New Plan: Student-Only Glamping at Washinmura, Chiba – A Healing Experience with Cats and Bonfires to Take a Break from 'Trying Hard'

Thank you for your continued patronage of Glamping Washinmura in Futtsu, Chiba.

Starting in February 2026, Washinmura will launch a special plan exclusively for students.

We created this plan with the desire to give overworked students the 'courage to stop.'

Why Students Need the 'Courage to Stop' Now

Modern Students' 'Must Try Hard' Syndrome
According to a 2026 survey by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, about 68% of university students reported feeling 'constantly chased by something.'

- Days chased by assignment deadlines
- Sleepless nights due to job hunting anxiety
- Frustration from comparisons on social media
- Exhaustion from balancing part-time jobs and club activities

They feel that 'stopping equals losing.' But is that really true?

'Escaping' is an Important Choice to Protect Yourself
In psychology, moderate 'retreat' is considered essential for maintaining mental health.

The 'legal escape' proposed by Washinmura is an environment where you can rest without guilt. Located in the satoyama (woodlands) of Futtsu, Chiba, just an hour's drive from central Tokyo, we are waiting for you.

Washinmura Student-Only Plan | Basic Information

Starting February 2026!
Plan Name: [Student Only] Taking a break from 'trying hard', a legal escape. A journey back to just being yourself with cats and bonfires.
Start Date: Saturday, February 1, 2026
Reservation Start: Monday, January 27, 2026, 10:00 AM

Target Audience
- University students
- Graduate students
- Vocational school students
- Students aged 18 and over (High school students must be accompanied by a guardian)

Why Did We Create This Plan?
Many students have visited Washinmura over the years. Every time we listened to their stories, we felt that 'a place where they can rest more easily is needed.'

- Exhausted from job hunting
- Cornered by exam studying
- Tired of comparisons on social media
- Just wanting to rest slowly

We wanted to provide a 'place to stop' for such students. That is why we created this plan.

Plan Details (1 Night with 2 Meals)

Accommodation
Small-scale glamping with a total of 6 rooms
- Choice of accommodation type: Traditional house, Tent, Jyubako (Designed by Kengo Kuma)
- All rooms equipped with air conditioning
- Private outdoor space
- Private toilet and shower room

Meals
Dinner: Luxurious BBQ with selected ingredients
- Beef steak (Misuji or Sirloin)
- Thick-sliced beef tongue
- American pork steak
- Spare ribs, sausages
- Hokkaido red shrimp, large scallops
- Baked apples, seasonal vegetables

Breakfast: Self-made sandwiches
- Made with a camping direct-fire sandwich maker
- Your own original sandwich

Special Bonus
'Satoyama Etiquette Book' Present
A secret guidebook for enjoying boredom
- Etiquette to become friends with cats
- How to enjoy a bonfire
- A list of small discoveries in the satoyama

The Scientific Basis for How a 'Legal Escape' Heals the Mind

Effects of Digital Detox
- Stress levels drop by 37% by staying away from smartphones for 24 hours
- Sleep quality improves by 42%
- Concentration recovers by 28%

At Washinmura, Wi-Fi is available, but airplane mode is recommended. Leave behind 'deadlines' and 'other people's gazes' and go at your own pace.

Experience Report: When Washinmura staff actually conducted a 3-day digital detox, the average number of daily social media checks decreased from 47 to 3. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) measurements showed an average 32% increase in parasympathetic nerve activity.

The Science of Nature Therapy
Research by Chiba University Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences (CFHS)
- Cortisol (stress hormone) decreases by 12.4% during forest bathing
- Parasympathetic nerve activity increases by 55%
- Alpha waves increase with natural sounds (the sound of a bonfire)

2026 Latest Research: A study by the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health revealed the impact of nature experiences at least once a week on academic performance. Students spending time in natural environments saw an average 15% improvement in test scores and a 42% reduction in stress-related absent days.

Effects of Animal Therapy
- Oxytocin (happiness hormone) is secreted by interacting with cats
- Blood pressure drops by an average of 8mmHg
- Anxiety is reduced by 30%

Cats, dogs, goats, and Silkie chickens live at Washinmura. Their way of life, which is 'unrelated to deadlines or other people's gazes', teaches us something.

Cats, Bonfires, Primitive Experiences | 3 Healing Effects

1. 'Free Way of Life' Taught by Cats
A village where people, animals, and nature coexist
The cats at Washinmura are not 'mascot cats'. They are residents of the village. We humans are the ones intruding.
- Just being there
- Approaching when they feel like it
- 'Likes' and 'evaluations' don't matter
Watching them naturally relaxes your mind.
*If you have a cat allergy, please confirm for yourself. You can also enjoy interacting with dogs, goats, and chickens.

2. The '1/f Noise' Effect of Bonfires
The flames of a bonfire have a natural rhythm called '1/f noise'.
- The same rhythm as the human heartbeat
- Brainwaves become alpha waves (relaxed state)
- A meditation effect just by staring blankly
Staring blankly in front of a bonfire. This is the most important way to spend time at Washinmura.

3. The Fulfillment of Primitive and Simple 'Tasks'
The joy of moving your hands, which cannot be obtained from digital work
- Chopping wood - the feel of swinging an axe down, the sound of wood splitting
- Cutting vegetables