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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.
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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
      • 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.
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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
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        Enjoy waterfall hikes and hot springs, beautiful beaches and delicious seafood in Kawazu on the western coast of Izu Peninsula.
    • Winter
    • 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
      • 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.
    • All Regions
    • Article Map
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      • 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
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        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.
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        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.
        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.
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        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.
    • 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.
        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.
        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.
        maota sustainable fashion

        Weaving Stories with Maota

        Maota is a small-scale clothing line working with local craftsmen in the countryside of Aichi and Gifu prefectures. While their focus is on small, local and “slow” fashion, they are moving fast toward some big goals.
        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.
    • Races and Events
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        2023 Fireworks Festivals in Japan

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Race Report: Ultra Trail Mt. Fuji 2013

On April 26, trail runners from around the globe gathered at Japan’s most iconic mountain to take part in Japan’s largest trail running race, the Ultra Trail Run Mt. Fuji (UTMF). The race featured the 161-km. UTMF, and the 85-km. Shizuoka-to-Yamanashi (STY) race.

The courses were a grueling mix of mountain and road, requiring racers to negotiate technical mountainous terrain as well as quickly run across long stretches of asphalt and gravel road. Night running high in the mountains was also a useful skill during this extremely challenging race.

“Brutal. Tough. Painful. But absolutely beautiful.” These were some of the words chosen by racers to describe the course.

“I couldn’t believe just how steep the trails were in Japan. There were some sections that were so steep, I literally had to use both my arms and legs to pull myself up the mountain,” exclaimed one Australian participant. “Next year I’ll train by throwing in some climbing to my running schedule,” she laughed.

The UTMF race pamphlet forewarned athletes the weather could be unpredictable in April, with cold temperatures and even snow a possibility. The temperatures on the mountain were cold indeed. However, UTMF was once again blessed with good, relatively warm weather over the two days, and 73 percent of the UTMF starters and 92 percent of the STY starters were able to successfully cross the finish line.

According to the race committee though, they consider themselves lucky this year and are keenly aware the statistics may not be so great if the weather gods don’t cooperate in the future.

Although many trail races in Japan are locally organized and mainly attended by Japanese runners, the UTMF is one of the first races in Japan to earn a strong following among the international ultra-running community. So much so, that some racers traveled halfway around the world to reach the start line at Lake Kawaguchi.

This year, 269 racers from 40 countries (almost 13 percent of the total number of participants) signed up for the race.

The UTMF also attracted some of the best racers from around the world, including Sebastien Chaigneau and Julien Chorier of France, and Gary Robbins (Canada). They placed second, third and fourth respectively in the men’s UTMF category.

On the women’s side, international runners Krissy Moehl (USA) and Shona Stephenson (Australia) placed first and second in the women’s UTMF.

This is the top race for many of Japan’s top trail runners – the one they say really matters. Despite the home-turf advantage, the world-class competition proved to be humbling. There was one very big surprise however in the form of Yoshikazu Hara. A relatively new, unknown roadrunner, he beat out an elite group of international runners to take first place overall.

The 2014 race dates have not been announced yet but, as soon as the dates are official, race details and registration information will be posted on the ULTRA-TRAIL Mt. FUJI official race Web site. Web: www.ultratrailmtfuji.com

Racers coming from abroad may also want to check out Avid Adventures Japan about travel and race support packages in English. Web: www.avid-adventures.com 

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