Tokyo Travel with a Dark Twist Like most major cities around the world Tokyo isn’t all beer, salarymen and skittles and has a definite dark side if you care to look. If you’ve checked out most of the traditional tourist attractions or are...
Mt. Aso 麻生山 – Mt. Hinodeyama 日の出山 – Tsurutsuru onsen つるつる温泉 . . Tarukubo Stream and Shiraiwa Falls Trail For those looking to gain some hiking experience, tackling the main ridgeline which runs between Musashi-Itsukaichi Station and Okutama...
Sogaku Ravine 惣岳渓谷 – Lake Okutama 奥多摩湖 . . Explore Okutama’s Historic Past From the late 18th century until the completion of the National Route 411 in 1945 the Okutama Old Road (Mukashi Michi むかしみち) was an integral part of Koshu Back Road...
Japan’s Most Prominent Peaks For better or worse, Kyuya Fukada’s 1964 best seller “100 Famous Japanese Mountains” (日本百名山 Nihon Hyaku-meizan) has had a profound influence on modern alpinism in Japan. It has led to a decades long hiking boom...
Okinomimi オキノ耳 – Mt. Mantaro 万太郎山 – Mt. Tairappyou 平標山 . . Crossing the “Mountain of Death” Let’s get this out the way first. I can’t stress it enough: if you decide to do this hike, plan carefully. The trail for the most part...
Mt. Takao 高尾山 – Mt. Shiroyama 城山 – Mt. Kagenobu 景信山 . . Close-up View of Mt. Fuji from Tokyo Located on the outskirts of Tokyo and within one hours travel of Shinjuku makes Takaosan 高尾山 (Mt. Takao) a favourite year-round retreat for Tokyoites. The...
The Weird and Wonderful World of Yamabushi # 1. What is a Yamabushi? Yamabushi also known Shugenja are the mountain-wandering priests of Japan. Their name literally means “those who lie in the mountains” from kanji 山 (yama) mountain and 伏 (bushi) in...
Mt. Kaiun 開運山 – Mt. Tenjo 天上山 . . Chasing Epic Views on Mitsutoge If you’re looking for a hike near Tokyo with stunning views of Mt. Fuji than Mt. Mitsutoge 三ッ峠山 is a great starting point. Mitsutoge is the generic name for a group of mountains...
Lake Oze 尾瀬沼 – Mt. Hiuchigatake 燧ヶ岳 – Mt. Shibutsu 至仏山 . . Some of the Best Hiking out of Tokyo Oze is without question one of best places to hike near Tokyo. It caters to both casual day hikers as well as more experienced adventure...
Tsukuba Shrine 筑波神社 – Mt. Nantai 男体山 – Mt. Nyotai 女体山 . . The Mount Fuji of the West When I first learned that Mt. Tsukuba was included in the list of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains I was baffled as it seemed nothing out of the ordinary...