The year in review

Looking Back on the Year The main impetus for getting this blog started was frustration with the lack of information in English on hiking trails around Tokyo. Over the past year I have relished the opportunity to document my experiences and realised...

The Long-Forgotten Tokyo Peace Pagoda

A Chance Upon at the Tokyo Peace Pagoda To expect the unexpected is something I have come to cherish about my ventures into the mountains and to discover that Tokyo is home to a long-forgotten Peace Pagoda was definitely one of them. The glistening...

Mt. Mito 三頭山

Hiked on Dec 12, 2013    May 5, 2024 . Mt. Iyo イヨ山 – Mt. Nukazasu ヌカザス山 – Mt. Mito 三頭山   The floating bridge near the Ogouchi Jinja Bus Stop is temporarily closed due to the declining water level of Lake Okutama. For the...

Nanga 380 DX Sleeping Bag Review

Great Sub 700g Sleeping Bag With an ever expanding range of sleeping bags to choose from the difficulty arises when researching to buy a new one. This was the conundrum I faced a few months back while searching for a new 3 season bag. Even narrowing...

Mt. Ryokami 両神山

Hiked on Oct 31, 2013    Aug 23, 2023 . Hinata Ooya 日向大谷 – Mt. Ryokami 両神山   Duration: 2 days   Distance: 10.3 km   Elevation change: 1093 metres   Highest point: 1723 metres   Start: Hinata Ooya Bus Stop...

MSR Hubba HP Solo Tent Review

A Dependable Lightweight Tent from MSR Mountain Safety Research has been at the forefront of lightweight durable tent design for many years and the MSR Hubba HP solo backpacking tent is no exception. While this tent is no longer sold in the North...

Mt. Kinpu 金峰山

Hiked on Sep 30, 2013    Aug 23, 2023 . Mt. Kinpu 金峰山 – Mt. Kobushi 甲武信ヶ岳   Duration: 3 days   Distance: 26.8 km   Elevation change: 1089 metres   Highest point: 2599‬ metres   Start: Mizugaki-sansou Bus Stop...

Mt. Daibosatsu 大菩薩嶺

Hiked on Sep 21, 2013    Aug 23, 2023 . Mt. Daibosatsu 大菩薩嶺 – Daibosatsu-toge 大菩薩峠 – Tabayama Village 丹波山村   Duration: 2 days   Distance: 20.7 km   Elevation change: 1156 metres   Highest point: 2056 metres  ...

Pareidolia man

An Unexpected Visitor at Breakfast While sorting through my photos from this past weekend’s hike to Mt. Daibosatsu one shot in particular caught my attention. At first it actually kind of freaked me out as it appeared I had caught an ‘uninvited...

Exploring Hakone hot spring resort

A Sure Way of Escaping Tokyo’s Summer Heat and Humidity Where is a good place to escape the suffocating heat and humidity of Tokyo? How about Hakone, that holiday mecca out Kanagawa way. So that was the decision we made a couple of months back and...

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