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.
A New Frontier in Hiking Shoe Design Zamberlan has a rich history and enjoys excellent reputation when it comes to performance footwear and was eager to road test their latest speed hiking shoes. As someone who prefers the versatility and comfort of...
Hiking to the Hyakuhiro Waterfall in Okutama On a dreary overcast day last week I decided to check out a towering waterfall in the Okutama watershed. One of the major drawcards hiking Mount Kawanori is passing by the rather impressive Hyakuhiro...
Musings from 10 Years Hiking in Japan Whether setting out on your first hike or already an accomplished mountaineer there are definitely some quirks unique to hiking in the Japanese mountains. This was especially so coming from an Australian hiking...
Splendid Backdrop Scaling Yatsugatake Mountains Last summer near perfect conditions provided an excellent opportunity to take a three day hike over the Yatsugatake Mountains. These volcanic mountains are situated on the border between Nagano and...
Weird and Wonderful Sights on the Trail Hiking around Tokyo provides a great chance to escape the crowds, unwind and feel some personal space often lacking in the city. While charming scenery is abound there are times you are left scratching head as...
Wilderness at Tokyo’s Doorstep Situated within the Chichibu Tama Kai National Park in the western part of Tokyo, the Okuchichibu Mountains are a hiker’s paradise allowing us city dwelling folk to escape the confines of the nearby metropolis. The...
Hiked on May 21, 2015 Aug 24, 2023 . Kougen Hut 高原ヒュッテ – Mt. Kentoku 乾徳山 – Mt. Douman 道満山 Duration: 2 days Distance: 11.1 km Elevation change: 1186 metres Highest point: 2013 metres Start: Kentokusan...
Hiked on May 2, 2015 May 18, 2021 . Shougen Toge 将監峠 – Mt. Hiryusan 飛竜山 – Sanjounoyu 三条の湯 Duration: 3 days Distance: 34.5 km Elevation change: 1489 metres Highest point: 2069 metres Start: Ochiai Bus...
Hiked on Apr 9, 2015 Apr 4, 2024 . Mt. Gongen 権現山 – Mt. Koubou 弘法山 Duration: 2.5 hours Distance: 8.2 km Elevation change: 145 metres Highest point: 235 metres Start: Hadano Station (Odakyu...
A Guide to Mountains in the Kanto Region The Kanto Region which includes Gunma, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Saitama, Tokyo, Chiba, and Kanagawa contains many of the most popular hiking trails in Japan. Whilst the following list is a work in progress, it aims...
Largest Illumination Event in the Greater Tokyo Area A short one hour train ride from downtown Tokyo ushers you to the largest illumination spectacle in the Kanto area, the Sagamiko Illumillion. Illumination events in Japan are immensely popular...
The Arrival of Spring Heralds in Plum Blossoms In past years I have been somewhat reluctant venturing into areas invested with sugi (a Japanese conifer) at this time of year with a predisposition towards lengthy sneezing bouts. But decided to risk...