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...
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 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...
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...
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...
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...
Japan’s Deadliest Animal Unveiled If I had nominate one aspect of hiking in Japan that I could really do without it would be hornets. In this case not just any garden variety but the humongous Japanese giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia japonica)...
Ultra lightweight Hiking Umbrella from Montbell The use of trekking umbrellas out on the trail is has garnered a fair bit of debate in recent years with some folk who swear by them and others who consider them completely unnecessary. I probably fall...
Kan Toge Mountain Hut It’s amazing what unexpectedly catches your attention exploring remote mountain trails. For me it was last week hiking down from Karisaka Toge on the Yamanashi / Saitama prefectural border. After taking a short breather...
Hiked on Sep 18, 2014 Nov 15, 2021 . Karisaka Toge 雁坂峠 – Mt. Suisyoyama 水晶山 – Mt. Koreisan 古礼山 Duration: 3 days Distance: 23.9 km Elevation change: 1528 metres Highest point: 2158 metres Start:...