David grew up in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia, with hiking and outdoor pursuits being a major part of his life for as long as he can remember. He has been writing, snapping photos, and sharing his adventures on RIDGELINEIMAGES.com since 2013.
At university, David majored in environmental management and holds a Graduate Diploma of Education. He has been living in Japan for over 15 years, first in Fukushima Prefecture and now in the Tokyo Metropolis. With a love of hiking and photography, he felt the best way to combine the two was a blog to provide some inspiration for others to enjoy the myriad of trails and outdoor offerings on Tokyo’s doorstep. You can follow David on Instagram @ridgelineimages.
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...
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)...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
The Ultimate Air Mattress that Continues to Evolve Sleeping pads are the unsung heroes that determine the quality of your outdoor sleep. They level uneven ground for a comfortable night’s rest, insulate against cold air, and provide comfort whether...
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...
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...