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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.

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

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        The Knights in White Lycra

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        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
      • video

        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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        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.
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        Getting Dirty in Japan

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    • 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.
        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
      • video

        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.
        shiretoko hokkaido outdoor japan

        New Horizons in Shiretoko

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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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    • Travel
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        CAMP3 Clubhouse in Madarao

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        shiretoko hokkaido outdoor japan

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        Shizukuishi

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        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.
    • Races and Events
      • sayuri matsuhashi double role curling athlete japan outdoor

        Silent Resilience

        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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Shimanami Kaido—An Island Hopping Journey

Shimanami Kaido—An Island Hopping Journey
Chugoku/Shikoku
Total distance: 161.7 km.
Best Season: March to November

It feels like flying in the sky when you cross the bridge towering high above the channel. You’ll be awe-struck by the stark contrast between the view from the soaring bridge and that of the dormant fishing village below.

The Nishi-Seto Expressway (AKA the Shimanami Kaido) is a motorway that features a number of bridges connecting a chain of islands between Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, in western Honshu and Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, in Shikoku. These bridges, except one between Onomichi and Mukaishima Island, have separate bike lanes, so you can enjoy hopping from island to island as you bike across the Seto Inland Sea.

The Shimanami Kaido is only about 80 kilometers long, but instead of zipping across to the other side, make stopovers on some of the islands, take small local ferries for locals and enjoy to the beauty and charm of the route to the fullest. We start our ride from Fukuyama City to the east of Onomichi. After stopping to have a look at Fukuyama Castle near the station, take K22 to the historic port town of Tomonōra which still boasts sites and buildings reminiscent of its heyday. In the pre-modern times, ships waited here for rapid currents of the straits to turn directions.

From there, continue on K47 and K365 to Tozaki, from where you can take a small ferry to Mukaishima, enjoying the short ride with locals. The route generally follows the motorway from the Inoshima Bridge to the Kurushima-Kaikyo bridges, but you have the luxury of stopping at interesting places and taking side trips on the way.

The slopes of Ikuchishima are covered with citrus trees, while Ōyamazumi Jinja in the western part of Ōmishima is famous for its collections of armor and swords from ancient times. The view from Mt. Kirōsan on Ōshima is worth the climb to the peak.

Three Kurushima-Kaikyo bridges make up the climax of the route. This airborne section stretches some four kilometers to the shore of Imabari on Shikoku Island. From here, JR Imabari Station is just another four kilometers away.

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