When you want to enjoy the great outdoors but aren’t ready for fumbling with poles after dark or shivering in the rain, glamping is your best bet! Glamping is a form of luxurious camping (the name comes from a combination of ‘glamorous’ and ‘camping’ ) where your tent or pod is already set up for you but still gives you a taste of nature. Check out our favourite glamping destinations across Japan that are perfect for outdoor enthusiasts on a budget, families, and luxury seekers.

Head south of Osaka to find the Kii Peninsula, Japan's spiritual corner covered by primeval forests and generously gifted with natural gems. We asked Alena Eckelmann from Kii Monogatari to take us on a journey through her local prefecture - Mie, and she went above and beyond to introduce us to her favourites. Read on to find out more about waterfall stays and a secluded onsen with an underground trolley train.

Jim and Fiona Banks are a British couple living with their two teenage daughters in the heart of Kyoto where they run private guesthouses, 'Kyoto Holiday Homes'. We talked about their favourite hidden gems around Kyoto and Japan's largest lake, Lake Biwa.

Dorothee Eshin Takatsu, originally from Germany, is an ordained Zen Priest in the Rinzai Tradition. In 2004 she established her Zen Retreat Center, Horakuan, in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture where she now offers Zen retreats with a creative touch to Japanese and foreign visitors. We talked about how she became a monk in Japan and what kind of experiences await visitors to Horakuan.

The Kii Peninsula south of Osaka and Nagoya is a treasure trove of sacred places waiting to be discovered in its three prefectures – Wakayama, Nara and Mie. We talked to Alena Eckelmann of Kii Monogatari about the still unknown area of southern Mie and asked for her top trip recommendations. Alena has been living in Hongu, a small town in the southern part of the Kii Peninsula for over ten years now which makes her a seasoned local.