Hoshi no Mori Auto Campground in Uruki Village, Nagano Prefecture, managed by the nonprofit Nature Service, is running a summer-only program called "Mori Office" from Saturday, August 22 through Wednesday, September 30, 2026. The program opens the campground, set on a 1,200-meter-high plateau, not only to campers but also to people who want a place to work — whether that's planning, writing, putting together materials, or reading. Guests can use it at their own pace, away from the summer heat of the city, for anything from a few days to a longer stay.
Rising Demand for Cool Retreats
Every summer, the Japanese term for "cool retreat" (避暑地) sees a spike in searches. Search volume is concentrated in July, and according to Google Ads Keyword Planner, it grew from about 49,500 searches in 2022 to 135,000 in 2025 — roughly 2.7 times over three years.
People searching for a cool retreat may not be looking for a way to get through a single hot day, but for somewhere to move to and stay for a while. As summers grow more severe each year, some people end up spending the season indoors, unable to go outside in the heat. At the same time as the desire to escape the heat grows, the spread of remote work has made it easier for more people to choose where they spend their summer. The rise in searches may reflect both trends overlapping.
Hoshi no Mori Auto Campground has no air conditioning, including in its cottages, because none is needed. Set on a 1,200-meter-high plateau, it's about a 2 hour 40 minute drive from central Nagoya, and even in summer, mornings and evenings are cool enough to want a jacket. Visitors arriving in summer often say, "Wow, it's cool here!" as their first reaction.
The campground wanted more people to make use of this environment — not only for camping, but also for remote work and other kinds of work.
For Campers and Non-Campers Alike
Mori Office welcomes stays that aren't centered on camping at all.
You don't need to pitch a tent. No outdoor experience or gear is required to take part. The campground also has cottages, coin showers, and a coin laundry, so it can accommodate stays ranging from a few days to a longer period.
This program may suit you if:
- You want to get away from the city heat for a while
- You want to change your surroundings to focus on work or a creative project
- You want to hold a team retreat but feel that simply renting a meeting room lacks something
- You aren't especially into camping but want to try spending time in nature
- You want dedicated time to study for a qualification or do focused reading
During the program, suggested ways to spend your stay are presented in the form of missions, and there's a participation gift for guests who complete them.
Of course, you can still pitch a tent and stay as usual. Guests who already have a reservation are also eligible, as long as it's for three nights or more.
Choosing the Work You Bring
Is there work you keep putting off in the city? Developing a plan, structuring materials, writing something long, reading a book — the tasks that need a stretch of uninterrupted time tend to get pushed aside by day-to-day work. Mori Office is a place to bring that kind of work.
You can choose where to work. For tasks that need internet access, the management building or the meeting room, available from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, are recommended. For writing, reading, or thinking things through on your own, a cottage or a tent site works just as well.
If you get stuck, you can step out into the forest. There are three walking trails on the grounds, each with its own character — some run through the woods, others follow a stream.
Each trail takes about 40 to 50 minutes, or more than two hours combined. Benches and rest pavilions are dotted along the way.
The trails work just as well for thinking things through alone as for walking and talking with someone else.
Walking side by side in the same direction tends to make conversation flow more easily than sitting face to face across a desk, and silences feel less awkward. It's a good setting for brainstorming or for discussions without a clear answer yet.
Once the sun sets, the sky opens up at 1,200 meters. Under the right conditions, the Milky Way can even be visible.
The next morning, you can walk the dew-covered trail and reflect on the day before — the kind of time only possible when you're not heading home the same day.
At Mori Office, the workspace isn't limited to indoors. Time spent thinking while walking, or resting for a moment at a rest pavilion, counts as part of the work too.
Program Overview and Participation Gift
- Program: Summer-only program "Mori Office"
- Period: August 22 (Saturday) – September 30 (Wednesday), 2026
- How to Join: Reserve as usual through the reservation site, noting "Mori Office / Mori Worker participation" in the remarks field
- Eligibility: Guests staying three nights or more during the program period
- If You Already Have a Reservation: Contact office@natureservice.jp
- Mission: A mission card is handed out at check-in. Complete the listed items during your stay to collect stamps
- Participation Gift: Guests who complete the mission receive a local specialty gift (one gift per reservation); contents vary by site type
- Meeting Room: Morning (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM) ¥500 / Afternoon (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM) ¥800 / Full day ¥1,300. Can be selected as an option when booking your stay; same-day use is also possible if space is available
- Discount: A 10% consecutive-night discount applies. Cannot be combined with the sticker discount or the disability discount
For gift values, mission details, and frequently asked questions, see the program page.
Things to Know Before Your Stay
- Wi-Fi can be weak depending on where you're staying. Use the management building or the meeting room (paid, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM) if you need a stronger connection
- Cottages do not include bedding rental; rental providers are listed in the FAQ
- Uruki Village is a small village, so it's recommended to prepare groceries and other supplies in advance
- Guests are generally asked to take their trash home with them (a collection service is available for stays of four consecutive nights or more)
- Wear comfortable walking shoes on the trails
- Mornings and evenings are cool even in summer, so bring a jacket
- Open fires are prohibited; a fire pit stand and fireproof sheet are required for campfires
- Quiet hours begin at 10:00 PM
Facility Information
- Name: Hoshi no Mori Auto Campground
- Address: 2653-3 Uruki, Shimoina District, Nagano Prefecture
- Elevation: approximately 1,200 meters
- Access: about 2 hours 40 minutes by car from central Nagoya, about 1 hour 40 minutes from central Toyota
- Program Details: star.natureservice.jp/information/6260
