Backpacking Quick Reference Checklist

Essential Gear For Backcountry Hiking Key to an enjoyable and safe backpacking adventure is remembering what to pack. The following list includes essential items for multi-day hikes from summer through early winter. Important is to tailor your...

10 Lesser Known Places to Visit near Tokyo

Worthwhile Excursions Away from the Bustle of Tokyo Whilst downtown Tokyo offers a seemingly endless array of sightseeing possibilities, sadly not enough visitors get the chance to broaden their horizons and travel beyond the city limits. Included...

Odake Falls

Winter Waterfall Wonders at Odake Falls Tokyo contains some rather noteworthy waterfalls including the Hossawa Falls which are included in the One Hundred Waterfalls of Japan. While at the Odake Falls 大岳滝 are around half the height of the Hossawa...

Mt. Nokogiri 鋸山

Hiked on Dec 18, 2014    Jan 15, 2019 . Mt. Nokogiri 鋸山 – Jigoku Nozoki 地獄のぞき   Duration: 3.5 hours   Distance: 6.9 km   Elevation change: 329 metres   Highest point: 329 metres   Start: Hamakanaya Port...

Ultralight Primus Femto Stove P-115 Review

One of the World’s Lightest Gas Canister Stoves at 56g Investing in a quality lightweight stove is something all backpackers should consider a wise investment. In my university hiking days I was an exponent of the Trangia alcohol-burning stoves but...

X99 High-End Content Creation PC Build

Intel X99 Performance PC Build While this PC review makes a slight tangent from my usual ramblings about the Japanese outdoors, it would be fair to say that a solid grounding in technology, in this case desktop PC components is vital for creating an...

Showa Kinen Park Autumn Foliage

Showa Kinen Park Autumn Delights Pencilling in an annual pilgrimage to Showa Kinen Park to photograph the autumn foliage or koyo has been a prominent fixture on my calendar over the years. The 165 hectare National Government Park lies close to my...

Mt. Gozenyama 御前山

Hiked on Nov 4, 2014    Jan 15, 2020 . Taiken no mori 体験の森 – Mt. Sasuzawayama サス沢山   Duration: 5 hours   Distance: 10.9 km   Elevation change: 1005 metres   Highest point: 1405 metres   Start: Sakaibashi Bus...

Mt. Buko 武甲山

Hiked on Oct 25, 2014    Aug 24, 2023 . Fudou Falls 不動滝 – Mt. Buko 武甲山   Duration: 6 hours   Distance: 15.6 km   Elevation change: 1054 metres   Highest point: 1304 metres   Start: Yokoze Station (Seibu...

Lake Okutama (Ogouchi Dam) Tokyo

Securing Tokyo’s Water Future Paid a Heavy Toll As the responsible agency for supplying drinking water to almost 13 million residents the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Waterworks relies heavily on the 185,400 megalitre Lake Okutama...

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