AOKA CMP163CL Carbon Tripod Review

Best Backpacking Tripod for Lightweight Adventures Let’s start with why even bother bringing a travel tripod along when hiking. Many readers no doubt see a tripod as kind of ridiculous luxury especially when the majority weigh something akin to...

Hiking in Japan: 6 Navigation Essentials

Navigation Toolkit You Need to Safely Hit the Trail Over the years one thing this blog has tried to hammer home probably the most is keeping safe and out of harm’s way on the trail. Even with the best preparation it doesn’t take much for...

Mt. Warabi 蕨山

Hiked on Jan 30, 2022    Mar 15, 2024 . Warabiyama Lookout 蕨山展望台 – Mt. Fujidana 藤棚山 – Konpira Shrine ruins 金比羅神社跡   Duration: 5 hours   Distance: 9.6 km   Elevation change: 664 metres   Highest point: 1044...

Mt. Maruyama 丸山

Hiked on Jan 16, 2022 . Maruyama Lookout 丸山展望台 – Ono Pass 大野峠   Duration: 4 hours   Distance: 10.3 km   Elevation change: 650 metres   Highest point: 960 metres   Start: Ashigakubo Station (Seibu Chichibu Line)  ...

Misawa Pass: Hatsuhinode Minus the Crowds

Hiked on Jan 1, 2022 . First Rays of 2022 Above the Sagami River For this year’s hatsuhinode (first sunrise), I decided to skip the customary pilgrimage of heading to a mountain summit like last year, instead picking a quiet spot along an...

16 Top Hiking & Adventure Blogs from Japan

Outdoor Bloggers to Follow in Japan (2022) Putting together a list that celebrates the diverse international outdoor blogging community in Japan is something that I have wanted to do for some time. The reason is twofold. If there is one thing just...

Tokyo Mountains with Names Overlaid (Updated)

A Panorama of Mountains from Tama Lake in Tokyo. The Tokyo Metropolis sits on the Kanto Plain, the largest lowland area in Japan and home to around a third of the country’s population. To the east, the city is bordered by the Edogawa River and Chiba...

Mt. Kinpu 金峰山 (Revisited)

Hiked on Oct 28, 2021 . Mt. Kinpu 金峰山 – Mt. Asahi-dake 朝日岳 – Odarumi-toge 大弛峠   Duration: 2 days   Distance: 24.3 km   Elevation change: 1089 metres   Highest point: 2599‬ metres   Start: Mizugaki-sansou Bus Stop...

Nanga Aurora Light 450 DX Sleeping Bag Review

Warm and Lightweight 3-Season Sleeping Bag When it comes time to bed down for the night, getting a good kip is of upmost importance irrespective whether on a leisurely overnight hike or a multi-day trek. Key to this of course is a warm, comfortable...

Mt. Ono 大野山

Hiked on Oct 23, 2021 . Yaga Station 谷峨駅 – Mt. Ono 大野山 – Yamakita Station 山北駅   Duration: 4 hours   Distance: 11.3 km   Elevation change: 557 metres   Highest point: 723 metres   Start: Yaga Station (Gotemba...

My First 100 Hikes in Japan [Infographic]

Eight and a Half Years in the Making Last week RIDGELINEIMAGES.com along with its indomitable editor-in-chief quietly chalked up the 100th hike. Yoku ganbarimashita if I might say so! Mind you these aren’t the hyakumeizan (100 top mountains) but...

Mt. Mishotai 御正体山

Hiked on Nov 2, 2021 . Naka-no-dake 中ノ岳 – Mt. Ishiwari 石割山 – Mt. Hirao 平尾山   Duration: 2 days   Distance: 25 km   Elevation change: 1214 metres   Highest point: 1681‬ metres   Start: Tsurushi Station (Fujikyuko Line)...

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