As far as campsites go, Tokyo's bustling Akihabara electronics district is about the last place someone wanting to get away from it all and return to nature would choose.

But in late August, amid trains making clickety-clack sounds, a location under a East Japan Railway Co. line in Akihabara was packed with tents.

The limited-time “below-track training campsite” was set up by JR East Urban Development Corp., based in the capital’s Shibuya Ward, between Aug. 13 and Aug. 24 for visitors to try camping.

About 400 individuals from 160 groups, mainly families, showed up there over the 12 days.

Tents, tables, gas stoves and all other camping equipment could be rented on site. The facility’s staff showed how to erect tents.

While visitors could stay overnight if desired, a package was also available for people to spend time outdoors only during the day to get a casual taste of camping.

A 44-year-old woman from a family of four in Tokyo’s Minato Ward spent a night there.

“I hesitated to go camping because there is not enough space to keep camping equipment I've purchased at home,” she said, being content with the offering. “Erecting a tent was easier than expected so I will consider buying a tent on my own.”

The program was among new business candidates weighed by JR East Urban Development to make full use of spaces under tracks.

Aya Kitada, 39, who suggested the project, explained its appeal.

“Surprisingly, setting up tents is difficult for those who have never camped,” said Kitada. “I thought there would be a need for a site where one can try camping near an easily accessible station in central Tokyo.”

The latest service was offered on a trial basis and how to commercialize it will reportedly be considered.

Along with JR East Urban Development, other similar services have been offered to novice campers.

Camping is growing in popularity because the leisure activity can be enjoyed in an uncrowded environment during the novel coronavirus crisis.

According to an industry organization’s estimate, more people have begun visiting campgrounds and new offerings are helping spread the trend.

RENTAL OF VANS, EQUIPMENT

In another offering catering to novice campers, Alpine Electronics Marketing Inc. in the capital’s Ota Ward, a subsidiary of Alps Alpine Co. that handles car navigation systems and other goods for use on automobiles, started the Storyca program in September last year to rent out vans and camping equipment.

Many households do not own cars or choose easier-to-drive compact vehicles these days. Going camping is difficult for those families, since doing so entails traveling long distances while transporting a large amount of equipment and other necessities.

Purchasing all the necessary items costs a lot and takes up much space, posing an additional hurdle for beginners to start camping.

In Storyca’s family-oriented package, a minivan that can be loaded with a large volume of goods, along with camping equipment worth a total of 770,000 yen ($5,300), can be rented out.

All users have to do after camping is return the van with the rented items, so washing dishes and other cleaning duties are not required.

The price changes on how long the rental period is, and a two-day and one-night trip can be signed up for at a cost of several tens of thousands of yen, according to Alpine Electronics Marketing.

The offering is available at three sites in Yokohama, Osaka Prefecture and Nagoya. The number of users rises every month, according to the company.

“We will open more locations in place in the future,” said a representative of Alpine Electronics Marketing.

Hiroaki Sakai, secretary-general of the Japan Auto Camping Federation, consisting of campers and campgrounds’ operators, said camping began drawing public attention on social media and YouTube around 2010.

The increasing domestic camper population is estimated to have reached 8.6 million in 2019. Though the figure dropped to 6.1 million in 2020 as campsites suspended operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the number rose again to 7.5 million last year.

Beginners accounted for 16.8 percent in 2018 and the percentage increased to 25.9 percent in 2020. The ratio was as high as 24.4 percent in 2021 as well.

“More businesses target beginners amid the growing popularity (of camping),” said Sakai. “The trend will continue gathering steam from here on out.”