Kampgrounds of America to Open Facility in Japan

Tokyo —  The Japanese, famed for diligent work habits, are beginning to value more leisure time--and Kampgrounds of America is poised to give them an outdoor playground for it.

The Montana-based firm will open its first franchised campground in Okayama prefecture, in western Japan, next April. The site is an existing campground that will be outfitted with KOA’s trademark custom-designed log cabins and laundry facilities. Three cabins and 100 camping spaces will be provided. Nightly rates are $45 with electricity hookup, $35 without.

“Although the number of Japanese campers is growing, they don’t really know where to camp,” said Minoru Sano, an executive with KOA Japan Inc. There are 350 campgrounds in Japan but quality varies dramatically, he said.

In the last few years, camping has grown increasingly popular amid government efforts to reduce working hours, growing environmental awareness and the lingering recession. The number of campers increased 12.5% last year over 1991 to 13.5 million. Sales of outdoor goods and recreational vehicles are also on the rise.

Sano said the firm will open its second campground in 1995 in south Karuizawa, a popular resort area. KOA Japan Co. was formed in 1992 as a master licensing agreement between KOA Inc. and Shinsuke Nikaido.