"Mori, Michi, Ichiba" (Forest, Road, Market) is an incredible space where various shops line the streets, and you can enjoy browsing and buying food, sundries, and art while listening to live music from your favorite artists.
Wouldn't it be even better if you could set up a tent and chairs in that space, chilling with your friends while you soak it all in?
Your fantasy of riding a bicycle to this year's Mori, Michi, Ichiba, loaded up with camping gear, is still well within the realm of possibility!
I recommend camping at Mori, Michi because the barrier to entry is lower than suddenly heading off to a campsite in the mountains. There are tons of stalls selling delicious food, the restrooms and showers are well-equipped, the lawns are flat and clean, and there are people around to help if you run into any trouble. It's the perfect way for camping beginners to get a feel for things or to warm up for the summer season.
With that in mind, I’d like to share some packing tips and camping know-how for Mori, Michi, based on my own experience as a guy who loves both camping and cycling.
You can enjoy it with the bare essentials—but don't forget your warm gear!!
When prepping for a camping trip, you often end up with a mountain of gear. Along with the main items like your tent and sleeping bag, you start thinking, "I might need this," or "I’ll be in trouble without that," and suddenly you've got cooksets, cutlery, tables, lanterns, and more.
At Mori, Michi, Ichiba, you can cook for yourself like you would at a normal campsite, but it’s a shame to pass up all the delicious food being made by shops gathered from all over the country.
You might want to be bold and leave the cooking gear at home!
On the other hand, there are things you absolutely must not forget.
That is "warm clothing."
Last year, I underestimated it, thinking, "It's the end of May, it'll be warm, I won't need a sleeping bag." But being near the sea, I woke up around 4:00 AM because it was freezing. (I managed to get by by using a blanket I had for my booth. Haha!)
Based on that experience, here is my checklist for a Mori, Michi camping trip:
- Tent
- Sleeping bag (warm gear)
- Sleeping mat
- Lighting
- Chair
- Change of clothes
- Toiletries
- Skincare products (sunscreen is essential)
- Power bank
- Bike transport bag (rinko-bukuro)
Aside from warm clothing, sunscreen is another must-have.
There isn't much shade, so you will definitely get sunburned. Don't forget to pack it!
If you want to have coffee or a light breakfast first thing in the morning, I recommend bringing a cookset.
Time to pack and load your bike! It's all about the "center of gravity"
Once you’ve decided what to bring, the next step is packing it into your bags and attaching them to your bike.
Loading methods can be roughly divided into two styles: the "traditional camping ride style using pannier bags" or the "bikepacking style without a rack."
The loading method differs slightly for each, but in both cases, you want to be conscious of where you place the heavy items.
If you use a rack, keep the center of gravity low.
Those using a rack likely use pannier bags as well.
Depending on the rack and bag type, try to pack your gear so that the heavy items are as close to the ground as possible!
This suppresses swaying while riding and makes stopping, starting at signals, and climbing hills much safer.
If you're bikepacking, load the heavy stuff in the center.
Bikepacking involves using bags like frame bags and saddle bags.
Without a rack, your carrying capacity is reduced. It’s a style designed for lighter gear and faster, more comfortable riding. Naturally, the center of gravity will be higher, but there is a trick to keeping it stable.
That is to store heavy items in your frame bag whenever possible.
Storing heavy gear in the frame bag, which is closest to the center of the bike, not only reduces swaying but also makes the weight feel less significant.
Since frame bags don't have as much capacity as saddle bags, I recommend using them for small but heavy items like tools, locks, and power banks.
Also, long items like tent poles can be strapped to the frame along with your frame bag, saving your bag space for other things.
Definitely give it a try!
Test your load before the big day
Once you’ve decided on your gear and how to pack it, make sure to do a trial run at least once before the actual day.
Shake your bike, tilt it to the side, and make sure nothing shifts, falls out, or sticks out. It's dangerous if your gear falls off or gets caught while you’re riding.
We can transport your gear for you
If you don't have much experience camping, the prospect of a camping ride might feel a bit intimidating. Buying racks and bags, or considering how to transport your bike on the train back home—it's a lot to manage. If you want to give cycling to a camp a try, feel free to consult with us at Circles beforehand, and we can transport your camping gear to the venue by car for you.
Let's enjoy the ride, enjoy the camping, and have the best time ever!
It's not too late if you're coming by bike!
This year's Mori, Michi, Ichiba is extremely popular, and not only the campsite but also the general entry tickets are sold out. However, thanks to the organizer's kindness in wanting to prioritize people arriving by bike, they are still selling bicycle camping tickets and bicycle entry tickets. There is still a little bit of time left!
Please read the special page below carefully before purchasing your ticket.
The operational rules for bicycle-specific tickets have changed slightly. Please check here for details.
https://circles-jp.com/event/144930/
Daily life has returned, allowing us to participate in festivals like Mori, Michi, Ichiba and finally get together to have fun again.
So, let’s get out there on our bikes and enjoy the events!