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.
Hiking
Long Trails in Japan: The Shinetsu
The word for “hiking” in Japanese is “tozan”（登山）which literally means “to climb a mountain.” As the word suggests, the lofty goal...
Trail Running
Light and Fast in the Central Alps
I am not sure who had the idea to run the main ridge of Japan’s Central Alps, but it could have been me. I am certain, however, w...
Hiking
Discovering the Middle Path
For months I have relished the prospect of spending four uninterrupted days hiking from village to village, exploring one of ...
Hiking
The Shinetsu Trail
There are many places in Japan where you can climb up to a mountain, stay in a hut or tent, then get up the next day and head off...
Adventure Travel
Outdoors on the Cheap
During tough times, and Japan has seen its fair share recently, people have a tendency to tighten their belts or stay indoors. Ye...
Hiking
Yama Girl Revival
Nearly a decade ago I became inspired to hike the “hyakumeizan,” Japan’s one-hundred most revered mountains. I had bagged 91 peak...
Hiking
Thief in the Fortress
The sound of my footsteps echoes across the empty Hayakawa Valley. No other footprints in the snow, no signs of life ahead or beh...