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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 Adventures of the Hokkaido Bush Pig 3

You never know who you are going to meet and where you are going to meet them.

This month I thought I would tell you a story of an unusual run-in I had up here on the big island of Hokkaido. It’s about a good friend of mine and how we first met. I was camping on the shore of Lake Shikotsu which sits at the foot of Tarumae-zan (1,041 m) and Fuppushi-dake (1,102.2 m), on the southeast coast of Hokkaido.

I had a great day, hiking up to the peak and around the volcanic crater of Tarumae-zan and then over to the peak of Fuppushi-dake. The mountains, seated next to each other, are connected by a trail. (You can hike these mountains separately or together.)

The evening was starting to set in, the skies were clear and, best of all, there was a full moon poking out its head and taking a look around.

After having a feed, I was thinking what I should do, and—bang! I got a brainstorm (which doesn’t happen to me often). I decided to take a night stroll again up to the peak of Tarumae-zan, from where I could take in the night view of Tomakomai City and just sit up there alone and enjoy the warm summer night filled with the beautiful full moon and stars.

It takes about 15 minutes by car from the campground to the car park at the start of the trailhead, then from there about a 50-minute hike to the peak. By the time I started my stroll to the top, the sun was gone and the moon was out, but as I got near to the top, I heard something a little strange and couldn’t work it out at first.

As I got nearer, I was sure I it sounded like singing and some kind of wind instrument. When I finally reached the peak I was surprised to discover I wasn’t the only one with the same idea. I found a Japanese guy in his early 50s singing and playing the shakuhachi (a traditional Japanese recorder) and sitting next to a very large bottle of sake. He had a bit of a shine on his face.

You think I was surprised? You should have seen his face when he realized I was a foreigner.

After getting over the initial shock of us coming across each other, he offered me some sake which I was very happy to accept. (Here is a bit of advice that I think is a good idea: I always carry a tin cup on the outside of my day pack and my larger packs on all my hikes and treks.

The reason is, this wasn’t the first time I’ve been offered something to drink on the trails, and I’ve found it a good idea to have something quick and handy to drink out of. I sat there with him for about four or hours or so at the top of the mountain, listening to him play and sing traditional Japanese mountain songs, enjoying the wonderful view and the night sky—and of course the sake.

The trek down was interesting after drinking all that sake and, to be honest with you, I don’t really remember it. Me and that guy have remained good friends ever since and have enjoyed other nights such as that on other mountain tops here in Hokkaido.

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