David Lowe

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.

Family Friendly Day Hikes Around Tokyo

Where to Hike as a Family in the Greater Tokyo Area Hiking with children is a great way to get them connected to the outdoors and enjoy nature but knowing exactly where to go can be a challenge. Thankfully the Greater Tokyo Area has plenty of...

Irikawa Gorge 入川渓谷

Hiked on Jun 6, 2018 . Irikawa Gorge 入川渓谷 – Arakawa River Starting Point 荒川起点石標   Duration: 4 hours   Distance: 12.3 km   Elevation change: 290 metres   Highest point: 920‬ metres   Start: Kawamata bus stop   Finish:...

Mt. Akagi 赤城山

Hiked on May 24, 2018    May 15, 2022 . Mt. Kurobi 黒檜山 – Mt. Komagatake 駒ヶ岳登山 – Mt. Choshichiro 長七郎山   Duration: 2 days   Distance: 22.3 km   Elevation change: 1330 metres   Highest point: 1828 metres  ...

Tokyo Hiking: 8 Mountain Huts to Stay for Free

Sleep in these Mountain Huts and Save Some Coin While hiking purists might scoff at the idea of bedding down for the night in a mountain hut either due to cost considerations or the thought of suffering through an ensemble of snorers, huts do have...

Mt. Tenmoku 天目山

Hiked on May 5, 2017    Nov 13, 2022 . Mt. Bonomine 棒ノ峰山 – Mt. Sobatsubu 蕎麦粒山 – Mt. Tenmoku 天目山   Duration: 2 days   Distance: 19.8 km   Elevation change: 1171 metres   Highest point: 1576 metres  ...

Tsuzuraiwa Rock つづら岩

Hiked on Apr 28, 2018 . Tenguno Falls 天狗の滝 – Tsuzuraiwa Rock つづら岩 – Fujimidai 富士見台   Duration: 5 hours   Distance: 8 km   Elevation change: 764 metres   Highest point: 1054 metres   Start: Senzoku bus stop  ...

Tenguno Falls in Hinohara Village

The Tranquil Tenguno Falls Hinohara Village in the backblocks of Tokyo has nature in abundance and is home to several stunning waterfalls including the Odake and Hossawa Falls. Located a stone’s throw away from the latter is the no less...

Japan’s Hiking Insurance Providers Compared

Hiking and Adventure Sports Insurance Important note: The hiking insurance policies listed below are available to everyone. The only caveats are that you can navigate the website (mostly in Japanese only) and that it needs to be tied to a Japanese...

Takamori Lighthouse and the Grandma who Built it

A Small Star on a Small Island As hard as it is to believe a grandmother built a lighthouse. The lighthouse in question is the pint-sized 3-metre-high Takamori Lighthouse on Shikinejima one of the smaller islands that make up the Izu Seven Islands...

Shikinejima: Kamanoshita Campground

Old Style Campground Meets High Tech The diminutive Izu Island of Shikinejima is often overlooked for its larger neighbour Niijima. Arguably Niijima has better beaches at least surfing ones while Shikinejima is charming and chilled out with plenty...

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