Hiked from Oct 10 to Oct 14, 2023 . Mizugaki-sansou 瑞牆山荘 to Okutama Station 奥多摩駅 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...
Hiked on Nov 11, 2023 . Oni-no-iwaya 鬼の岩屋 – Mt. Tenjin 天神山 – Mt. Chigootoshi 稚児落し If you wish to avoid the fixed chains, this hike can also be undertaken as an out-and-back hike, or ‘piston’ from Otsuki Station. ...
Longitudinal Traverse of the Okuchichibu Mountains Last month, I achieved a long-term goal by completing what I consider to be the best multi-day hike in the Greater Tokyo Area, which I have coined the Okuchichibu Grand Traverse. The journey...
Hiked on Nov 3, 2023 . Hakutaisan 白泰山 – Nozoki-iwa のぞき岩 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 days Distance: 18.1 km...
Hiked on Oct 7, 2023 . Asakawa-toge 浅川峠 – Mt. Amefuri 雨降山 – Mt. Nihonsugi 二本杉山 Duration: 5.5 hours Distance: 15.2 km Elevation change: 1046 metres Highest point: 1312 metres Start: Asakawa Bus Stop...
In Search of a Cooler Destination Summer in Japan used to be somewhat tolerable when there was an understanding that it would roll past by early September. Here we are, two-thirds of the way through September, and it continues unabated, thanks to...
Hiked on Aug 29, 2023 . Reclining Buddha statue 寝釈迦像 – Sai-no-kawara 賽の河原 – Mt. Komaruyama 小丸山 Duration: 2 days Distance: 26.4 km Elevation change: 1408 metres Highest point: 1878 metres Start: Sori...
Hiked from July 21 to July 29, 2023 . Hirogawara 広河原 to Akaishi Onsen Shirakabaso 赤石温泉白樺荘 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...
Getting Down to the Nuts and Bolts From July 21st to July 29th, 2023, I completed a full-length traverse of the entire Southern Alps from Hirogawara in Yamanashi Prefecture to Akaishi Onsen Shirakabaso hot spring in Shizuoka Prefecture, a distance...
Make Your Safety a Priority As I go about preparations for my summer hike in the Southern Alps, I thought it would be timely to reflect on how safety figures into the mix. I hope you find it useful. Last month, the National Police Agency released...