Maruyama Lookout 丸山展望台 – Ono Pass 大野峠 . . Enjoy One of Saitama’s Best Views A quick glance of the Japan GSI Map database confirmed what I had imagined, that ‘Maruyama’ is a mighty popular mountain name with well over one hundred entries...
First Rays of 2022 Above the Sagami River For this year’s hatsuhinode (first sunrise), I decided to skip the customary pilgrimage of heading to a mountain summit like last year, instead picking a quiet spot along an unobstructed trail above the...
Outdoor Bloggers to Follow in Japan (2022) Putting together a list that celebrates the diverse international outdoor blogging community in Japan is something that I have wanted to do for some time. The reason is twofold. If there is one thing just...
A Panorama of Mountains from Tama Lake in Tokyo. The Tokyo Metropolis sits on the Kanto Plain, the largest lowland area in Japan and home to around a third of the country’s population. To the east, the city is bordered by the Edogawa River and Chiba...
Mt. Kinpu 金峰山 – Mt. Asahi-dake 朝日岳 – Odarumi-toge 大弛峠 . . Some Hikes Just Don’t Go to Plan This hike marks the fourth time I’ve made the long bus ride out to the Mizugaki-sansou and second that I’ve had the good fortune of hiking along...
Warm and Lightweight 3-Season Sleeping Bag When it comes time to bed down for the night, getting a good kip is of upmost importance irrespective whether on a leisurely overnight hike or a multi-day trek. Key to this of course is a warm, comfortable...
Yaga Station 谷峨駅 – Mt. Ono 大野山 – Yamakita Station 山北駅 . . Low Lying Mountain with Wonderful Fujisan Views Mt. Ono located in the Tanzawa-Oyama Quasi-National Park is a popular year-round hiking destination. It is suitable for beginners...
Eight and a Half Years in the Making Last week RIDGELINEIMAGES.com along with its indomitable editor-in-chief quietly chalked up the 100th hike. Yoku ganbarimashita if I might say so! Mind you these aren’t the hyakumeizan (100 top mountains) but...
Naka-no-dake 中ノ岳 – Mt. Ishiwari 石割山 – Mt. Hirao 平尾山 . . Autumn Leaves, Mt. Fuji and All-Round Great Hiking Mt. Mishotai is a little-known 200 Famous Mountain in Yamanashi Prefecture that rises above Lake Yamanaka. It has been a sacred place...
Higashisenba 東仙波 – Mt. Karamatsuo 唐松尾山 – Mt. Kasatori 笠取山 . . The Secret Peak of Okuchichibu Wanakurayama is the highest independent peak in Saitama Prefecture and a mountain that’s long been on my radar. Oddly for a Kanto Nihyakumeizan...
