Category
Hiking
Mountain and LandHiking
Japan is a country with a rich alpine history. From yamabushi (mountain priests), to mountain loving missionaries like Sir Walter Weston, to modern adventurers such as the Miura family, Japan’s mountainous terrain has been the playground – and holy ground – to generations of mountain climbers and recreational hikers. North to south, east to west there are countless peaks to bag and trails to explore. Whether you are out to conquer the Hyakumeizan (Japan’s 100 famous peaks) or just head out on a day hike to get some fresh air and escape the heat, there’s something for every hiker and climber in Japan.
Hiking
A Bear Is Ripping Off My Nipple
I grew up with bears. Winnie, Paddington, The Berenstains, Yogi, even Grizzly Adams. Bears are cute; they just run away. I’ve see...
Bhutan
Bhutan Lite
How can you not be intrigued by a place called the last Shangri La, a country measured by Gross National Happiness, a land of thu...
Trail Recipes
Tempting Taters
A hot dish on the trail can warm the soul or, if you are not careful, burn the tongue. Most people assume you need a Dutch oven o...
Spirit of Silence
Signs in the Rain
The clear blue sky stretched as far as I could see, as I sat on the terrace of the Nishiho Lodge in Nagano sipping a cold beer. S...
Tottori
Go West, Baby, Go West!
Head to the furthest reaches of Japan’s least populated prefecture, Tottori, and prepare to be dazzled. In a country where...
Hyakumeizan
100 Famous Japanese Mountains: #69 Mt. Aso
I get off the bus at Miyagi Station and begin my two-hour walk to the Asosan trailhead. I am well rested, my pack feels less heav...
Hyakumeizan
100 Famous Japanese Mountains: #45 Fuji-san
“Bee-beep! Bee-beep!” It didn’t seem right the alarm was blaring in my ear at 2:30 in the morning, but that’s the standard wake-u...
Malaysia
The Best of Both Worlds
What kind of traveler are you? Do you head to the beach with an ice-cold beer? Perhaps you prefer relieving stress on the hiking...