hiking
Kumamoto Prefecture‘s stunning “Road To Laputa“, which looks like Studio Ghibli’s Castle in the Sky come to life, may close permanently.
The Marine Corps members carried an ill woman for two miles to safety. Read More
We’ve all heard of instant noodles; now it’s time for instant rice balls. Or…sort of instant.
Tell someone you climbed Mt. Fuji, and they’ll ask “Where did you start from?”, because there are paved roads that can drop as much as half-way up the mountain. Of course some say you haven’t climbed Fuji unless you started from its base, but even that wasn’t enough of a challenge for these three foreign outdoorsmen, who decided to start their hike from miles away from Fuji at the seashore, then journey from Japan’s lowest point to its highest, making this awesome video along the way.
Two of the best ways to experience the pleasures of rural Japan are a long hike and a leisurely dip in a hot spring, or onsen, as they’re called in Japanese. With the country’s chains of volcanic mountains, there are plenty of spots where you where you can do both in the same day, with onsen resorts often not too far from where mountain trails start or end.
But instead of booking a room in an inn with a hot spring, you can do something even better in this part of Hokkaido by digging your own onsen!
There are certain things you expect to find when hiking through the mountains of Japan, like towering waterfalls, serene temples, and little stands selling soba noodles and dumplings. If you’re lucky, you might even run into some of those awesome hot-spring bathing monkeys.
And if you’re really lucky, you’ll bump into Chewbacca and Darth Vader if you happen to be on the same trail as this cosplayer and his awesome outfits.
Japan’s major cities offer just about everything, but did you know that includes great nature trails? From forests and waterfalls to ancient temples and shrines, many of Japan’s best hiking trails are literally just a step off the bullet train. If you have a Japan Rail Pass, you’ll find it even harder to resist these hikes near Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima and Fukuoka. Got a day–or even a half-day–to spare? You can still get your hike in!
These hiking routes make it convenient to explore Japan’s natural surroundings. No long drives to get out to the countryside, no great changes in altitude, and there’s always a good view waiting at the top. The trails are sign-posted, well-maintained, and many pass through historic districts and are tailored for sight-seeing by foot. You’ll find eating establishments, public toilets, lockers and even hot springs along the way on some of them. In short, Japan is a day-hikers dream! And if you like to run, these hiking courses make great running trails too.
Kirishima Geopark is a spooky place, I thought to myself, separated from my hiking group by a thick, soupy fog that dampened both sound and clothes. Despite the well-marked trails, there was something about the twisty trees and shivery sound of water drops pushed loose by the wind that suggested you might walk around a bend and disappear forever. I loved it.
There are a few things people hope to find while hiking to the top of Mt. Fuji. Almost everyone looks forward to the breathtaking vistas. Others hope for the added bonus of comradery with their fellow hikers. Some may even expect to gain some insight into the Japanese spirit or national character by reaching the country’s highest peak.
But you know what no one goes to Mt. Fuji for an eyeful of? Feces. Unfortunately, visitors are becoming more and more likely to run across a pile of poo on the mountain, and that’s not only costing Mt. Fuji some of its cultural luster, it might also mean the end of its UNESCO World Heritage Site status.
There are a few things you’ll want to make sure you have before setting out on a long hike. Proper footwear is a must, for example, as is a sufficient supply of water.
Especially if you’re heading into the mountains of Japan during the summer months, a hand towel is something else you’ll definitely want to have with you. The high humidity means you’ll be working up quite a sweat, and having something to wipe yourself off will go a long way towards making your day outdoors more enjoyable.
Of course, even more so than being drenched in sweat, getting lost is an easy way to ruin your day out. Thankfully there’s now a way to prevent both of those problems with a towel that doubles as a map.
Located about 120 kilometers outside of the city of Huayin, Shaanxi province, Mount Hua is one of China’s Five Great Mountains. Certainly beautiful, the mountain has historically been a religious retreat for “strong-willed” monks able to find “the way” to the top on narrow pathways alongside gut-churning drops.
With tourism now booming in a more affluent China, the government has worked to improve access to the top of the mountain by widening the trail, adding railings and safety chains, and in general working to prevent hikers from experiencing a quick, unplanned descent to the bottom. Let’s find out what the dizzying location has to offer!
Read More
The other day, a group of friends made an offer to one of our RocketNews24 reporters, inviting him to go mountain climbing with them in the Philippines. Worried about his physical ability to actually complete the journey, he tried to make excuses about needing to water his cactus. But, when told that there would be real-life girls present, he decided to take one for the team and accompany the group on their mountain trek. After all, it would have been bad form to leave a lady unattended!
That was before he found out that they would be climbing Mt. Pulag, the second highest peak in the Philippines. It measures in at just over 9,586 feet tall! On second thought, that cactus did look really thirsty…. Read More
MOST POPULAR
Now
Weightlifting is Japanese salarymen’s newest hobby, report says, since “Muscles won’t betray you”
Otaku dances like a Japanese idol in front of J-Pop idol at live event in Tokyo【Video】
Japanese model home provides model wife and model daughter so you can feel the joy of family life
Tokyo’s amazing 2D Cafe looks like an illustration, but it’s an actual restaurant you can eat in!
People in Japan go crazy for Japanese candy zen gardens 【Pics & Video】
Uniqlo’s shockingly sexy new clothing item inspires selfies and anime-style fan art
Does US$50 canned wagyu beef make for a great beef bowl? We find out【Taste test】
Crows in Japan spotted playing with Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, may have exploitable bias in deck-building
The leaves are changing, and SoraNews24 is looking for a new writer!
Seiji interviews his teenage crush Yumi Adachi with the spirit of Yngwie Malmsteen
Weekly
- Uniqlo’s shockingly sexy new clothing item inspires selfies and anime-style fan art
Post-meal waste at Japanese sushi restaurant sparks controversy online
Weekly Shonen Jump under fire for naked image of busty manga girl with tapioca nipples
Sayonara, Forever 21! Mr. Sato hits up the chain’s “everything must go sale” with only 50 yen
Jackie Chan spotted cuddling a puppy at a Japanese home centre【Video】
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure memes are the signature seasoning at this ramen restaurant in Japan【Vid】
Japan’s sexy “Butt Master” swimsuit model marries pro gamer she met in an arcade- Tokyo’s amazing 2D Cafe looks like an illustration, but it’s an actual restaurant you can eat in!
Japanese pop star Kyary Pamyu Pamyu lashes out at Shibuya Halloween partiers
Microsoft Japan’s experiment with 3-day weekend boosts worker productivity by 40 percent
Monthly
- Microsoft Japan’s experiment with 3-day weekend boosts worker productivity by 40 percent
Five reasons not to live in Japan (as chosen by Switzerland’s perviest otaku)
Why do Japanese toilets have double hooks on their doors?
Japanese Phantom Cheesecake: A sweet so popular 2,000 sold in ten minutes- Post-meal waste at Japanese sushi restaurant sparks controversy online
Japanese women categorise male friends by levels of intimacy, from hugging to bathing
Shinkansen announcer shares moment her mother hears her voice on bullet train for the first time- Uniqlo’s shockingly sexy new clothing item inspires selfies and anime-style fan art
Kyoto’s popular tourist spot Gion to forbid photos on private roads, 10,000 yen fine to violators
“Otaku” YouTuber confronts Tokyo tough-guy litterers, who’ve got no idea who they’re dealing with
Yearly
- Microsoft Japan’s experiment with 3-day weekend boosts worker productivity by 40 percent
- Five reasons not to live in Japan (as chosen by Switzerland’s perviest otaku)
PewDiePie buys house in Japan, calls it “a dream come true”
Naruto’s author Kishimoto reveals what characters’ names would’ve been if editor didn’t intervene
We asked a Niantic insider 30 questions about Pokémon Go, learned a lot of useful information
Why do Japanese recycle bins have two openings but dump everything into the same compartment?
Japanese Mame Shiba Inu banknote design pays homage to nation’s beloved dog- Why do Japanese toilets have double hooks on their doors?
- Japanese Phantom Cheesecake: A sweet so popular 2,000 sold in ten minutes
Japanese baseball teen refuses walk after getting hit by pitch, follows up with home run【Video】
RECOMMENDED STORIES
Uniqlo’s shockingly sexy new clothing item inspires selfies and anime-style fan art
Does US$50 canned wagyu beef make for a great beef bowl? We find out【Taste test】
Crows in Japan spotted playing with Yu-Gi-Oh! cards, may have exploitable bias in deck-building
The leaves are changing, and SoraNews24 is looking for a new writer!
Seiji interviews his teenage crush Yumi Adachi with the spirit of Yngwie Malmsteen
Microsoft Japan’s experiment with 3-day weekend boosts worker productivity by 40 percent
Crafty and creative Twitter user shares how-to videos for dazzling autumn leaf origami
New Starbucks dessert, Ichie Taguma x Dessert Chocolat Discovery, promises chocolatey decadence
Japan’s first beef bowl vending machine goes into service in Tokyo
Sayonara, Forever 21! Mr. Sato hits up the chain’s “everything must go sale” with only 50 yen
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure memes are the signature seasoning at this ramen restaurant in Japan【Vid】
What does “Konnichiwa” really mean? Understanding Japanese greetings
-
