Hiking in Japan

Grappling with a slightly rusty chain bolted into the hard, cold rock, I heave myself up onto the relative safety of a flat ledge...

While you probably won’t encounter an elusive river sprite in the highlands of the Northern Japan Alps, you may feel a bit lightheaded from the refreshing thin air, remarkable vistas and mystical aura of the mountains and valleys in Kamikochi.

Recent movies such as “Wild” and “A Walk in the Woods” have popularized long-distance hiking, causing many of us who enjoy backpacking to wonder what it would be like to complete one of the legendary long distance hiking trails.

When the cicadas start to sing, summer in Japan is officially underway. Mid-summer days are hot, often followed by muggy nights, ...

As the local population ages in Japan’s countryside, a way of life begins to disappear. Travelers return to Japan’s historical hi...

In the year 1914, a lone man in a cabin in the woods—literally, a tiny shack in the Dalarna backcountry—sewed up a bunch of backp...

From 10 meters above, atop a steep, ice-covered ravine, I could hear my hiking partner’s voice calling down to me. “Yes, I’m OK,”...

During tough times, and Japan has seen its fair share recently, people have a tendency to tighten their belts or stay indoors. Ye...

“Bee-beep! Bee-beep!” It didn’t seem right the alarm was blaring in my ear at 2:30 in the morning, but that’s the standard wake-u...

My name is Bose. At least that is what my dad always calls me, so it must be my name. When he is angry with me, he will yell, “Bo...

It was still mid-October, but the chill in the air made me wonder if sleeping in a tent was a good idea. When I arrived at the gy...

In Japan, July and August are the peak months for haikingu (ハイキング； hiking) and jusou (縦走； backpacking/trekking across the mountain...