Mt. Gongen 権現山

Hiked on Oct 7, 2023 . Asakawa-toge 浅川峠 – Mt. Amefuri 雨降山 – Mt. Nihonsugi 二本杉山   Duration: 5.5 hours   Distance: 15.2 km   Elevation change: 1046 metres   Highest point: 1312 metres   Start: Asakawa Bus Stop...

Kawanori Valley 川苔谷

In Search of a Cooler Destination Summer in Japan used to be somewhat tolerable when there was an understanding that it would roll past by early September. Here we are, two-thirds of the way through September, and it continues unabated, thanks to...

Mt. Kesamaru 袈裟丸山

Hiked on Aug 29, 2023 . Reclining Buddha statue 寝釈迦像 – Sai-no-kawara 賽の河原 – Mt. Komaruyama 小丸山   Duration: 2 days   Distance: 26.4 km   Elevation change: 1408 metres   Highest point: 1878 metres   Start: Sori...

Southern Alps Traverse 南アルプス縦走

Hiked from July 21 to July 29, 2023 . Hirogawara 広河原 to Akaishi Onsen Shirakabaso 赤石温泉白樺荘   This is a long and demanding multi-day hike suitable for experienced hikers. Do not attempt this hike unless you have experience in route-finding. Carry...

Southern Alps Traverse: Preparation, Food, and Gear

Getting Down to the Nuts and Bolts From July 21st to July 29th, 2023, I completed a full-length traverse of the entire Southern Alps from Hirogawara in Yamanashi Prefecture to Akaishi Onsen Shirakabaso hot spring in Shizuoka Prefecture, a distance...

10 Tips to Stay Safe Hiking in Japan

Make Your Safety a Priority As I go about preparations for my summer hike in the Southern Alps, I thought it would be timely to reflect on how safety figures into the mix. I hope you find it useful. Last month, the National Police Agency released...

Mt. Oku-Shirane 奥白根山

Hiked on Jun 17, 2023 . Mt. Mae-Shirane 前白根山 – Midaga Pond 弥陀ヶ池 – Mt. Goshiki 五色山   Duration: 8 hours   Distance: 13.3 km   Elevation change: 1098 metres   Highest point: 2578 metres   Start: Nikko Yumoto Campground...

100 Famous Yamanashi Mountains

Yamanashi’s Most Prominent Peaks One thing Japanese people love to do is rank and categorise things, and mountains are no exception. Ever since the release of Kyuya Fukada’s best seller 100 Famous Japanese Mountains (Nihon Hyaku-meizan) back...

Mt. Ogawayama 小川山

Hiked on May 25, 2023 . Mawarime-daira 廻り目平 – Hacho-daira 八丁平 – Fujimidaira-goya 富士見平小屋   Do not attempt this hike unless you have experience in route-finding, and make sure you carry a topographic map and handheld GPS device.  ...

Yama Dake Mine: Japanese Mountain Kanji

What’s in a Name? Japan’s Mountain Kanji Explained Studying kanji, or Chinese characters used in the writing of Japanese, can leave even the most ardent student exasperated at the best of times, and that’s before they ever open a hiking map. Place...

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