About

How did we get here?

A Community for Everyone. Outdoor Club White Moon brings people together to explore nature, learn new skills, and build friendships in a welcoming, bilingual space for families, friends, work teams, and solo adventurers. Activities range from relaxed hikes and campfire gatherings to hands-on bushcraft and team challenges designed to boost confidence, creativity, and well-being outdoors. Many events are hosted in both English and Japanese, making it easy for international residents and local neighbors to connect, practice language, and feel at home under the same sky.

White Moon is inspired by poetic Japanese expressions for the moon’s clear, luminous glow—terms like 皓月 (kōgetsu) for a bright, shining moon, and 白月/びゃくげつ (hakugetsu/byakugetsu), an old term marking the days from new moon to full moon that symbolize growth and renewal. It also nods to 月白 (geppaku), a bluish-white hue used in literature to describe moonlight, and 月代 (tsukishiro), the whitening eastern sky as the moon rises—images that reflect calm, community, and shared beginnings. Together, “White Moon” captures the spirit of starting fresh, moving forward step by step, and finding light in good company outdoors.

“Camping taught me that sometimes the best way to reconnect with yourself is to disconnect from everything else. “
Ben merritt
Community Founder

Meet our team

Ben

Community Founder

Outdoor Club White Moon is a small, inclusive camping community in Japan, founded by Ben, an enthusiast who also builds airsoft and online communities. After discovering how much camping, hiking, and simple time in nature helped with stress and reconnection, he created this community so beginners, families, and solo campers could enjoy the outdoors together without pressure or judgment.

Yukari

Community Leader

Yukari helped Ben start Outdoor Club White Moon as an extension of his airsoft community, Yukari enjoys camping, crafts, agriculture, aquaculture and various other outdoor activities.
Yukari likes to explore different parts of Japan when camping and enjoy campsites and prepearing delicous meals over and open fire.

What We Do

From relaxed socials to skills-focused weekends, the club runs regular outdoor meetups for all experience levels and a wide range of interests. Most events are beginner-friendly, with clear meeting points, basic gear guidance, and optional “first-timer” support so new members can join confidently.

Barbecues and picnic days in parks and riverside spots (bring-your-own or shared potluck).
Campfire cooking sessions on camping weekends (simple recipes, safe fire setup, and cleanup).

Hikes and day trips

Local hikes and nature walks with pace groups (easy / moderate) and planned breaks.
Weekend adventures like longer hikes or light backpacking-style outings for members who want more challenge.

Camping weekends

Group camping trips focused on good camp setups, shared meals, and easygoing outdoor time.
Optional add-ons like stargazing, morning coffee meetups, and short hikes from camp.

Bushcraft and skills

Practical sessions like fire lighting, camp cooking basics, knots, and simple shelter concepts.
Skills are taught with safety in mind and adapted to the group’s experience level.

Outdoor crafts and DIY

Nature-inspired crafts and simple camp projects (cordage practice, small repairs, and DIY gear tweaks).
Casual “workshop” meetups where members can share ideas, tools, and techniques.