English Survial Guide 2025 BJPN

About

Burning Japan is an official Regional Burn of the Burning Man Regional Network. It is an arts and music event inspired by Burning Man, centered around radical self-expression and the creation of temporary communities. The event fosters an environment of inclusivity, acceptance, and respect driven by the 10 principles and Principle Zero: Consent.

It is entirely volunteer-driven, with participants solely responsible for creating the art and entertainment. There are no passive observers—everyone is actively involved.

The event does not include concession stands, and monetary transactions are prohibited. Even bartering is discouraged, as this gathering operates under the principles of a gift economy: if you need something, ask for it; if you have it, share it.

Burning Japan adheres to a Leave No Trace policy, meaning no trash cans are provided and all attendees are expected to carry out their own waste. Personal accountability is essential, and it remains a private, volunteer-run event.

2025 will be Burning Japan's 12 occurrence. There is an expected attendance of 400-700 participants.

Please check out the official website and watch last year's event aftermovie to get a feel for the vibe.
https://www.burningjapan.org/english-info/

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5JuC5SGBCXg

When

Builder's Week: 10/04 – 10/08 (Registered Theme Camps and Org)

General Gate Entry: Thursday, 10/09 at 12:00 PM

Event Conclusion: Monday, 10/13 by 6:00 PM

Leave No Trace Day: 10/14

Where

Tsumagoi Ranch Aisai no Kane

2401 Himata, Tsumagoi Village, Agatsuma District, Gunma Prefecture, 377-1528

BY CAR

3 hours from Tokyo. Please, if possible, ride share as Parking Slot are limited.

If you plan to rent a car with a foreign driving license, please either translate it (for Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Taiwan ones) or get an International Driving Permit (Geneva Convention, not Vienna Convention).

BY TRAIN

JR Manza Kazawaguchi Station is the closest stop. It is about 20 minutes from the venue by car. Taxis are very limited in this remote region. It would be a good idea to arrange a ride share with other participants.

BY BUS

Seibu Bus “Tsumagoi boujo aisai no kane”

• only 3 buses a day.

https://www.seibubus.co.jp/docs/rosen/rosenzu/rosenzu.pdf

https://www.seibubus.co.jp/docs/rosen/karuizawa/eki.pdf

https://www.seibubus.co.jp/docs/rosen/karuizawa/onsen.

VENUE

It is located in a Highland cow field surrounded by forested hills, few trees inside. The left side is flat while the right has a decent downward slope. Be careful there may be ruts in the grass from the cows. -Altitude: ~1,100 meters (3,600 ft)

LOCATION

There are multiple onsens that you can buy a day pass for within a 20 minute driving radius for access to a shower. (There are no showers at the venue, only restrooms) The event parking is about 400 meters from the venue and will be accessible only by foot once the event begins.

Who

YOU! Burning Japan is organized and operated by volunteers with no paid staff. It is a collective effort, where all participants contribute to the event’s success.

These are some of the ways you can get involved...
- Medical Team
- Greeters
- Fire Keepers (burn perimeter & on site safety checks)
- LNT Crew (stay to clean on 9/14)
- Theme camp leader
- Join a theme camp
- Bring your art
- Help someone build their art

Burning Japan is made possible entirely by volunteers. Every attendee automatically becomes a participant, contributing to the collaborative energy that powers the event. Many people contribute by creating art, performances, or theme camps, with numerous volunteer roles available. Volunteering enhances the experience and is a wonderful way to connect with others.

Participation

We use Discord to communicate with participants(including camp leaders, volunteers, and organizers).

Inquiry in English, meet burners, rideshare, join a group camp/theme camp

Discord invitation link. You need to click this first to see all the channels. https://discord.gg/jTW9PESFwW

This Discord channel is a great place to jump in and volunteer for the org! https://discord.gg/gDZG5Tvp

PLEASE NOTE

There is no public nudity or sex acts at Burning Japan. You can find designated camps and areas on site where this permitted such as (but not limited to) the Naked Camp and the kink space in FCK!.

Drugs are illegal in Japan and this applies to Burning Japan as well. Please research the local laws before bringing anything into the country if traveling internationally, including prescription Marijuana.

Tickets

Tickets for Burning Japan 2025 can be purchased through Peatix.

https://bj2025.peatix.com/

Check-in is electronic.

• If the event is canceled due to unforeseen circumstances such as natural disasters, the ticket will not be refunded.

However, if you voluntarily cancel the event up to one month before the event, we will provide a refund. Please contact us through Peatix.

INDIVIDUALS

General Tickets= 15,000 yen (all-day ticket) First Time Participants= 12,000 yen Under 26 years old= 9,000 yen

THEME CAMP TICKETS

10+ people → 10% off 20+ people → 15% off These tickets must be purchased all at once for the registered theme camp members only.

ADDITIONAL TICKETS

Parking Ticket (~150)= 3,000 yen
Camping Car Ticket (~15)= 8,000 yen

*How to Purchase Burning Japan Tickets from outside Japan

If you’re accessing from another country, follow these steps to buy your ticket:

1. Create an account on Peatix: https://peatix.com/us (This link is only accessible from the US.)
2. Change your country setting to Japan by following these steps: How to Change Country on Peatix
3. Access the ticket page.

Disclaimer: Peatix recently launched a US version and separated the systems. If you access from the US, you’ll be directed to the US site by default. However, once you create an account and switch your country to Japan, you’ll be able to access the Japan site and purchase tickets indefinitely, unless you change the country again.

Surviving

You must be radically self-reliant!! Don't just survive, plan so you can thrive.

FOOD & WATER

There are no vendors selling food or goods at this event. You must bring enough food and water for yourself or have a food plan figured out ahead of time. There is a supermarket and convenience store about 20 minutes away by car. It is recommended to bring 1 liter of water per day.

CAMPFIRE

Never place fire directly on the ground to protect the land.

CAMP GEAR

We have a camping gear rental program through the org that directly supports the art grants that are awarded to artists bringing art to the burn. https://www.burningjapan.org/wiki/RentForGrant

Here are some other gear rental sites that you can use. It should be easy to have it delivered to a Yamato transportation location near to you/ to the event for you to pick up. https://hinata-rental.me/ https://tental.kauriru.com/

CAMPING VAN

Parking for camper vans are VERY limited with only >15 spots available for the entire event. There is a local burner who rents out camper vans! https://carstay.jp/en/
There is no electricity or water hook ups available for RVs.

WEATHER

Average temps in October: -Daytime= 10–25°C (50–77°F), sunny to cloudy -Nighttime= 0–10°C (32–50°F), can be very cold

Strong winds and morning fog are possible. The temperature drops quickly after sunset. Bring layers, warm bedding, and weatherproof gear. Rain is possible so a poncho might be good to bring along as well.

LIGHTING

There are no street lamps to help you see once the sun sets. It is recommended to bring a headlamp so you can safely navigate the venue. It is not recommended to use your phone light as it is easy to lose, break, etc.

CONNECTION

Cell Connection is available but not that good. In emergency situations, Starlink is available.

ELECTRICITY

There is no electricity in the camp, you need to bring your power generator or enough battery for 5 days or recharge in your car.

LEAVE NO TRACE

Burning Japan is a Leave No Trace event: take everything you bring in back out. There is no trash bins, please carry out all your garbage, pick up MOOP (cigarette butts, tape, glitter, food scraps), sweep your area before leaving.

SOUND POLICY

You can bring up to a 100W speaker. For bigger sound systems, please request a Sound Camp registration with the organization.

PETS

Sorry, pets are not allowed on the camp.

CHILDREN

Burning Japan is a kids-friendly event, there are dedicated activities for them and even a kids tent with a professional caretaker.

Be aware that your might expose your kids to a lot of crazy things.

2025's Theme

Theme The theme for Burning Japan 2025 is "Ukiyo - The Floating World."

"Ukiyo," meaning "the floating world," represents the fleeting and impermanent nature of life, as well as the idea of savoring the present moment. Initially tied to Buddhist thought, it described life as transient and full of suffering. However, during the Edo period (1603-1868), with the rise of urban culture, its meaning shifted toward a more optimistic perspective: the transient nature of life makes it all the more important to enjoy its pleasures. This idea became linked to entertainment, including ukiyo-e (woodblock prints), kabuki, and the cultural spaces like brothels and theaters, blending impermanence with beauty and joy.

10 Principles

Burning Man co-founder Larry Harvey wrote the 10 Principles in 2004 as guidelines for the newly-formed Regional Network. They were crafted not as a dictate of how people should be and act, but as a reflection of the community’s ethos and culture as it had organically developed since the event’s inception.

Burning Japan believes that consent is the foundation for all principles and is how we want to see humans treating other humans. Our community strives to uphold the ethos of Burning Man and The 10 Principles, and we have added our Principle Zero: Consent. We expect community members to uphold these principles when attending our events and in the default world.

Principle Zero: Consent

We believe that boundaries are defined by each individual person and interaction. It is everyone’s responsibility to seek and communicate definitive consent. One must not assume consent by perceived group behavior or past experience. Consent applies to one’s experience, body and property.

Radical Inclusion

Anyone may be a part of Burning Japan. We welcome and respect the stranger. No prerequisites exist for participation in our community.

Gifting

Burning Japan is devoted to acts of gift giving. The value of a gift is unconditional. Gifting does not contemplate a return or an exchange for something of equal value.

Decommodification

In order to preserve the spirit of gifting, our community seeks to create social environments that are unmediated by commercial sponsorships, transactions, or advertising. We stand ready to protect our culture from such exploitation. We resist the substitution of consumption for participatory experience.

Radical Self-reliance

Burning Japan encourages the individual to discover, exercise and rely on their inner resources.

Radical Self-expression

Radical self-expression arises from the unique gifts of the individual. No one other than the individual or a collaborating group can determine its content. It is offered as a gift to others. In this spirit, the giver should respect the rights and liberties of the recipient.

Communal Effort

Our community values creative cooperation and collaboration. We strive to produce, promote and protect social networks, public spaces, works of art, and methods of communication that support such interaction.

Civic Responsibility

We value civil society. Community members who organize events should assume responsibility for public welfare and endeavor to communicate civic responsibilities to participants. They must also assume responsibility for conducting events in accordance with local, state and federal laws.

Leaving No Trace

Our community respects the environment. We are committed to leaving no physical trace of our activities wherever we gather. We clean up after ourselves and endeavor, whenever possible, to leave such places in a better state than when we found them.

Participation

Our community is committed to a radically participatory ethic. We believe that transformative change, whether in the individual or in society, can occur only through the medium of deeply personal participation. We achieve being through doing. Everyone is invited to work. Everyone is invited to play. We make the world real through actions that open the heart.

Immediacy

Immediate experience is, in many ways, the most important touchstone of value in our culture. We seek to overcome barriers that stand between us and a recognition of our inner selves, the reality of those around us, participation in society, and contact with a natural world exceeding human powers. No idea can substitute for this experience.

Media Policy

Burning Japan is a private event, and the use of photos, videos, or recordings of participants or their art is prohibited without explicit consent. There are no media passes for this event. Anyone wishing to attend must purchase a ticket. Media members are encouraged to reach out to the organizers through the Discord channel for any inquiries.