A Camping Guide for Beginners

Japan's camping boom was sparked by the Corona pandemic. Even people who had never been interested in camping before began to show interest in the activity. In this article, an advanced camper carefully demonstrates how to set up a tent for beginner-level campers.

Video Introduction

This video, titled "Setting Up a Tent for Beginners (Stellaridge) [Sora no Shita]" (初心者のためのテント設営（ステラリッジ）【そらのした】), was uploaded by "Outdoor Gear Rental Sora no Shita" (アウトドアギアレンタルそらのした).

Tools Needed to Set Up a Tent

Source :YouTube screenshot

If you're new to camping or other outdoor activities, let's first review what you'll need to set up your tent.
[Video] 0:08 - What you need to set up a tent

Below is a list of tools needed to set up a tent.
・Tent
・Tent poles
・Stakes
・Four guy lines
・Flysheet
・Guy line tensioners
・Groundsheet

It's important to make sure you have these items before assembling your tent, let alone leaving for camping so you don't get stuck with a half-assembled tent when camping.

Assembling the Body of the Tent

Source :YouTube screenshot

Now, let's look take a look at the steps to set up a tent. 1. stand upwind from the tent and unfold the body of the tent. The trick is to keep the door of the tent as far downwind as possible.
[Video] 0:12 - Unfolding the body of the tent.

2. Fasten the poles together. The poles are connected together with bungee cords, so they are easily connected.
[Video] 0:45 - Connect the tent poles

3. Thread the poles through the sleeves attached to the tent diagonals so that the two poles are crossed.

4. Connect the poles to the rings.
Connect the ends of the poles to the rings at the four corners of the tent. Connect the two adjacent poles first.
[Video] 2:45 - Connecting the poles to the rings at the tent's corners.
[Video] 2:53 - A close-up view on how to connect the poles to the corner rings.

From the third pole, the poles will start to bow when connecting them.
Connect the poles to the rings while keeping the poles in contact with the ground. This keeps the tent from standing makes it stable when setting it up.
[Video] 3:15 - Connecting from the third pole

6. When the fourth pole is connected the poles will bow and the tent will stand up at this point.
You've now finished setting up the body of the tent.

Once the tent is standing, it can be easily moved, so at this stage, it may be moved to a place where you'll actually be sleeping in it. When deciding on a place to set your tent up, consider whether the ground is level and free of unevenness, as well as distance from facilities, such as restrooms, shade from trees, and vantage points.

How to Anchor a Tent

Source :YouTube screenshot

Once you've decided where you want to position your tent, it's time to secure it in place.
1. hammer the stakes into the ground. If the ground is hard, use rocks or other objects to hold the tent in place instead of trying to force the stakes into the ground which can cause them to bend or break.
[Video] 4:13 - Hammering the stakes

2. Next we'll secure the tent with ropes. Take out the four guy lines and secure the tent. There are loops located about halfway up the tent sleeves, to which the guy lines will be tied. The key is to use a bowline knot, as reef knots can be difficult to untie.

If you don't know how to tie a bowline know, be sure to watch the video to learn how. Make a loop in the middle of the guy line and pass the end of the guy line through the loop. Then, pass the end of the guy line through the loop again, and pull it through to complete the knot.
[Video] 5:40 - How to Tie a Rope Knot (Bowline Knot)

How to Set Up a Fly Sheet

Source :YouTube screenshot

1. Check the position of the zipper and apply the flysheet with the zipper facing the entrance of the tent.
[Video] 8:12 - Hanging the flysheet over the body of the tent

2. Pass the guy lines attached to the body of the tent through the slits in the flysheet. The video shows how to thread the guy lines through the slits in the flysheet, so beginner campers should be sure to watch this part.
[Video] 9:03 - Threading the guy lines through the flysheet slits

3. Connect the four corners of the flysheet to the four corners of the body of the tent as shown in the video. Pass the poles through the rings attached to the four corners of the flysheet.
[Video] 10:35 - Connecting the body of the tent to the flysheet

4. Secure the entrance of the tent with stakes. After that, the tent sides are also tensioned with stakes to create space and improve airflow in the tent.

5. Secure the guy lines with stakes or rocks to finish setting up the tent. In this case, the use of guy line tensioners makes it easier to create tension.

Things a Beginner Outdoorsman Should Know

Photo：Camping equipment

Next, we'll go over some things that a beginner outdoorsman who will be camping for the first time should know. First of all, it's essential to prepare tools for camping, practice setting up a tent, and research the location where you'll be camping.

Although this sounds obvious, beginners to camping should start by getting their tent and other equipment all ready to go. Research how much you need to spend to get started camping.

After you have a complete set of equipment, what you don't want to do is spend so much time setting up your tent when you arrive that you have no time to enjoy the camping trip itself. After purchasing a tent, we recommend that you watch videos and practice setting up your tent.

Camping is a great way to enjoy nature and it's not like staying in the city; there are dangers to be aware of. Care should be taken to avoid dangerous areas, such as cliff bottoms. In general, you should enjoy outdoor activities, such as camping, in a safe place. Depending on the weather, rivers may rise and other environmental disasters can occur. This is not limited to beginners in outdoor activities. You should gather necessary information on the weather and surrounding conditions to the best of your ability in advance.

Summary

If you're a beginner outdoorsman who is just starting to camp, be sure to refer to the video and learn the steps for setting up a tent. Whether or not you can enjoy camping will depend on whether or not you can set up your tent without hassle.

In Japan, there are many attractive campgrounds where you can enjoy nature and explore the outdoors. There are many outdoor activities and camping experiences in Japan that you won't find in other parts of the world. We hope you have a great time camping in Japan!