While there are many peaks of a similar height, Kitadake (北岳) takes the crown as the second tallest mountain in Japan, after Mt. Fuji, topping out at 3,193 m. Located in the Minami Alps National Park (南アルプス国立公園), the name Mount Kita literally means “northern mountain,” referring to its being the northernmost of the three Akaishi Mountains (赤石山脈) otherwise known as the “Southern Alps” (南アルプス). Read more
After a particularly sticky summer in Tokyo, autumn has arrived and the temperatures are finally beginning to drop. Looking back, it’s been a pretty good season for adventures and while my memory is still fresh I wanted to share a few interesting spots we visited on a recent road trip to Shizuoka Prefecture (静岡県), a few hours west of Tokyo. Read more
Having fully recovered from my epic hike earlier in the year, over a recent public holiday I decided it was time to hit the mountains again, this time heading to the Hotaka Mountains which consists of five peaks; Okuhotaka, Karasawa, Kitahotaka, Maehotaka and Nishihotaka reaching a height of 3,190 m (10,466 ft) in Nagano prefecture. Read more
Unlike outdoor adventures I’ve undertaken before, the Shikoku Pilgrimage is unique in that you’re rarely far from civilisation and that it takes upwards of 7 weeks to complete. This means you don’t need to worry about food or cooking equipment but any gear you carry needs to be extremely durable and light. Read more
After all the ups and downs of yesterday, I slept like a stone statue last night. Luckily today was a mostly downhill affair with some of the finest weather to date (21°C with a slight breeze). Read more
After a better night’s sleep than I’ve had in a few days I woke shortly after 6am and was heading out of Ōzu by 7. I passed scores of kids on their way to school and saw a group of them sweeping their playground. Only in Japan. Read more
Today’s hike began at 7am after a warm goodbye from the old couple who run Lodge Camellia (highly recommended). Read more
After a good nights sleep at yesterday’s excellent hotel I woke early, had breakfast, and got moving shortly after 7am. The hotel manager warned me that there were “only two” vending machines on the route I would be taking. I reassured him I would be fine. Read more
Sleeping on the beach last night was fairly uneventful as far as my forays into wild camping go. With nothing else but the sound of the waves I became slightly paranoid about getting washed away by the incoming tide but looking out at the view of the stars and the moon soon belayed any fears. Read more
After my successful initial camping trip to Mount Daibosatsu I felt confident enough to try something a little more ambitious so got working on a plan for a multi-day hike/camp to Yatsugatake (八ヶ岳), a volcanic mountain range on the border between Nagano and Yamanashi prefectures. Read more