* Special update for 2021: The official climbing season is now over, and trails are not expected to be open again until summer 2022. Please check back nearer the time for further updates! ** For full information on climbing Mt. Fuji check out my guidebook ‘Hiking and Trekking in the Japan Alps and Mount Fuji‘, … More All you need to know to climb Mt. Fuji (2021 update)
I recently had the pleasure of visiting Ako, a small seaside city in the far western reaches of Hyogo Prefecture, just a short train ride away from Himeji.As well as being a great place to relax and unwind on the beautiful shores of the Seto Inland Sea, it is also an area with a long … More Ako – Japan’s salt capital
The MSR Advance Pro 2 is a single-wall, 4-season ultralight bivy-style tent designed primarily for fast and light alpine mountaineering. I had been eyeing up this tent for a while as I liked the idea of a small, lightweight, simple to setup and strong 4-season tent, but had been put-off by warnings of severe condensation … More Gear Review – MSR Advance Pro 2 tent (2020 model)
I wrote a short introduction to the Japan Alps for anyone who may be thinking of heading there for hiking/trekking/sightseeing later this year. Click here for the full article. For much more detailed information, be sure to check out my newly published guidebook ‘Hiking and Trekking in the Japan Alps and Mt. Fuji‘, currently on … More Cicerone – An Intro to the Japan Alps
As the hot and humid Japanese summer becomes something of a distant memory (or half-remembered sweaty nightmare), the cool, crisp air and shorter days signal the start of “koyo” season, the changing color of the leaves in autumn. While spring cherry blossom season (“hanami”) is a short, vibrant celebration of spring beauty and anticipation of … More Autumn leaf-viewing spots in Japan
As everyone gears up for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, another huge international sporting event is due to take place in Japan even sooner. The Rugby World Cup will be held from September to November 2019 at venues across Japan, promising a feast of high-quality sporting action in some of the most interesting cities in … More Travelling around Japan during the Rugby World Cup 2019 – JNTO
One of Japan’s lesser known hot spring resort towns, Yunotsu Onsen has a somewhat old-fashioned feel but that’s part of its appeal. Shimane is the second least populated prefecture in Japan, so it’s a great place to go to get away from it all. Check out my short piece for NAVITIME travel https://travel.navitime.com/en/area/jp/guide/NTJtrv0749-en/
I wrote a short feature for The Japan Times on hiking in the North Japan Alps recently; the article covers my three day hike from Kamikochi to Mt. Yari, across the notorious Daikiretto, before finally ascending the third highest mountain in Japan, Mt. Oku-Hotaka. I had a great weather window in late October last year, … More The Japan Times – Hiking the precipitous spine of central Honshu
Miyazaki Prefecture in eastern Kyushu is one of Japan’s hidden gems, with miles of wonderful coastline, superb mountainous scenery and legends and history at every turn. With good rail connections and even a regular ferry service from Kobe and Osaka, getting there couldn’t be simpler too! Here are some of the best sights: Takachiho This … More Discover Miyazaki
Must-See Japan is now available in paperback! Concise and practical guidebook for discovering the best places to visit, valuable insider tips and useful advice for planning your trip to Japan. Updated and improved for 2017! Super low price for a limited time! Available now (also for kindle, smartphones and tablets) at: Amazon (UK) – http://amzn.eu/3l5U1So … More Must-See Japan – Paperback Version!
Tom Fay 