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.

Mt. Tengu 天狗岳

Hiked on Jul 6, 2016    Aug 24, 2023 . Honzawa Onsen 本澤温泉 – Mt. Tengu 天狗岳 – Shibunoyu 渋の湯   Duration: 3 days   Distance: 15.8 km   Elevation change: 1140 metres   Highest point: 2640 metres   Start:...

Shinano-Kawakami Station

Old-world Charm: Enter Shinano-Kawakami Station The effects of Japan’s declining population are being felt in virtually all aspects of Japanese society, and public transportation isn’t immune from its clutches. A good case in point has been...

Mawarime-daira Campground

A Tranquil Campsite at the Foothills of Mount Kinpu As far as relaxing campsites go, Mawarime-daira in Kawakami Village, Nagano Prefecture is hard to surpass. Last week, I had the good fortune of returning to the sprawling grounds where I camped a...

Shirayanomaru 白谷丸

Hiked on May 20, 2016    Aug 24, 2023 . Kurotake 黒岳 – Shirayanomaru 白谷丸   Duration: 2 days   Distance: 19.8 km   Elevation change: 1247 metres   Highest point: 1987 metres   Start: Hamaiba Mae Bus Stop  ...

Mt. Kawanori 川苔山

Hiked on May 16, 2016    May 26, 2024 . Hyakuhiro Waterfall 百尋の滝 – Mt. Kawanori 川苔山   The route from Kawanori Bridge Bus Stop to Mt. Kawanori has been repaired and reopened as of July 21, 2022. For more information about the...

Hachijo-jima: the Hawaii of Japan

A Subtropical Oasis Within the Tokyo Metropolis Doraemon and his sidekick Betty Boop cut to the chase in this eloquent mural cherishing Hachijo-jima and I can only concur. The island’s subtropical climate, 287 kilometres (178 miles) south of Tokyo...

What to Expect when Camping in Japan

Why Campgrounds in Japan Get It Right Accommodation costs in Japan are for the most part fairly pricey, luckily there are some budget alternatives on hand such as camping if you’re prepared to bring your own gear. In fact, there are over 3,000...

Karataki Waterfall 唐滝

Hiked on Apr 5, 2016 . Karataki Waterfall 唐滝   Duration: 2.5 hours   Distance: 5.2 km   Elevation change: 300 metres   Highest point: 440 metres   Start: Tomijiro-shoten mae bus stop   Finish: Tomijiro-shoten mae bus...

Hachijo-fuji 八丈富士山

Hiked on Apr 6, 2016    Jul 20, 2021 . Hachijo-fuji 八丈富士山   Duration: 7 hours   Distance: 17.1 km   Elevation change: 854 metres   Highest point: 854 metres   Start: Sokodo Camping Ground   Finish: Sokodo...

20 Places to Pitch a Tent Around Tokyo

Some Great Places to Camp Around Tokyo Whilst holiday-makers in Japan largely gravitate towards traditional Japanese ryokan and large-scale hotels, gaining popularity in recent years has been car camping or in common Japanese parlance auto camp...

Archives