Daimyojin Observation Deck 大明神展望台 – Lake Sagami 相模湖 Duration: 4 hours Distance: 9.3 km Elevation change: 474 metres Highest point: 694 metres Difficulty: Start: Pleasure Forest-mae Bus Stop Finish: Pleasure Forest-mae Bus...
Jinzasan 神座山 – Mt.Shakagatake 釈迦ヶ岳 – Shindo Pass 新道峠 Duration: 2 days Distance: 18.4 km Elevation change: 1028 metres Highest point: 1793 metres Difficulty: Start: Himine jinja mae Bus Stop ...
Planning and Managing Risks on the Trail During my formative days hiking in Japan, I must confess I didn’t devote much time to planning my hikes even the overnight ones. My usual approach back then was print out a hike some random person posted on...
Nanahaneyama 七跳山 – Hinatadani-no-atama 日向谷ノ頭 – Toridaniyama Refuge Hut 酉谷山避難小屋 According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Environment as of May 7, 2022, there has been a landside on the Ogawadani Rindo making...
Backpacking Food Ideas and Meal Planning A common question I get is what food I pack for an overnight hike. The simple answer is foodstuffs that I enjoy eating and not too much as food is heavy. In stark contrast to my first overnight hike, when I...
Kaze no Kamisama 風の神様 – Mt. Koyashiro コヤシロ山 – Mt. Minashi 実成山 Duration: 3 hours Distance: 8.5 km Elevation change: 402 metres Highest point: 609 metres Difficulty: Start: Arai Bus Stop Finish: Arai Bus Stop Map: Yama...
Bask in Fujisan’s Shadow On my latest getaway to try and sneak in one final hike before returning to my teaching post I spent a night at Fumotoppara campground just a hop, skip and a jump away from Mt. Ryugadake. Fumotoppara is located in...
Stone Buddha 石仏 – Hashita-toge 端足峠 – Lake Motosuko 本栖湖 Duration: 5 hours Distance: 11.1 km Elevation change: 550 metres Highest point: 1485 metres Difficulty: Start: Lake Motosuko Bus Stop (Blue Line) Finish: Lake...
Mt. Yougaisan 要害山 – Tenguiwa 天狗岩 – Umabikisawa-toge 馬引沢峠 Duration: 4 hours Distance: 11.2 km Elevation change: 228 metres Highest point: 414 metres Difficulty: Start: Miyanohira Station (Ome Line)...
3-Day, 3-Season Backpacking Gear (Updated 2022) It’s been a couple of years since I last whipped out the scales and took inventory of the gear, I take with me on a three-season, three-day hike. Not surprisingly the bulk of the stuff I carry is...
