Workation Resort the Forest

The staff were kind, the place was comfortable, and I’d happily recommend it to friends. It was my first glamping trip and I had a great time, especially the tapioca drinks the tapioca-loving staff made. Getting there without a car was tricky because buses are limited. I’d planned to take one back, but the front desk was closed during bus hours, so I had to pay for a taxi. I’d come back if I had a car.

The free hot spring tickets were a nice perk, and the baths were about a five-minute walk away. Nearby, there’s a playground and an open area for badminton and frisbee, so I ended up playing all day. There’s also a small river behind the plaza that I think would be even more fun in summer. Everything was clean, and the staff were friendly and helpful. My only disappointment was that the free drinks area closed at 9 p.m. I wish it stayed open around the clock.

The children had toys and board games to keep them busy in the dome even after lights out. We spotted fireflies at night, and parking right beside the dome was handy. I also liked that the place was open 24 hours and each room had its own private shower, with the shower key included with the dome key from the front desk. There was a hairdryer in the shower room too. The toilets and showers are in the management building, which, along with the rooms and BBQ area, was spotless. We were two friends, two adults, a primary schooler, a two-year-old and a baby, and the preschoolers stayed free. We chose the 6000 yen meal plan with all-you-can-drink, then overdid it at the nearby supermarket because we thought there wouldn’t be enough food. The meat portions were huge and delicious, and we bought way too much. Next time, no extra meat. The draft beer was great too. The private shower setup gave us good privacy. The bonfire closed at 10 PM and I wished we’d had more time there. We also rushed to the hot springs because they closed at 9 PM. In hindsight, I could have showered after lights out at 10 PM and headed straight there. The baby bath for children who aren’t potty-trained was a lifesaver. We only had from 3 PM check-in onward, which didn’t feel like enough time, so next time I’d arrive earlier and enjoy the park and river first. The staff were kind and helpful. The kids felt safe, and not having to set up or clean up like camping was the best part. It was my first glamping trip, and I definitely want to go again.

I stayed for glamping in late June, and I won’t be back. The management building’s restrooms were very clean, and having private showers and washrooms was convenient and reassuring. But families with small children should ask when booking if they can get a cottage without the steep slope in front of the deck. There’s no fence, and my two-year-old runs around, so I had to watch him constantly. Meat can’t be grilled in the outdoor dining area, so we used the BBQ house beside the cottage. It was unbearably hot inside. It was a cloudy 30°C day, and turning on the grill made it even hotter. Opening doors and windows did nothing. It felt like a sauna, and eating in there during summer just wasn’t possible. There are kerosene and wood-burning stoves, so maybe it would be nice in winter. The deck boards at the end of the dining area are different lengths by design, leaving gaps. A leg of our four-legged chair got caught in one, and with no railing, my wife fell down the slope behind it. She hit her arm but luckily wasn’t seriously hurt. I shudder to think what might have happened to my grandparents with us. Then, as soon as we sat on the provided dining chair, its seat fabric came off and we hit the ground hard. The chair was clearly worn out, and leaving unsafe furniture in place was unacceptable. It still hurts to walk, and I regret not making a stronger complaint to the staff.