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...
Hiked on Jun 17, 2023 . Mt. Mae-Shirane 前白根山 – Midaga Pond 弥陀ヶ池 – Mt. Goshiki 五色山 Duration: 8 hours Distance: 13.3 km Elevation change: 1098 metres Highest point: 2578 metres Start: Nikko Yumoto Campground...
Yamanashi’s Most Prominent Peaks One thing Japanese people love to do is rank and categorise things, and mountains are no exception. Ever since the release of Kyuya Fukada’s best seller 100 Famous Japanese Mountains (Nihon Hyaku-meizan) back...