Spending 24 hours in Nature If one overnight summer camp and BBQ isn’t quite enough, you can always head back for more. That was the maxim I clung on to this week as I again sought refuge from the hustle, bustle, and heat of Tokyo. Camping at 1,000...
Hiked on Aug 7, 2022 . Hotaka-jinja 武尊神社 – Kengamine 剣ケ峰山 Duration: 7.5 hours Distance: 13 km Elevation change: 1058 metres Highest point: 2158 metres Start: Urami-no-taki carpark Finish: Urami-no-taki carpark Difficulty: ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅...
Hiked on Jul 25, 2022 . Hibara-toge 日原峠 – Dohyo-dake 土俵岳 – Koyuzuri-toge 小棡峠 Duration: 2 days Distance: 12.3 km Elevation change: 813 metres Highest point: 1098 metres Start: Shin Sannobashi Bridge Bus Stop Finish: Sanbongi Bus Stop ...
Hinohara Village ‘Takimeguri’ Waterfall Tour Continues This blog post continues my Hinohara Falls Tour Hinohara Takimeguri ひのはら滝めぐり a photographic journey of the 13 main waterfalls in Hinohara Village, Tokyo. Apart from the four waterfalls...
A Nature Fix Without Leaving the City With Tokyo in the grip of the worst June heatwave since 1875 means hiking nearer to the city will have to take a back seat thanks to the searing sun, sky-high temps, and pea-soup humidity. As I write, central...
Hiked on Jun 18, 2022 . Daimyojin Observation Deck 大明神展望台 – Lake Sagami 相模湖 The trail via Kenkyoji Temple has been repaired, and it is now possible to undertake the hike as a loop course, starting and finishing at the Sekrozan Iriguchi bus stop. ...
Hiked on May 24, 2022 . Jinzasan 神座山 – Mt.Shakagatake 釈迦ヶ岳 – Shindo Pass 新道峠 Duration: 2 days Distance: 18.4 km Elevation change: 1028 metres Highest point: 1793 metres Start: Himine jinja mae Bus Stop Finish: Kawaguchiko Natural Living...
Planning and Managing Risks on the Trail During my formative days hiking in Japan, I must confess I didn’t devote much time to planning my hikes even the overnight ones. My usual approach back then was print out a hike some random person posted on...
Hiked on May 5, 2022 Jul 3, 2022 . Nanahaneyama 七跳山 – Hinatadani-no-atama 日向谷ノ頭 – Toridaniyama Refuge Hut 酉谷山避難小屋 Duration: 2 days Distance: 30.4 km Elevation change: 1098 metres Highest point: 1718 metres Start: Higashi Nippara Bus...
Backpacking Food Ideas and Meal Planning A common question I get is what food I pack for an overnight hike. The simple answer is foodstuffs that I enjoy eating and not too much as food is heavy. In stark contrast to my first overnight hike, when I...
Hiked on Apr 19, 2022 . Kaze no Kamisama 風の神様 – Mt. Koyashiro コヤシロ山 – Mt. Minashi 実成山 Duration: 3 hours Distance: 8.5 km Elevation change: 402 metres Highest point: 609 metres Start: Arai Bus Stop Finish: Arai Bus Stop Difficulty: ...
Bask in Fujisan’s Shadow On my latest getaway to try and sneak in one final hike before returning to my teaching post, I spent a night at Fumotoppara campground just a hop, skip and jump away from Mt. Ryugadake. Fumotoppara is located in Shizuoka...
Hiked on Mar 29, 2022 . Stone Buddha 石仏 – Hashita-toge 端足峠 – Lake Motosuko 本栖湖 Duration: 5 hours Distance: 11.1 km Elevation change: 550 metres Highest point: 1485 metres Start: Lake Motosuko Bus Stop (Blue Line) Finish: Lake Motosuko...
Hiked on Mar 20, 2022 . Mt. Yougaisan 要害山 – Tenguiwa 天狗岩 – Umabikisawa-toge 馬引沢峠 Duration: 4 hours Distance: 11.2 km Elevation change: 228 metres Highest point: 414 metres Start: Miyanohira Station (Ome Line) Finish: Higashi-Ome Station...
3-Day, 3-Season Backpacking Gear (Updated 2022) It’s been a couple of years since I last whipped out the scales and took inventory of the gear, I take with me on a three-season, three-day hike. Not surprisingly the bulk of the stuff I carry is...
MAPPLE Special Online Maps Campaign Continues in 2022 The map images and contents of this article have been obtained with the permission of the publisher (株式会社昭文社 Shobunsha Publications, Inc.). Like always at the beginning of spring Shobunsha...