There are more than 3,000 campgrounds, or "campjo" from Hokkaido to Okinawa. Camping is very popular here with families, couples and friends, especially from spring to autumn. The most popular kind of camping is called "auto camp." This is when you can park your vehicle on site and pitch a tent right next to it. It's also important to be careful about dangerous critters such as some snakes and centipedes. The Japanese centipede, or "mukade," can grow to be up to 7.8 inches long. Their bite is extremely painful and causes swelling. They are attracted to spaces like shoes that may be left outside a tent, especially after the rain. So I highly recommend checking your shoes before putting them on when camping.
