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.
Introducing the Pentax K-70 Since its announcement in early June the release of the Pentax K-70 has been eagerly awaited. This was especially true for someone still cradling a near on six-year-old K-5. The K-70 is a midrange DSLR that succeeds the K...
Tips for Planning a Successful Backcountry Adventure Planning hiking trips back in Australia was generally a pretty straightforward affair; find some willing accomplices, get a hold of a topo map, pack your gear and start driving. All of this could...
Soaking up the Atmosphere at 2,150 metres Having recently travelled over Nobeyama Station the highest train station in Japan (1,345 m) I was fortunate again last week to kick back in the country’s highest outdoor hot spring (rotenburo) at a lofty...
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:...
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...
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...
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 ...
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...
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...
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...