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    • Spring
      • video

        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.

        Solace and Giant Salamanders in Akiota

        Just beyond Hiroshima City is a tranquil outdoor destination home to some of Japan's last remaining oosanshouo, the elusive giant salamander.
        Kyoto Oni Trail Outdoor Japanvideo

        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
      • the nomad pasche family

        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.
        adventure travel world summit in hokkaido

        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.
        mead brewing in japan

        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.
        the knights in white lycra

        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.
        sea to table yamagata

        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
    • Near Tokyo
      • 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.
    • 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
      • 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.
    • Mountain and Land
    • Sky
      • 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.
    • Snow and Ice
      • climbing mt. fuji off season

        Mt. Fuji: The Path Less Traveled

        Fuji-san is the most climbed mountain in the world. If you are in good shape, there is a way to avoid the traffic for a more peaceful Mt. Fuji experience during the off-season.
    • Travel
      • the nomad pasche family

        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.
    • Food and Drinks
      • the nomad pasche family

        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.
    • Races and Events
      • dd4d brewing

        DD4D Brewing

        In nearly e...
        fuji rock japan

        2023 Summer Music Festivals

        Get into the groove this green season while enjoying the great outdoors with family and friends.
        Summer Events Fireworks Festivals in Japan

        2023 Fireworks Festivals in Japan

        Enjoy these fireworks festivals held throughout Japan this summer and autumn.

The Return to Japan

The past several years have been challenging for everyone. For travelers it’s been frustrating, especially so for those accustomed to chasing winter storms around the globe. Over the last decade, Japan has risen to the top of the wish list for powder hunters keeping a watchful eye on Siberian storms that crash into Japan’s mountains leaving deep powder behind. Beyond the snow, the rich culture, unique traditions—coupled with the amazing hospitality and delicious food—just add to the draw. Unfortunately during the pandemic Japan had some of the tightest border restrictions meaning the outside world was locked out–until now.

Before the Covid curtain closed inbound tourism to Japan, Snowledge founder, Eric Lee O’Brien, had been working with Outdoor Japan to bring his Snowledge App to Japan as well as some top ski and snowboard athletes over to explore some lesser known mountains and resorts.

Travelers and the travel industry in Japan were impatiently waiting for an official announcement that travel restrictions would ease, and in October 2022 it finally came. It just so happened Outdoor Japan was working with Tohoku Tourism to showcase some great resorts in Northern Honshu and the stars aligned to bring the Snowledge team over to hit some of northern Japan’s deepest terrain.

O’Brien, a free skier who competes on the Freeride World Tour, has brought together an all-star crew of skiers, snowboarders, filmmakers and storytellers to capture and share the essence of what makes Japan such a special winter destination. In Eric’s words, “Return to Japan will be a pow-filled skiing and snowboarding film highlighting a return to the cultural experiences and some of the lesser known corners of Japan’s mountains reopening for the first time in years.”

His crew includes fellow Freeride World Tour athletes Audrey Hebert (Canada, Snowboard) and Brian Stenerson (USA, Snowboard), as well as American Skier—and Skida founder—Corinne Prevot, plus award-winning Australian filmmaker Sam Levings to capture all the action.

This year’s project will take the crew to some of the best powder zones in Tohoku, as well as the Hokushin Region of Nagano, home to the traditional Olympic ski and hot spring village of Nozawa Onsen, nearby powder resorts Madarao and Myoko and finally over to Hakuba’s peaks for the Freeride World Tour stop. They will be posting on their socials, so follow their adventures and keep an eye out @outdoorjapan for updates from Jan. 18 onward.

Eric Lee O’Brien | @ericleeobrien
4FRNT | TREW | Hestra | POC


Audrey Hebert | @audreysnowclimb
TREW | Hestra | UNLTD | Swix


Brian Stenerson | @instasteny
Weston | TREW | Zeal | Pret


Corinne Prevot | @krinster
Skida | 4FRNT

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