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    • Spring
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        Finding the Flow from Kansai to Kochi

        Shikoku’s many mountains, valleys and proximity to the ocean has made it a hidden gem for rafting, kayaking and canyoning enthusiasts willing to take a step or two further from the Golden Route of Kyoto and Osaka.

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        The Oni Trail: Hiking Coastal Kyoto

        The mystical oni is prevalent in Japanese children’s stories, usually as a way to scare kids straight. Adventure Travel Kyoto is shedding a new light on this folklore and developing a new hiking route in the countryside of Kyoto.
    • Summer
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        The World is Our Playground

        The Pasche family has been cycling and living out of a tent in remote corners of the planet for the past 13 years on four continents spanning 50 countries.
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        Adventure Travel World Summit in Hokkaido

        The ATTA will host their first Adventure Travel World Summit in Asia in Hokkaido, Japan. We caught up with ATTA Director Shannon Stowell to find out more about the adventure travel industry and how it continues to grow and evolve.
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        The Sweet Secrets of Brewing Mead

        Wander into the world of mead brewing and find yourself immersed in a fascinating journey spanning centuries and continents.
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        The Knights in White Lycra

        Each year a group of cyclists head to the deep north towards Tohoku’s vast rice fields and coastal trails to help transform the lives of neglected children.
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        Sea to Table in Yamagata

        An unforgettable way to intimately explore the Shonai Region in Yamagata is a culinary experience bringing bounty of the sea straight to your table.
    • Autumn
    • Winter
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        CAMP3 Clubhouse in Madarao

        Keith Stubbs, a veteran in the snowboard industry, transitioned from rider to coach and instructor trainer for Snowboard Instruction New Zealand. After coaching in various Japanese resorts, he has established a permanent base in Madarao, outlining his plans for the area and future snowboard endeavors.
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        New Horizons in Shiretoko

        During another epic powder season, two seasoned winter sports enthusiasts traded their snowboard bags for camera bags and traveled to Eastern Hokkaido to explore the frozen landscape and broaden their winter horizons.
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        Silent Resilience

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        Heritage Hunting in Hokkaido

        Travelers venturing beyond Hokkaido's popular winter resorts will discover a land with a rich cultural and natural history, a proud indigenous people and a community striving to preserve their heritage.
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        Shizukuishi

        Northern Honshu’s Iwate Prefecture, known for heavy snowfall, features Shizukuishi—a powder-rich resort area with views of Mt. Iwate. Snow enthusiasts seeking lesser-known gems can enjoy exceptional snow quality and uncrowded resorts, including Shizukuishi Ski Resort, Amihari Onsen Ski Resort, and Iwate Kogen Snow Park, offering affordability and traditional hospitality.
    • Near Tokyo
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        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Near Kyoto
    • All Regions
    • Article Map
    • Ocean and Beach
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • River and Lake
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        Heritage Hunting in Hokka...

        Travelers venturing beyond Hokkaido's popular winter resorts will discover a land with a rich cultural and natural history, a proud indigenous people and a community striving to preserve their heritage.
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        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Mountain and Land
    • Sky
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        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Snow and Ice
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        CAMP3 Clubhouse in Madarao

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        New Horizons in Shiretoko

        During another epic powder season, two seasoned winter sports enthusiasts traded their snowboard bags for camera bags and traveled to Eastern Hokkaido to explore the frozen landscape and broaden their winter horizons.
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        Shizukuishi

        Northern Honshu’s Iwate Prefecture, known for heavy snowfall, features Shizukuishi—a powder-rich resort area with views of Mt. Iwate. Snow enthusiasts seeking lesser-known gems can enjoy exceptional snow quality and uncrowded resorts, including Shizukuishi Ski Resort, Amihari Onsen Ski Resort, and Iwate Kogen Snow Park, offering affordability and traditional hospitality.
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        Northern Shinshu’s Secret Stash

        A weak yen, revenge travel, and excellent ski conditions have led to high demand, booking out popular resorts like Hakuba and Nozawa Onsen this year. Fortunately, lesser-known gems like Togari Onsen, near Nozawa Onsen and Madarao, offer charming alternatives for powder seekers.
    • Travel
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        CAMP3 Clubhouse in Madarao

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        Shizukuishi

        Northern Honshu’s Iwate Prefecture, known for heavy snowfall, features Shizukuishi—a powder-rich resort area with views of Mt. Iwate. Snow enthusiasts seeking lesser-known gems can enjoy exceptional snow quality and uncrowded resorts, including Shizukuishi Ski Resort, Amihari Onsen Ski Resort, and Iwate Kogen Snow Park, offering affordability and traditional hospitality.
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        Keith Stubbs, a veteran in the snowboard industry, transitioned from rider to coach and instructor trainer for Snowboard Instruction New Zealand. After coaching in various Japanese resorts, he has established a permanent base in Madarao, outlining his plans for the area and future snowboard endeavors.
        shiretoko hokkaido outdoor japan

        New Horizons in Shiretoko

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        Curling athlete Sayuri Matsuhashi’s journey to the top of her sport is an inspiration to deaf athletes and women juggling their roles as mothers while also pursuing their professional dreams.
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        Travelers venturing beyond Hokkaido's popular winter resorts will discover a land with a rich cultural and natural history, a proud indigenous people and a community striving to preserve their heritage.
        shizukuishi skiing snowboarding outdoor japan

        Shizukuishi

        Northern Honshu’s Iwate Prefecture, known for heavy snowfall, features Shizukuishi—a powder-rich resort area with views of Mt. Iwate. Snow enthusiasts seeking lesser-known gems can enjoy exceptional snow quality and uncrowded resorts, including Shizukuishi Ski Resort, Amihari Onsen Ski Resort, and Iwate Kogen Snow Park, offering affordability and traditional hospitality.
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Adventure and Tranquility is The Last Resort

The Last Resort is the perfect diversion from manic Kathmandu. A short, but exciting drive up a deep river gorge brings you to a place where relaxation and adventure naturally co-exist.

Pat O’Keefe is all over the place, literally. When he’s not running Hokkaido Outdoor Adventures, or on globe-trotting whitewater expeditions, he’s a partner in The Last Resort, a jungle retreat in Nepal, a mere 12 kilometers from the Tibet border.

TLR is the brainchild of David Allardice of Ultimate Descents. The resort started with a bridge—a very high bridge—160 meters above the Bhote Kosi River. The bridge itself is impressive, and not just as the launching point for one of the highest bungy jumps and the highest bridge swing in the world (as of August., 2008).

The bridge provides access to the resort, but it has also given nearby villagers better access to the main road. Before construction, locals had to walk five hours to cross the gorge. In addition, the resort invests part of its revenue in various projects to help support the local community.

Now Allardice’s dream is a reality and the resort sits among cliff-top rice terraces, quaint villages and above the mighty Bhote Kosi. You can’t imagine a more spectacular setting to bungy jump then from the bridge. If the bungy isn’t enough for you, the bridge swing will surely finish you off.

I thoroughly enjoyed the bungy, and the walk back up the gorge, past grazing cattle and through the village provided the perfect dose of quiet reflection to counter-balance the adrenaline. But when coaxed off the platform once again for the bridge swing, my legs started kicking in mid-air like an infant pulled from the crib. After settling in, the seemingly endless free-fall (100 meters to be exact, reaching 150 km/hour) and 240-meter arch across the valley was amazing and the sensation, and view, was quite different from the bungy.

Guests at The Last Resort can also enjoy mountain biking trips to the Tibet border, canyoning tours, relaxing spa treatments and some of the best commercial white water rafting in the world. Accommodation is in luxury tents, or you can pitch your own. Toward the end of the day, everyone gathers at the aptly named Instant Karma Bar to rehash their adventures over a few drinks.

The Last Resort is just a three-hour drive from Kathmandu (if the roads are clear), but the return trip can take longer, depending on traffic and some local variables. On the day we left to go rafting, on our way back, two buses stopped in the road going in opposite directions. Both drivers then jumped out and ran away. It was some kind of vigilante roadblock.

The locals were looking for someone and they didn’t want traffic moving. After a few hours, things got sorted out, and we were on our way. A few more kilometers down the road, we were stopped by a small group of young men. After some haggling, a spirited discussion with our driver and a bit of cash changing hands, we were off again.

I turned to one of the Nepalese staff and asked, “Who were those guys?”
He gave me a wry smile and said, “They said they were from UNICEF.”
We never did make our rafting trip; the group couldn’t wait any longer for us. No one seemed to mind too much, though. You bond quickly with people after sharing extreme experiences, and we made some great friends on this short trip.

The Last Resort
The Last Resort Sales Office is located next to the Kathmandu Guesthouse.
Address: The Last Resort, P.O. Box: 14431, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: +977-1-4700525 (Sales Office), +977-1-4439501 (Head Office)
Web: www.thelastresort.com.np, www.bungynepal.com

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