online reservation—including one reservation per vehicle when entering by car—registering all campers, vehicles, and stay dates prior to arrival.

Sources: Yamanashi Tourism — Episode 3 Camp / Anime Official — Episode 3 / Fumotoppara — Reservation Rules

3Lake Shibire & Suimeiso: Grilled Meat and Hot Chai by the Mountain Lake

In Season 1, Episodes 6 and 7, Rin and Nadeshiko camp by Lake Shibire, where Nadeshiko's older sister Sakura sips hot chai at the Suimeiso lodge and the lakeside stone monument to the local Ushioni legend appears on screen.

After Sakura drops the two off by car, Rin tries out her newly purchased compact fire grill and receives help lighting the pressed charcoal from experienced neighboring campers before cooking grilled meat and cod hot pot.

Located at 3378 Yamaho, Ichikawamisato Town, Yamanashi Prefecture, the grounds from the parking lot to the lakeshore are private campground property, so visitors should check parking, camping, and sightseeing rules at Suimeiso upon arrival.

Sources: Episode 6 — Lake Shibire & Ushioni Monument / Episode 7 — Lakeside Camp / Anime Official — Episodes 6 & 7 / Ichikawamisato Town — Lake Shibire

4Fuefukigawa Fruit Park: The Hilltop Night View Seen by the Outdoor Club Trio

Modeled on Fuefukigawa Fruit Park in Yamanashi City, 'Fuefuki Park' appears in Season 1, Episode 5 as Outdoor Activities Club members Nadeshiko, Chiaki Ogaki, and Aoi Inuyama look out over the nighttime lights of the Kofu Basin while Rin views Lake Suwa from Takabotchi Highlands.

Located at 1488 Esohara, Yamanashi City, the park's outdoor hillside grounds and night views are open 24 hours a day, while indoor facilities such as the Fruit Center and Wanpaku Dome generally operate from 9:00 to 17:00 depending on the season.

Sources: Yamanashi Tourism — The Two Night Views of Episode 5 / Yamanashi Prefecture — Park Facilities / Outdoor & Indoor Opening Hours

5Hottarakashi Onsen: The Hilltop Hot Spring Visited on Their First Club Camp

Also in Season 1, Episode 5, the three Outdoor Activities Club members stop at 'Hottokeya Onsen'—modeled on Hottarakashi Onsen in Yamanashi City—on their way to their first club campsite, soaking in the hilltop open-air baths and eating fried soft-boiled eggs (ontama-age).

Located at 1669-18 Yatsubo, Yamanashi City, the hot spring opens 1 hour before sunrise until 22:00 (last entry 21:30; adult admission 900 yen); because 'Kotchi no Yu' announced a temporary equipment repair closure in September 2026, check the official bathhouse schedule before visiting.

Sources: Episode 5 — Hot Spring & Ontama-age / Hottarakashi Onsen — Hours & Maintenance Notice

6Minobu Station & Shonin-dori: Buying Steamed Minobu Manju Along the Shopping Street

In Season 1, Episode 8, the three Outdoor Activities Club members alight at Minobu Station and walk along the roughly 600-meter Japanese-style Shonin-dori shopping street outside the station to buy steamed Minobu manju buns.

Along the street stands Eishodo (3024 Kadochi, Minobu Town), the traditional confectionery shop where visitors can purchase freshly steamed Minobu manju during store hours.

Sources: Yamanashi Tourism — Episode 8 Station & Shopping Street / Minobu Station & Eishodo Location

7Utsubuna Station: The JR Minobu Line Station Nadeshiko Uses for School

Located in Nanbu Town, Yamanashi Prefecture, JR Utsubuna Station on the Minobu Line appears in the series as the local train station Nadeshiko uses for her daily school commute.

Visitors can view the station building from the public plaza in Utsubuna, Nanbu Town and use valid train tickets or platform passes when entering inside the fare gates.

Sources: Yamanashi Tourism — Nadeshiko's Commuting Station / Utsubuna Station Location

8Kai-Tokiwa Station: The Nearest Station to the School Inspiring Motosu High

Further up the JR Minobu Line in Tokiwa, Minobu Town stands Kai-Tokiwa Station, the station Nadeshiko and her friends use when commuting to Motosu High School.

While the station exterior can be viewed freely from the plaza, the nearby former Shimobe Elementary and Junior High School—the real-life model for Motosu High School—is closed inside except during designated public events.

Sources: Yamanashi Tourism — School Commute Station / Kai-Tokiwa Station & Former School Access Rules

9Nagisaen Campground & Nagisa Bridge: Rin’s Winter Solo Camp on Lake Hamana

In Season 2, Rin travels to Lake Hamana in Hamamatsu City for a winter solo camp at Nagisaen Campground, while nearby Nagisa Bridge appears on the Season 2 teaser visual.

Located at 5005-1 Bentenjima, Maisaka-cho, Chuo Ward, Hamamatsu City, Nagisaen Campground requires advance reservations (closed December 29–January 3), while Nagisa Bridge is a public bridge open for viewing.

Sources: Shizuoka Prefecture — Nagisaen & Nagisa Bridge in Season 2 / Nagisaen Campground Reservations

10Darumayama Highlands Campground: ‘Daruma Forest Campground’ from the Izu Arc

Appearing in Volume 9, Chapter 49 of the manga and the Season 2 Izu arc as 'Daruma Forest Campground,' Darumayama Highlands Campground and Rest House is located at 1021-19 Osawa, Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture.

Equipped with 12 auto-camp sites and 8 free-pitch sites, the municipal campground operates from the third Saturday of March through late November, with reservations accepted by phone through the Rest House.

Sources: Izu City — Manga Chapter & Facility Guide / Shizuoka Prefecture — Season 2 Locations / Izu City — Campground Reservations

11Dogashima & Sanshiro Island: The Low-Tide Tombolo Land Bridge on the West Izu Coast

During their Izu camping trip in Season 2, Nadeshiko and her friends visit Dogashima on the west coast of Izu, whose tombolo land bridge leading out to Sanshiro Island at low tide also graced the Season 2 main visual.

Located in Nishina, Nishiizu Town, the islands can always be viewed from the shore, whereas walking across the exposed cobblestone bar depends on tide levels and sea conditions (Nishiizu Town's 2026 tide tables note that daytime crossings rarely occur between October and February).

Sources: Shizuoka Prefecture — Izu Locations / Nishiizu Town — How the Tombolo Works & Tide Tables / 2026 Tide Schedule

12Ikawa Ohashi Bridge: The Suspension Bridge Over Lake Ikawa Reached by Rin and Ayano

In Season 3, Rin and Nadeshiko's childhood friend from Hamamatsu, Ayano Toki, ride their scooters along mountain roads to meet at Ikawa Ohashi Bridge—the suspension bridge over Lake Ikawa also featured on Rin's Season 3 character visual.

Located in Ikawa, Aoi Ward, Shizuoka City, the 258-meter-long, 2-meter-wide suspension bridge carries passenger cars as well as pedestrians; because mountain access roads are subject to weather and construction closures, check Shizuoka City road notices before setting out.

Sources: Shizuoka Prefecture — Ikawa Ohashi in Season 3 / Shizuoka City — Bridge Dimensions & Traffic Rules / Season 3 — Ayano Toki

13Sumatakyo Gorge — Yume no Tsuribashi: Crossing the High Suspension Bridge Together

On the second day of their Oigawa camping trip in Season 3, Nadeshiko, Rin, and Ayano head to Sumatakyo Gorge and cross Yume no Tsuribashi ('Dream Suspension Bridge'), where Nadeshiko nervously braves the height above the emerald-green water.

Reached by a 30-to-40-minute walk each way (including a 304-step staircase) from the Sumatakyo Onsen trailhead in Senzu, Kawanehon Town, the bridge is open from 7:00 to 17:00 during the autumn season from August 31 to December 6, 2026.

Sources: Shizuoka Prefecture — Oigawa Camping Scenes / Kawanehon Town — Autumn 2026 Crossing Hours

14Horai Bridge: The Long Wooden Bridge Visited on the Final Day of the Oigawa Trip

On the final day of the Oigawa trip, Nadeshiko, Rin, and Ayano visit Horai Bridge in Minami 2-chome, Shimada City, an 897.4-meter-long wooden pedestrian bridge spanning the Oigawa River.

Located about a 20-minute walk from JR Shimada Station with a 100-yen adult crossing toll, the bridge reopened on June 28, 2026 following a temporary typhoon closure earlier that month; check Shimada City notices during high winds or high water.

Sources: Shizuoka Prefecture — Final-Day Horai Bridge Visit / Shimada City — Horai Bridge Visitor Guide

Deeper into the Work: Friends and Camping in Laid-Back Camp

Here we look back at the five main characters' bond beginning at Lake Motosu, how they reunite as working adults in the 2022 theatrical film, and how the anime staff recreated real camping gear and meals on screen.

Five Friends Connected from a First Meeting at Lake Motosu

Based on the manga serialized by Afro, Laid-Back Camp follows high school girls in Yamanashi Prefecture as they choose campgrounds, pitch tents, and cook outdoor meals—beginning when solo camper Rin Shima meets Nadeshiko Kagamihara by Lake Motosu.

Nadeshiko joins the school's Outdoor Activities Club ('Nokuru') founded by Chiaki Ogaki and Aoi Inuyama, weaving together Rin's quiet solo rides and Nokuru's lively group camping trips across the seasons.

Sources: Season 1 Character Profiles / Yamanashi Prefecture — Episode 5 Locations & Scenes

Building a Campground Together as Working Adults in the 2022 Movie

Released in theaters on July 1, 2022, Laid-Back Camp: The Movie portrays the five friends as working adults: Nadeshiko works at an outdoor goods shop in Tokyo, Rin is a town-magazine editor in Nagoya, Ena works as a dog groomer in Yokohama, and Aoi teaches at an elementary school in Yamanashi.

After Chiaki takes a U-turn job with Yamanashi Prefecture's tourism promotion organization overseeing the redevelopment of a closed facility, a casual remark from Rin sparks the five friends to reunite and build a campground together—from mowing overgrown grass to holding operation planning meetings.

In Minobu Town, the real-life regional project 'Yuru Camp no Sato' echoed the film's theme of building a local campground, connecting the characters' adult project with community revitalization.

Sources: Movie Story Synopsis / The Five Characters as Adults / Movie Scenes & Release Date

Supervised by original creator Afro as an all-new story, Laid-Back Camp: The Movie was directed by Yoshiaki Kyogoku and written by Jin Tanaka and Mutsumi Ito, with character designer Mutsumi Sasaki adapting Afro's newly drawn adult character designs.

Production Continuity from the Television Series to the Theatrical Film

Characters and Music Carried Forward Across Seasons

Season 1 was directed by Yoshiaki Kyogoku with series composition by Jin Tanaka, character design by Mutsumi Sasaki, music by Akiyuki Tateyama, and animation production by C-Station, starring Yumiri Hanamori (Nadeshiko), Nao Toyama (Rin), Sayuri Hara (Chiaki), Aki Toyosaki (Aoi), and Rie Takahashi (Ena).

Beginning with Season 3 in 2024, Shin Tosaka took over as director with Pierre Sugiura handling series composition; both return alongside composer Akiyuki Tateyama for the 2027 Season 4, with character design by Ryuta Ura and animation production by FuRyu Pictures.

Sources: Season 1 Staff & Cast / Season 4 Broadcast Schedule & Production Team

Pitching Real Tents and Cooking Camp Meals to Draw Every Detail

To animate Rin pitching her tent in Episode 1, the responsible key animator assembled the real tent model in a park near studio C-Station to observe every motion, while Director Yoshiaki Kyogoku purchased a full set of Rin's camping gear and cooked the same camp dishes on location.

The animator responsible for drawing the cup curry noodles ate multiple cups to study the texture, and the production staff made repeated location scouts to carry the crisp winter air and crackle of campfires into the background art, key animation, coloring, and photography.

Source: Director Yoshiaki Kyogoku — Hands-On Gear & Location Research

Conveying Quiet Conversations Through Distant Tent Shots and Voice Acting

At the close of Episode 3 at Fumotoppara, Director Kyogoku deliberately framed the conversation as a wide distant shot of the glowing tent rather than cutting to character faces, relying on Nao Toyama's vocal performance as Rin to carry the warmth of their exchange.

Episode 7 at Lake Shibire mirrors that staging with the two characters' roles reversed, letting small voices carry across wide lakeside and mountain landscapes.

Source: Director Yoshiaki Kyogoku — Wide Landscape Staging in Episodes 3 & 7

Composing Distinct Theme Music for Each Individual Campground

Composer Akiyuki Tateyama was commissioned to write a distinct musical theme for each individual campground, translating the openness and atmosphere of each site into instrumentation and melody.

Meanwhile, sound director Takeshi Takadera prioritized natural conversational delivery during casting so that each character's voice remains distinct and believable even in quiet, unhurried camp scenes.

Sources: Akiyuki Tateyama & Jun Murakami on Music Production / Sound Director Takeshi Takadera on Casting

From High School Camping Trips to the Movie and Season 4

Sources: Manga Serialization Launch / Season 1 Premiere / Yamanashi Exhibitions & Stamp Rally / Heya Camp Broadcast Info / Season 2 Broadcast Info / Season 3 Broadcast Info

The 2018 School Festival Held at the Real-Life Model for Motosu High School

On November 3, 2018, the schoolyard of the former Shimobe Junior High School in Minobu Town hosted the '1st Motosu High School Festival,' featuring the 'Secret Society BLANKET Music Festival' with composer Akiyuki Tateyama's acoustic band and theme-song singers Asaka and Eri Sasaki.

While that one-day outdoor concert at the model school has concluded, interior access to the former school buildings today follows individual event announcements.

Source: Yamanashi Prefecture — 2018 School Festival Record

Previewing the Upcoming 2027 Season 4 in the Official Teaser

Season 4 of the television anime series was officially announced with a teaser video on March 1, 2026 and is scheduled to air in 2027.

Sources: Movie Story & Production / Movie Teaser / Season 4 Announcement

Afro’s Original Manga Laid-Back Camp Volume 1

Published by Houbunsha under the Manga Time KR Comics imprint, Volume 1 of Afro's original Laid-Back Camp manga begins with Nadeshiko and Rin's meeting by Lake Motosu.

Sources: Houbunsha — Print Volume 1 Bibliography / Opening Chapters

Lab Note | From a Business Perspective: Camp Meals on Screen and Reservation-Based Sites

Visiting campgrounds like Koan and Fumotoppara turns anime sightseeing into actual overnight stays, making clear advance-reservation and private-lakeshore rules essential for welcoming first-time campers smoothly.

At the same time, local specialties depicted in the series—such as steamed Minobu manju and Hottarakashi Onsen's fried soft-boiled eggs—give day-trippers without camping gear an immediate way to taste the world of the story.

Official Sources & Primary References

• TV Anime Season 1 Official Site
• Official Film Website & Guide
• Yamanashi Prefecture Location Map
• Shizuoka Prefecture Location Map
• Season 4 Announcement
• Director Yoshiaki Kyogoku Production Interview
• Akiyuki Tateyama Music Interview

Exhibition dates, opening hours, admission fees, and ticket details are current at the time of writing. Always check the official websites for the latest schedule updates before setting out on your pilgrimage visit.