Help Me Help You Publishing this blog provides a lot of pleasure and as such I want to do it well. That means not just helping or entertaining my existing readers, but also bringing new people in and encouraging them to get out and explore the...
Hiked on Jun 9, 2017 June 15, 2023 . Ryuzu Falls 竜頭ノ滝 – Odashirogahara 小田代原 – Yumoto Onsen 湯元温泉 Duration: 4.5 hours Distance: 10.4 km Elevation change: 120 metres Highest point: 1520 metres ...
Navigating the Pitfalls of Garmin Japan As someone who enjoys in the simplicity of navigating using a map and compass to find my way, I never really saw the necessity of investing in a handheld GPS unit. However, it’s not always beer and skittles...
Mt. Fuji as Seen on the 500-yen Banknote Until the release of the 500-yen coin in 1982, its corresponding paper equivalent reigned for more than 40 years. In fact, it wasn’t until 1994 that the 500-yen banknote was finally withdrawn from circulation...
Hiked on May 3, 2017 Apr 14, 2024 . Otoge 大峠 – Mt. Gangaharasuri 雁ヶ腹摺山 – Mt. Ubakoyama 姥子山 Duration: 2 days Distance: 20.7 km Elevation change: 1137 metres Highest point: 1874 metres Start:...
Vintage Maps that Continue to Soldier on After years of faithfully pointing sightseers in the right direction, these mostly painstakingly hand drawn Japanese hiking maps take on an ethereal quality of their own. Though they may have withered and at...
The Mystery Surrounding Kanto’s Longest Cave The Greater Tokyo Area features some fairly good tourist caves including the Nippara Limestone Cave in Tokyo and the Fujido Cave in Gunma Prefecture which are worth checking out. Recreational caving...
Discover one of Tokyo’s Hidden Gems Last year I had the good fortune of staying at the Sokodo campground on Hachijojima Island. For a free campground, the facilities were second to none and even provided hot water showers. This time I have travelled...
Hiked on Mar 29, 2017 Dec 11, 2021 . Mt. Tenjo 天上山 Duration: 6 hours Distance: 10.6 km Elevation change: 540 metres Highest point: 572 metres Start: Tako Bay Campground Finish: Tako Bay...
Hunter-gatherer Cave on a Chichibu Mountainside On a recent outing to the ruins of the former Mitsumine Ropeway in Chichibu, Saitama we spotted what appeared to be a cave in the distance. Never to let a good opportunity pass we decided to make the...