NEWSWORTHY
Hitchhiking Japan: 5,000 kilometers in the company of strangers
"I have no idea if people can read this," I think to myself as I look at my first cardboard sign and the spidery writing scrawled across it. The hiragana couldn't be simpler, but I only manage a hesitant smile as I hold up the ...
Slow-paced Izu Oshima is anything but sleepy
A mere Jetfoil away from Tokyo, travelers to Izu Oshima island can expect volcanic hikes, fresh local cuisine and an abundance of hospitality.
A brush with death in the Yatsugatake Mountains
While Tokyo basks in the warmth of early spring, hiking the Yatsugatake Mountain Range is cold, challenging and even life-threatening.
Short Kyoto hike packs in plenty to stimulate the mind and palate
History and spirituality abound on the trail from Kibune to Kurama.
Staying on top of winter in Japan with snowshoes
Among snowshoeing's chief pleasures is the ability to walk across fresh powdery snow without sinking, often surrounded by complete silence — something one has to experience to appreciate.
Paul Christie: Exploring the heart of Japan on foot
Japan Times 1992: 'Oita village sells itself as "Twen Peaks" '
The tiny village of Maetsue, Oita Prefecture, and Kyushu Japan Railway Co. are riding on the bandwagon of the popular U.S. television series “Twin Peaks,” asserting that the local scenery closely resembles the fictional American town.
Effort and reward: Hiking the precipitous spine of central Honshu
Emerging from the gloom of the tunnel, it takes a few moments to adjust to the piercing sunlight as the bus chugs along the narrow road that snakes up the valley alongside the Azusa River. All eyes inside are glued to the views unveiling themselves ...
Hiking Japan's autumn trails provides a great escape from the daily grind
Picture your workday, and then your week. Imagine the discomfort of the morning train or the slow crawl of traffic. Think about your place of work. There's no getting around it: Most of us spend huge swaths of time in offices and workshops, on factory ...
Hiking with kids is not an uphill climb
Hiking in Japan is always fun with family, and with summer subsiding, some of the best months for a mountain walk are around the corner. Japan offers countless choices in its vast mountain ranges, but one of my favorite family hikes is only 90 ...
