When a 3,000-Metre Peak Isn’t a 3,000-Metre Peak

Enter Naka-Shirane-san et al. TL;DR Not all 3,000-metre mountains in Japan are officially recognised. Peaks like Naka-Shirane-san and Gendarme lack prominence and are classified as secondary. Cultural factors and quirks, such as Fuji’s lesser-known...

Mt. Myojingatake 明神ヶ岳

Hiked on Dec 10, 2024 . Mt. Myojingatake 明神ヶ岳 – Yagurasawa-toge 矢倉沢峠   Duration: 6.5 hours   Distance: 15.7 km   Elevation change: 1144 metres   Highest point: 1169 metres   Start: Tsukahara Station (Daiyuzan Line)...

Celebrating 150 Hiking Trail Guides

The Trail Less Rushed: 150 Hikes Quietly, last month I marked a major milestone: my 150th hiking trail guide on RIDGELINEIMAGES.com! Over the past 12 years, creating these trail guides has been a labour of love. While they make up less than half of...

Mt. Shomureyama 聖武連山

Hiked on Nov 30, 2024 . Mt. Shomureyama 聖武連山 – Mt. Nodake 能岳 – Mt. Yaeyama 八重山   Duration: 4 hours   Distance: 9 km   Elevation change: 265 metres   Highest point: 543 metres   Start: Oduku Bus Stop   Finish: Ohori Bus Stop  ...

Yatsugatake Grand Traverse 八ヶ岳主脈縦走

Hiked from Oct 11 to Oct 14, 2024 . Kannon-daira 観音平 to Puru-daira プール平   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 the relevant...

Mt. Kurokawa-Keikan 黒川鶏冠山

Hiked on Nov 9, 2024 . Keikan Shrine 鶏冠神社 – Roppongi-toge 六本木峠 – Marukawa-toge 丸川峠 .   Duration: 6 hours   Distance: 15.3 km   Elevation change: 826 metres   Highest point: 1716 metres   Start: Ochiai bus stop   Finish: Daibosatsu-toge...

Mt. Hamaibamaru ハマイバ丸

Hiked on Nov 3, 2024 . Yunosawa-toge 湯ノ沢峠 – Mt. Okuratakamaru 大蔵高丸 – Mt. Takigoyama 滝子山   Do not attempt this hike unless you have experience in route-finding and make sure you carry a topographic map and handheld GPS device.   Duration: 2...

Kanto’s Weather Woes

Kanto’s Autumn Blues I write this with utter exasperation over the current state of the weather. Ordinarily, I would be setting off on a multi-day autumn adventure, but now it seems I’ll have to wait until later in the week for the autumn rain...

Mt. Kaikoma 甲斐駒ヶ岳

Hiked on September 24, 2024 . Ojiragawa Gorge 尾白川渓谷 – Shichijo-koya 七丈小屋 – Komagatake Shrine 駒ヶ岳神社   This is a long and demanding hike, suitable for experienced hikers. Do not attempt the Kuroto Ridge course unless you are...

Review: Tozan – A Japanese Mountain Odyssey

One Man’s Quest for the 100 Best Mountains in Japan It comes with much excitement and anticipation when a book about hiking in Japan is released, whether it’s a guidebook or a memoir. Such books are rare finds. As soon as I heard that William...

Northern Alps Traverse 北アルプス縦走

July 21st to July 27th, 2024 . Murodo 室堂 to Shin-Hotaka Ropeway 新穂高ロープウェイ   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 the relevant...

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