Beaches in Fukui
Living in Chubu means we have probably the best access to the outdoors of anywhere in Japan. To the south and east we have the Pacific Coast, to the north the mountains of Gifu and... more
YUMORIYAMA 夕森山 Evening Forest Mountain
The beach may be one answer to the heat of the Nagoya summer, but the mountains provide an enticing alternative — and a far less crowded one. So for those readers who might prefer boots... more
Atsumi Hanto; away from it all
Atsumi peninsula is the one half of the enclosing pincers that define Mikawa Bay (the other half being the Chita peninsular). The northern side of Atsumi faces Mikawa Bay, the southern side straight out onto... more
Mt. Kinka, Gifu
If you like hiking, check out the hiking on Mt. Kinka, in a national forest and wildlife sanctuary in Gifu City. It has four trails up the mountain, with interesting things to do at the... more
In the mountains in Mie
Mie and Nagoya summers are, to say the least, not much fun. As conscientious, environmentally sensitive global citizens, most of us Nagoya city dwellers doubtless try to use the air conditioner as little as possible,... more
Climbing Mount Fuji - A Very Long Walk
All Japanese should climb Mt. Fuji; only fools climb it a second time (old Japanese proverb) A thought occurred to me in the early part of this summer that I had not spent much time out... more
Black Princess Mountain
The northern ranges of central Japan are now, thanks to the expansion of the expressway system, much more accessible to Nagoya residents, and the opportunity to explore these beautiful mountains is well worth the long... more
Futatsumoriyama: Hiking in Japan
The names of most Japanese mountains give little idea of their actual appearance, often either referring to obscure historical arcana or suggesting an over-active, sake-enhanced visual imagination. Futatsumoriyama, however, is a... more
Hiking in Japan: the Basics, Part One
My first article in these pages was in 1989, and in the eighty-plus pieces I have written on climbing Japanese mountains over the last twenty years since then, not once has it occurred to me... more
Get Away in the Mountains of Shizuoka
Living in what most people would consider the ‘boonies’, it can get to you after awhile, not having anything new or interesting to do. After all, in Tokyo one could never get bored. Between the restaurants,... more
