Fire & Cooking Gear

First, check that fire is allowed at your campsite

Before choosing a fire pit or a burner, confirm that fire is permitted where you are going. Most Japanese campsites ban ground fires. Some do not allow campfires at all, even in a fire pit, and some restrict fire in windy or dry periods. Even at one site, the weather on the day can rule it out.

Check the rules with each campsite or local authority. If you cannot confirm them, plan meals that work without fire (pre-cooked food, no-cook meals) so a refusal on arrival does not wreck your trip.

Choose a fire pit for how well it protects the ground and surroundings

Look less at appearance and size, and more at whether the pit catches sparks and heat. These are the points to compare.

• Packed size and weight (will it stay in the car, or will you carry it?)
• Leg height and base design (a low pit passes more heat into the ground and can damage grass and roots)
• How well it keeps ash and embers from falling out
• How easily sparks fly in wind (low sides let them escape)
• Effort to set up, take down and clean

For burners, put fuel availability first

Whether you can buy more fuel on the road often matters more than small differences in performance. Cassette gas (CB cans) is easy to buy at convenience stores and home centers, but output drops in the cold or when the can is nearly empty. Outdoor gas canisters (OD cans) are sold in fewer shops, so you may not be able to buy one near your destination.

Use the burner and canister combination the manufacturer specifies; do not assume another brand's can fits. Enclosing the can or burner too tightly with a windscreen can trap heat and be dangerous. Follow the instruction manual.

Pick cookware for easy cleaning and packing

Where there is no tap, or water is limited, low-wash cooking works best. Think about whether food sticks, whether you can wipe the pot clean, and whether one pot is enough. If the burner and canister nest inside a pot, your luggage stays compact, but check the real dimensions to be sure they fit.

Do not pour dirty water or oil onto the ground or into a stream. Wipe it off and take it home. Pack a bag for waste and paper for wiping.

Safety: carbon monoxide and putting fires out

Never use a campfire, charcoal, a gas stove or a gas heater inside a tent, inside a car, or in a space enclosed by a tarp. Ventilating does not remove the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or oxygen shortage. Cook and heat outdoors in an open area.

Charcoal and embers can stay hot after they look out. Keep water ready for putting fires out, and do not leave until everything has cooled enough to touch. On a windy day, deciding not to light a fire is a sound choice. Synthetic clothing can melt or burn through from sparks, and children and pets need to be kept away from the fire.

Cautions specific to free and low-cost campsites

Where there are no bins or ash disposal points, take all ash, charcoal and rubbish home. Putting hot ash or charcoal straight into a bag can start a fire, so bring a heat-resistant container such as a metal one. Where there is no kitchen block, carry extra water for putting out fires and for washing up, separate from drinking water.

Firewood may not be on sale nearby. Check whether you may bring your own and whether any is sold. Where no manager is on site, prepare to handle all fire safety yourself.

Common mistakes

The usual five are forgetting fuel, mismatched burner and canister, a fire pit that does not fit in the car, no firewood to buy on site, and wind too strong to use fire. Before leaving, check fuel quantity, canister type and loading.