KS Ultralight Gear KS50 Backpack Review

Perennial Favourite Among Lightweight Backpackers KS ultralight gear is one of a growing number of cottage companies serving the needs of ultralight backpackers both here in Japan and around the world. It’s run by French expat Laurent Barikosky who...

Mt. Hiwada 日和田山

Hiked on Nov 17, 2020 . Kitamuki-Jizo 北向地蔵 – Mt. Monomi 物見山 – Mt. Takazasu 高指山   Duration: 3.5 hours   Distance: 9.2 km   Elevation change: 270 metres   Highest point: 380 metres   Start: Musashi-Yokote Station...

Autumn Colours in Tokyo’s Hinohara Village

Guns, Momiji, and Waterfalls If you’re in search of abundant nature Hinohara Village on the outskirts of Tokyo is a good place to start. Each year I make more than a few trips to the metropolis’s only village to escape the city and enjoy fresh air...

Lake Okutama Ikoi-no-Michi Hike

Hiked on Nov 11, 2020    Apr 24, 2022 . Ogouchi Dam 小河内ダム – Yama-no-furusatomura 山のふるさと村   Duration: 5 hours   Distance: 17.9 km   Elevation change: 30 metres   Highest point: 565 metres   Start: Lake Okutama Bus...

Mt. Honjagamaru 本社ヶ丸

Hiked on Nov 4, 2020    Aug 15, 2022 . Mt. Tsunotogiyama 角研山 – Honjagamaru 本社ヶ丸 – Mt. Seihachiyama 清八山   Duration: 6.5 hours   Distance: 14.4 km   Elevation change: 1031 metres   Highest point: 1631 metres...

Mt. Kasatori 笠取山

Hiked on Oct 31, 2020    Nov 10, 2021 . Gan-toge 雁峠 – Kasatori-goya 笠取小屋 – Tama River Headwaters 多摩川源流   Duration: 2 days   Distance: 20 km   Elevation change: 893 metres   Highest point: 1953 metres  ...

Mt. Kushigata 櫛形山

Hiked on Oct 24, 2020 . Himuro Shrine 氷室神社 – Hokora Hut ほこら小屋 – Mt. Hadaka 裸山   Duration: 2 days   Distance: 16.2 km   Elevation change: 1276 metres   Highest point: 2052 metres   Start: Hirabayashi Bus Stop...

Map, Embed, and Share GPX Hiking Routes

Viewing Interactive GPS Maps Then & Now Not long after starting this blog I began using the pro version of WP Google Maps, a WordPress plugin to plot ‘polylines’ to display my hiking routes on Google Maps. As I commented at the time not having...

Mt. Naeba 苗場山

Hiked on Sep 30, 2020 . Wada Hut 和田小屋 – Kaguragamine 神楽ヶ峰   Duration: 8 hours   Distance: 13.9 km   Elevation change: 925 metres   Highest point: 2145 metres   Start: Carpark below Wada Hut   Finish: Carpark below...

Mt. Kurogane 黒金山

Hiked on Sep 21, 2020 . Mt. Kentoku 乾徳山 – Mt. Kurogane 黒金山 – Nishizawa Gorge 西沢渓谷 The Nishizawa Gorge hiking trail closes during winter (December 1st-April 28th subject to change depending on snowfall) for the latest information please...

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