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)...

Mt. Wanakurayama 和名倉山

Hiked on Oct 2, 2021    Nov 15, 2022 . Higashisenba 東仙波 – Mt. Karamatsuo 唐松尾山 – Mt. Kasatori 笠取山   Do not attempt this hike unless you have experience in route-finding and make sure you carry a topographic map and handheld...

Great Scott: My Olympic Tickets Just Turned Up

As I Live and Breathe A prime example of how askew and erratic things have been of late is the arrival today of my Olympic tickets for the Tokyo 2020 men’s mountain bike race. What the dickens? Yes, you read that correctly and more than two months...

Tokyo 2020 Men’s Mountain Bike Race

Highlights From the Men’s Cross Country Race As you probably guessed from the title, last Monday I went to see the men’s mountain bike race at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. I know it’s not a popular thing to say due to the current state of...

Mt. Myoko 妙高山 to Mt. Hiuchi 火打山

Hiked on Jul 20, 2021 . Tsubame Onsen 燕温泉線 – Mt. Myoko 妙高山 – Mt. Hiuchi 火打山   Duration: 3 days   Distance: 24.3 km   Elevation change: 1292 metres   Highest point: 2462 metres   Start: Tsubame Onsen Bus Stop...

A Month Out: Olympic Rings at Mt. Takao

Takaosan Propping Up the Olympic Rings Like the cloak of mist which shrouded Mt. Takao for the unveiling of the Olympic rings back in April to mark 100 days before the opening of the Tokyo Olympics, the weather last Sunday was much the same. An omen...

Mt. Kukiyama 九鬼山

Hiked on May 22, 2021 . Tenguiwa 天狗岩 – Mt. Matateyama 馬立山 – Mt. Gozenyama 御前山   Duration: 5 hours   Distance: 9.9 km   Elevation change: 550 metres   Highest point: 970 metres   Start: Kasei Station (Fujikyuko Line)   Finish: Saruhashi...

Sayama Hills Mountain Bike Course

Tama Lake – Sayama Lake – Noyamakita-Rokudoyama Park     For those looking for a nearby cycling path try the Tamako Cycling Road.   Duration: 2 hours   Distance: 22.7 km   Elevation change: 95 metres   Highest point: 195 metres  ...

Mt. Izugatake 伊豆ヶ岳

Hiked on May 4, 2021    Mar 26, 2022 . Takahatayama 高畑山 – Amamezasu Toge 天目指峠 – Nenogongen 子の権現   Duration: 6 hours   Distance: 13.6 km   Elevation change: 561 metres   Highest point: 851 metres  ...

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