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HIKE JAPAN TOUR PROGRAMME 2010

Guide to Grades

OTHER HIKE JAPAN TOUR ITINERARIES

Over the last few years, Hike Japan has planned and a run a number of other tours. The outline itineraries can be found here .

If you're interested in any of these, please get in touch with us. We may have had other enquiries about the same itinerary, and so could run the tour, or, if you have a group of friends who are interested in the tour, then we could arrange this for you at a time that suits you, or suggest a time of year or season we feel it would be best to run the tour.

PRIVATE TOURS

Please get in touch with us to discuss your requirements. Whether you're out to find gourmet food, learn more about Japanese culture, arts, or crafts, or simply to experience the finest, luxury ryokan, we can provide advice based on experience gained over many years and our good contacts.

PROJECT COORDINATION

We provide a Japan project consultation service. We have arranged visits for television production companies and individuals wanting access to areas that for language or other reasons they cannot manage themselves.

GUIDE TO WALKING GRADES AND FITNESS

The following is a guide to help you make the right decision about your walking holiday. Hike Japan tours are for people who enjoy the outdoors and are looking for a holiday which offers the chance to explore the higher mountains, islands, and more remote rural areas. We run tours featuring gentle walks, but the more vigorous the walking, the more fit you will need to be. Physical preparation for the mountains of Japan will help. Some of our tour itineraries include more walking days than others. Others might have fewer days walking, but more challenging routes. Whilst we introduce many of the finest and most important aspects of Japanese culture and society, bear in mind that Hike Japan tours are not cultural or sightseeing tours with a few strolls along the way! Please read the following carefully, together with the itineraries you are interested in. We are happy to answer any other questions on the phone or by email.

OCEAN DEEP MOUNTAIN HIGH

Rating Strenuous Because of Mount Fuji climb only, but this climb can be omitted or modified. There are a number of interesting hikes around the lower slopes of Mount Fuji.

Highlights

The sail from Tokyo to the Ogasawara Islands, the ‘Galapagos of Japan' – The unique flora and fauna of Hahajima island, and walks and swims in the surrounding crystal waters – Climb to the summit of Mount Fuji – Hiking in marshlands and mountains of Nikko National Park - traditional Kabuki theatre –the bright lights of Tokyo – delicious food

Suggested season – mid-June

The Ogasawara Islands are among the earth's richest and biologically most endangered terrestrial ecosystems. We are always sensitive to the environments we visit and try to minimize our impact in every way. All members of Hike Japan tours must agree to listen to, and follow, all relevant advice and guidelines, particularly on this tour. There are unique species on Hahajima which are on the verge of extinction.

A new and exciting itinerary, the first part of this journey is to the island of Hahajima, the southernmost inhabited island of the Ogasawara group. This journey is followed by an ascent to the peak of majestic Mount Fuji. We also hike the upland marshes of Oze and Nikko in the Nikko National Park. There are also days in between to enjoy the bright lights and culture of both the traditional and the ultramodern in Tokyo.

The remote Ogasawara islands, formerly known as the Bonin Islands, are located in the Pacific Ocean about 1000 kilometres south of Tokyo. Although remote, they remain, curiously, within the Tokyo metropolitan area. They are a nature lover's paradise. The islands are sometimes referred to as the ‘Oriental Galapagos'. They are carefully conserved environments with an abundance of flora and fauna. Formed by submarine volcanic activity millions of years ago, the 30 or so islands have never been attached to the Asian or American continents, with the result that they are home to unique plant and animal species.

The crystal clear waters support an abundance of marine life, whilst the land is covered in lush forests. The islands are on a sperm whale migration route, and whales with their calves can be seen passing by every day in the spring, and in June we are likely to see umigame (Ogasawara green turtles) laying eggs.

These islands saw some vicious battles during World War II. Rusting armaments remain in caves dotted around the island facing the sea.

As those who have been fortunate enough to visit these wonderful islands, and who always dream of returning, will testify, the long ferry journey to Hahajima is worth every minute.

Mount Fuji (3,776m) is normally climbed by the masses in July and August. We plan an ascent from the fifth station to the summit in mid-June when, although there may be a few patches of snow left near the top, the hike should be more comfortable and the paths less crowded. No specialist skills are needed to climb to the summit. The hike will be led by Tom Takano, a highly experienced, professional Japanese mountain guide who works closely with Hike Japan. After the climb we head for a natural hot spring in Hakone to refresh and relax.

There will be a visit to the Kabukiza theatre and a guided walk exploring the rapidly developing Marunouchi district around Tokyo station. We also visit the Japan Open-air Folk House Museum ( minkaen ) and the Okamoto Taro Museum of Art in Kawasaki.

We will spend three days hiking in the Nikko National Park, staying in mountain huts with natural hot springs. At this time of year, marshland flowers, including the white mizubasho (inaptly named skunk cabbage), will be in bloom.

As usual, on this tour we will have the services of professional guides offering their insights, excellent food and accommodation, and will explore the islands and mountains – as well as Tokyo - that other visitors rarely have the opportunity to visit!

IMPORTANT NOTE

The Ogasawara Islands are among the earth's richest and biologically most endangered terrestrial ecosystems. We are always sensitive to the environments we visit and try to minimize our impact in every way. All members of Hike Japan tours must agree to listen to, and follow, all relevant advice and guidelines, particularly on this tour. There are unique species on Hahajima which are on the verge of extinction.

WEST JAPAN EXPLORER – KYUSHU AND WEST MAIN ISLAND

Rating - Vigorous

Highlights

Two-day hike over Miyanoura-dake (1,935m) on Yakushima and seeing the oldest cedar forests in Japan · Open-air seaside natural hot spring baths · Visit to a shochu distillery · Classic Isoteien garden at the old Shimazu family residence in Kagoshima · Climbing Mount Aso, volcano with the biggest caldera in the world · Visit to Usuki town and stone Buddhas on Kyushu coast · Hot sand baths · Travel on the shinkansen bullet train · Hiroshima Peace Park · Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima · Izumo Grand Shrine · Matsue – castle and home of Lafacadio Hearn · Climbing Mount Daisen · Train journey along the beautiful Sea of Japan coast · Traditional Japanese pottery-making session · Kinosaki hot spring town · Delicious food, particularly local seafood specialities (flying fish, crab) and mountain vegetables.

Suggested season – summer to mid-November

Tokyo · Yakushima · Mount Aso · Usuki · Hiroshima · Miyajima · Izumo Grand Shrine · Matsue · Kinosaki hot spring · Kyoto

Hike Japan tours typically travel to some remoter parts of the country. This tour is a particularly good opportunity to explore places well off the beaten track. We will fly from Tokyo to Kagoshima and then on to the island of Yakushima. We explore Yakushima and do a two-day hike over the forested interior of the island. Flying by light aircraft to Kyushu, we then we travel on by road over Mount Aso to the east coast, take a bullet train to Hiroshima, bus to Matsue, and then another train along the beautiful Japan Sea Coast to Kinosaki and Kyoto. Whilst we will be on the move much of the time, there will be times to relax and learn something about the islands, people, and culture of the West. The delicious local food would be worth the trip alone.

Speak to any outdoor guide in Japan and they will recommend you visit Yakushima. The mountainous island is covered in ancient, dense cedar forests. The mightiest of these has a girth of about 28 metres! Trails cross the island, however, and we will spend one night in a mountain hut on our hike. Annual rainfall is high, but November is probably one of the best times to visit. Deer and monkeys thrive on Yakushima. After the hike, we will stay in comfortable cottages by the sea, where we can relax in natural hot springs on the shore. Flying fish are a local delicacy – washed down with the local shochu brew.

Flying back to Kagoshima we will travel by minibus to the volcanic Aso region in central Kyushu. Mount Aso has the largest active caldera (crater) in the world – a circumference of some 128 kilometres. Only the middle is smoking – the surrounding area is lushly fertile. After a night in a lovely local ryokan , we will climb up to rim for a closer look.

Next stop on the tour is the coastal town of Usuki, famous for its Buddhist rock carvings. These were carved into rock faces between the 12 th and 14 th centuries and are designated National Treasures. Usuki has a well-preserved town centre you can explore. From Usuki we will enjoy a morning trip to Beppu for a sand bath on the beach, and lunch.

Our journey then continues by train from Kyushu to Hiroshima on the main island of Honshu. The section from Kokura to Hiroshima will be on the fabled bullet train. We will stay in a modern ryokan next to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. The Peace Memorial Museum explains, in a vivid way, the reality of the nuclear holocaust. From Hiroshima we take a short ferry ride across to Itsukushima Shrine with its ‘floating' Shinto torii gateway (popularly regarded as one of the three most famous scenes in Japan) on Miyajima.

Next stop on the tour is Matsue. To get there we have to cross to the Sea of Japan coast, a different prospect to the heavily industrialized Pacific coast. Matsue was the home, for a short time, of the writer and teacher Lafcadio Hearn (1850-1904). His observations on life in 19 th century Japan are well worth reading. We will visit his house, situated not far from Matsue Castle. We will take a morning trip by local train from Matsue to look at the Grand Shrine at Izumo, one of the oldest and most important shrines in Japan, and the following day will climb sacred Mount Daisen.

Our next destination is the natural hot spring ( onsen ) town of Kinosaki. We will stay in a quiet part of town, not far from a quiet Zen temple with a wonderful garden. An afternoon pottery session has been arranged at a local pottery with a noborigama or ‘climbing brick kiln'. Your wares will be shipped on to you. Crab is a local speciality, and autumn is the start of the season, so expect some on the menu.

From Kinosaki we will travel by train to the old capital of Kyoto. Activities can easily be arranged in Kyoto or you can enjoy some free time or shopping. Your guide can adapt the time to suit the interests of individual members in the group.

The tour aims to blend some adventurous hiking with less strenuous, cultural activities, all fuelled by good food and company.

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