About Bothie Campers

We’re Kate and Adrian — an artist-strategist and a carpenter who fell in love with the quiet beauty of the Hida Mountains. Drawn by the region’s creative energy and slower pace, we moved here on an entrepreneurial visa to build something new — rooted in place, shaped by curiosity, and open to all who want to explore Japan differently.

We collaborate with an incredible network of independent local artists, makers, cooks, farmers, ryokan hosts, campsite managers, and tour guides. Everything we offer is grounded in local knowledge and shaped by the people who live and work here. Their insights, skills, and hospitality are what make our journeys truly special.

Our work through Bothie Campers also supports Bothie Projects Inc. — a community initiative based in Hida focused on restoring abandoned buildings and supporting local renewal. One of the projects we’re proud to help fund is Cool in Japan, which offers refuge for Australians & New Zealanders with heat-sensitive MS during the harsh summer months by creating accessible stays in the Japanese mountains.

Meet the
Bothie Social Club.

Alongside our travel work, we also started the Bothie Social Club — a space for creative connection, hands-on making, and community building. It’s where locals and visitors come together to share skills, support camping-based projects, make gear, and host social events and creative workshops.

Many events are open to all, and everyone is welcome to join a hike, help build something, or just hang out around the fire. We also head out together — camping, hiking, and exploring the forests and mountains of Hida as a way to connect with the landscape and with each other.

Club membership is by invitation and guided by a shared commitment: to take time, to listen and learn, and to respect the people and place we’re part of.

Together, Bothie Campers, Bothie Projects Inc., and the Bothie Social Club form a growing community of people connected by care for land, culture, and creativity. Whether it’s exploring mountain roads, reimagining abandoned buildings, or learning new skills around a campfire, it all comes back to the same idea: slow down, make something, and stay connected.