Guns, Momiji, and Waterfalls If you’re in search of abundant nature Hinohara Village on the outskirts of Tokyo is a good place to start. Each year I make more than a few trips to the metropolis’s only village to escape the city and enjoy fresh air...
Solo Summer Hike and Camp in Okutama Arriving mid-morning at Okutama Station during the Obon holidays was as expected bustling with activity. A little surprising perhaps given COVID-19. I made a beeline for one of the two diminutive buses headed for...
Mt. Imakuma 今熊山 – Mt. Kariyose 刈寄山 – Kongo Falls 金剛の滝 . . Terrific Beginner-Friendly Trail Close to Tokyo If you’re after a nature fix close to downtown Tokyo this hike to Mt. Kariyose in Akiruno City may fit the bill. The hike is well signposted...
Mt. Takahata 高畑山 – Mt. Kuratake 倉岳山 . . Tranquil Streams and Expansive Views Mt. Kuratake is the highest peak of the Akiyama mountain range which runs south of the Katsura River on the border between Otsuki and Uenohara cities. It is also one of the...
Mt. Ogura 御座山 – Zeneimine 前衛峰 – Miharashidai 見晴台 . . A 200 Famous Mountain Worth Spending a Night When planning an overnight hike there are three things I look for. First is water which needs to be available either near the campsite or...
Unazawa Otaki Falls 海沢大滝 – Onara Pass 大楢峠 . . An Early Spring Hike This hike pays a second visit the picturesque Unazawa Valley in Okutama. A few years back I made it as far as the Mitsugama Falls before succumbing to a migraine which put a stop to...
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...
Fun, One-of-a-Kind Experience A waterfall that doubles as a natural hot spring is the best way to describe the Kamuiwakka Falls which are located up the road from the Shiretoko Five Lakes. These falls are one of Japan’s more amazing natural...
Small Town with an Aquamarine Pond Smack-bang in the middle of Hokkaido finds the Biei Blue Pond (Aoiike) an artificial pond flanking the Biei River and down the road from the Shirogane Onsen. The pond itself is little more than an oversized puddle...
Refreshing Waterfalls to Beat the Heat There is something about waterfalls that captivates and beckons us to take a closer look. Perhaps it’s the sight and sound of falling water that refreshes and energises especially in Japan’s humid summer...