Category
Hiking
Mountain and LandHiking
Japan is a country with a rich alpine history. From yamabushi (mountain priests), to mountain loving missionaries like Sir Walter Weston, to modern adventurers such as the Miura family, Japan’s mountainous terrain has been the playground – and holy ground – to generations of mountain climbers and recreational hikers. North to south, east to west there are countless peaks to bag and trails to explore. Whether you are out to conquer the Hyakumeizan (Japan’s 100 famous peaks) or just head out on a day hike to get some fresh air and escape the heat, there’s something for every hiker and climber in Japan.
Nature Trails
Exploring Mitake-San
As you exit the cable car from Takimoto Station and take in the view of the surrounding Musashino Plain, it is clear why the ...
Hyakumeizan
100 Famous Japanese Mountains: #59 Akaishi-dake
After a great 10-hour sleep in the empty hut on Taka-dake, my internal clock woke me at 4:30 a.m. as usual. The caretaker of the ...
Nature Trails
The Roof of the Gods
The morning light is dazzling as it reflects off the vermillion offertory box. The interior remains dark as if to emphasize the s...
Adventures of the Hokkaido Bush Pig
The Adventures of the Hokkaido Bush Pig
There I was, heading up another Hokkaido trail, when two people we passed on their way down said, “They are waiting for you at th...
People
Q4: Steve House Interview
While Mt. Everest is routinely climbed by dozens of people each year, pioneering climbers are trying the most difficult and dange...
Hyakumeizan
100 Famous Japanese Mountains: #25 Sobo-san
It was my fifth day and mountain number two in Kyushu. Hitching a ride from an onsen in Beppu was easy and, soon enough, I was on...
Adventures of the Hokkaido Bush Pig
Tips for Spring Hiking in Hokkaido
For most people, March and April is spring. Spring in Japan means welcoming cherry blossoms and warm weather, and it is time to s...
Trekking
Four Corners of Japan
Although I spent the first few weeks of 2008 helping my new friends and temporary neighbors, Ian Fraser and Chris Lynch, compile ...