‘Solo Camping for Two’ is Senien-Flavored Slice-of-Life, Episode One Review

When I first watched the trailer for Solo Camping for Two, I was struck by the slice-of-life vibes and wanted to see more. My YouTube algorithm had caught on to me watching camping videos and I even found myself looking up local places for possible camping and even diving into Reddit for equipment recommendations. I’m already an otaku who is a big fan of slice-of-life–why not pick up the first episode to watch and review? Here’s a review for the first episode of Solo Camping for Two, which premiered at Anime Expo today July 3, 2025. A big thanks to Crunchyroll for the early access! Solo Camping will air July 10, 2025 – with New episodes every Thursday.

Gen Kinokura just wanted to enjoy his peaceful solo camping trips—no distractions, no problems.  He’s a man dedicated to the pursuit of being outdoors and the solitude it offers. The solo camping life is not just a hobby, it is a way of life. This man’s opening monologue of him traveling to the mountains and setting up camp for the first time solidifies Gen as a quiet, 34-year-old man who is happy to shoot the breeze–with no one but himself out in the wilderness. Sure, we get to see little glimpses of his excitement of small things, but he really comes off as an old soul with a philosophical streak as I watch on. Gen’s little piece of heaven is abruptly interrupted by the appearance of Shizuku Kusano, a clueless but enthusiastic 20-year-old young woman who crashes his campsite (literally). She’s without vital equipment,…