Enjoy even in the rain or winter!A quiet moment for a couple spending time in a forest surrounded by coniferous trees [THE FOREST]

As a married couple, we relieve the stress of busy weekdays by relaxing on the weekends.We talked about how we would like to take a trip to coincide with my husband's birthday.However, it is difficult to travel far due to concerns about infectious diseases and the burden of commuting.I was looking for a place near Tokyo that met my selfish requirements, where just the two of us could spend an extraordinary time together, and we found it!
A glamping facility called "THE FOREST" has just opened in Tsuru City, Yamanashi Prefecture. When I look at the pictures on the website of facilities surrounded by mountains and forests, and the different interiors of each dome tent, my expectations grow.
Fueled by my interest in glamping, which allows you to spend a comfortable time in nature, I decided to spend my husband's birthday at THE FOREST.

On the day of the trip, I took the limited express Kaiji from Shinjuku Station.It took 59 minutes to reach the nearest station, Otsuki Station, by express train.While we were talking, I heard the announcement of the arrival, and was surprised to hear, "Are you already there?"

When I exited the ticket gate at Otsuki Station, I was greeted by a smiling female staff member. We will head to the site in a courtesy car with the name THE FOREST on it.I applied in advance, so it went very smoothly.It is easily accessible even without a car.

On the way to the facility, a staff member showed us a spot with a spectacular view of Mt. Fuji, saying, ``If it's a clear day, you can see Mt. Fuji right in front of you from here!''However, on this day, the sky was unfortunately cloudy.Unfortunately, I wasn't able to see Mt. Fuji, but I heard that if the weather is nice, they will take the time to take pictures of the spectacular view of Mt. Fuji.

It takes 20 minutes by shuttle bus from Otsuki Station, and a total of 80 minutes from the city center, so we finally arrived at THE FOREST without getting tired.I feel a growing sense of excitement.
The facility is located in a coniferous forest full of negative ions and is surrounded by mountains, mountains, mountains as far as the eye can see.I feel humble and calm knowing that I am being disturbed by nature.First, I checked in at the administration building at the far end of the premises.

The administration building has everything you need during your stay, and you can take only what you need to your room.What surprised me was the abundance of amenities.Not only shampoo, conditioner, and body soap, but also toothbrushes, hairbrushes, skin care kits, and even nightwear!
Outdoor trips tend to involve a lot of luggage, but this facility had the same amount of items as a hotel, so we only had to bring the bare minimum of luggage.
At check-in, I was given a free bathing ticket to "Bashogetsu-machi-no-yu", which is a 2-minute walk from the administration building.There seems to be an open-air bath with warm spring water.
The staff greets customers with enthusiasm and smiles, which makes me feel energized.

After checking in, we headed to the dome tent where we would be staying.There are only seven dome tents scattered across the spacious grounds.It's divided into sections, so you can relax and not worry about other customers.

The Tozawa River flows right below the facility, and the sound of the river's murmur is soothing to the ears.According to the staff, the Tozawa River is a clear stream where char can live, locals enjoy mountain stream fishing, and children enjoy playing in the river in the summer.I'm also curious about the atmosphere of the Tozawa River in summer, flowing against the background of deep greenery.

When you enter the dome tent where you will be staying, you will notice that the ceiling is higher than it appears from the outside, and it is much larger than you expected.There are two beds, so it looks good not only for couples like us, but also for two girls traveling together.My husband seemed to like the simple but warm interior. All of the seven dome tents have different interiors, so it's fun to see which tent you'll get.

It was December so it was cold outside, but inside the tent was air conditioned and comfortable.Drip coffee and tea are also available, and there is also a water server with Mt. Fuji water, so you can drink tea whenever you like without having to boil water.

Part of the dome tent is a skeleton, and you can see the surrounding mountains from there.We visited around the time when the leaves were falling and the season was changing from autumn to winter.We could see trees turning red in some places, and enjoyed the last of the autumn leaves.
Being able to enjoy the natural scenery while staying inside a warm dome tent is the ultimate luxury.When I told my husband who was sitting next to me that it seemed like we could enjoy different scenery in each season, he couldn't help but laugh as he was already thinking about the next season.

Each tent also had a hammock and a fire pit on the deck.I thought it might be nice to read in a hammock and enjoy a bonfire, but rain was forecast for the night. I joked, ``Let's save the fun for next time,'' but I thought to myself, ``This time, I can come again for my birthday, which was born in the summer.'' This time, I decided to relax in a tent. did.

Next to the dome tent was a simple tent that could be used as a dedicated BBQ space.If it's only a light rain, you can have a glamping BBQ inside a tent, or if it's too rainy and windy, you can have a glamping BBQ on the deck of the administration building.
I was a little hesitant, but decided to prepare for the BBQ in the dedicated space, hoping that the rain wouldn't get too bad.

There is a drink corner in the administration building that can be used free of charge during your stay. Alcohol is also available for free from 16:12pm. The sun sets early in December, so I ordered my meal at 17pm and prepared for the BBQ with a free beer in hand.

Just before 17pm, when the food was delivered, it started to rain.If the weather was nice, we could have a BBQ completely outdoors, but unfortunately it was raining and cold, so we decided to eat while staying warm in a simple tent.There was a stove installed, so we could enjoy BBQ without feeling cold.

At the BBQ, we enjoyed a wide variety of menus made with plenty of local ingredients.From beef and pork grown freely in the nature of Yamanashi, such as Koshu wine beef and spring water pork, to seafood such as salt-grilled baby yamame trout (child) raised in the spring water of Fuji, and smoked scallops, With local fresh vegetable sticks, your eyes and mouth will never get bored.
"Mushroom Milk Hotou" is an original menu that is an arrangement of Yamanashi's local cuisine, and the texture of the mushrooms, the sweetness of the pumpkin, and the mellowness of the milk go perfectly together!I didn't want to leave any of the soup with the flavor of the mushrooms, so I ended up drinking it all, even though I was full.
Dessert was a baked apple served in a cute skillet, and it was a very satisfying dinner that warmed both my stomach and heart.

At night, the trees were lit up and you could enjoy the Christmas atmosphere early.
Thanks to the clear air and moist rain, the light seems to be shining brighter.We were able to enjoy a leisurely meal, conversation, and beautiful illumination in an atmosphere that felt like it was protected by nature.

During your stay, you can use the shower room in the administration building.Each shower room is dedicated to each tent, so there doesn't seem to be any crowding, which is common at campgrounds where other guests are using it and it's hard to get your turn.There is also a wash basin and hair dryer, so you can relax and do your makeup and hair in the morning without worrying about time.

We did not use the shower room, but after our meal, we used the free bath ticket we received at check-in to enjoy the hot springs at the nearby bathing facility, Bashogetsu Machi-no-Yu.
There are two types of open-air baths: rock baths and stone baths, and the water temperature of the hot spring bath is 2 degrees.Perhaps thanks to the alkaline quality of the spring water, my skin felt smooth and smooth after the bath.Thanks to the lukewarm temperature, I was able to soak in the bath for a long time, and I felt my body relax, wondering how long it had been since I felt so relaxed.

Breakfast is delivered to the administration building at 8am.I couldn't help but get excited when I was given a breakfast set in a cute box!Just like dinner, we cooked and ate it on the BBQ stove in a simple tent.
Raw eggs are provided and you can make your favorite egg dishes in the skillet.When I tried making fried eggs, my husband was happy with how soft-boiled he liked them.Pot-au-feu is as easy as just heating the whole pot.I thought it would be nice to have a menu that warms you up in the morning.Heat up some bacon and hash potatoes on the grill for a piping hot breakfast!Eating breakfast in the fresh air makes it even more delicious than your usual breakfast.

The administration building also has a spacious workspace that can be used as a coworking space, and Wi-Fi is also available on the premises.It can also be used as a workday, and you can use the workspace freely even after checking out if you wish.I thought it would be a good idea to bring some work with me and have a workday.

After checking out, we headed to Otsuki Station by shuttle car.During the ride, I thanked the staff for their help, and they said, ``I wanted to show you around the starry sky and the scenic spots of Mt. Fuji!'' They seemed apologetic about the poor weather and were attentive to the end. I did.Although I replied that I was able to relax and have a lot of fun even in the rain, I vowed to myself, ``Next time, I want to take revenge when the weather is nice!'' (lol) It was a one-night, two-day excursion, but it was a wonderful time that freed my body and mind.When will I come next time?