Outdoor Japan

23/01/2026

The Kumano Kodo is world-famous, but its most spectacular path remains largely undiscovered.

While many pilgrims flock to the mountain trails, the Iseji Route in Mie Prefecture offers a different kind of magic. It is a journey that connects the sacred peaks to the turquoise waters of the Kumano Sea—a pilgrimage that must be experienced by land, sea, and river.

Along this ancient trail, the story is told through more than just hiking. It lives in the rhythmic paddle of a sea kayak through translucent coves, the quiet hum of an e-bike through historic fishing villages, and the steady glide of a traditional cedar Sandanbo boat down the Kumano River.

From the legendary stone steps of the trail to the hidden "side journeys" into local bonito factories and pristine riverside shrines, the Iseji is a cultural map of southern Mie. It is where the spiritual pulse of Japan meets the raw, emerald beauty of the Kii Peninsula.

Discover the hidden flow of the Kumano Kodo Iseji:
https://www.outdoorjapan.com/activities/travel/kumano-kodo-iseji/

Outdoor Japan has been the leading resource for travel, adventure travel, ecotourism and outdoor fun in Japan since 2000. Discover your Japan adventure.

18/01/2026

Beyond the neon lights of the city, Japan’s "Satoyama" is calling.

In the mountainous heart of Gujo Hachiman, a quiet revolution is unfolding. It is a quest for "rewilding"—not just of the land, but of the human spirit.

From the deep cedar forests where sustainable hunters maintain the ecological balance, to the crystalline rivers where designers-turned-locals lead night spearfishing expeditions, Gujo offers a rare glimpse into a vanishing way of life. This is a landscape where humanity and the wild have maintained a delicate, reciprocal bond for centuries. 🦌🛶

Discover the stories of the locals and "I-turners" who are preserving the spirit of rural Japan through sustainable interaction and cultural stewardship.

Explore the journey of rewilding in Gujo:
https://www.outdoorjapan.com/activities/travel/rewilding-in-gujo-hachima/

Outdoor Japan has been the leading resource for travel, adventure travel, ecotourism and outdoor fun in Japan since 2000. Discover your Japan adventure.

18/08/2025

At a small distillery in the Amami Islands, speakers thump with reggae basslines, hip-hop beats and other music. It isn't for the workers, but for the barrels of "kokuto" shochu absorbing the vibrations.

At a small distillery in the Amami Islands, speakers thump with reggae basslines, hip-hop beats and other music. It isn't for the workers, but for the barrels of "kokuto" shochu absorbing the vibrations. The team behind this "sonically aged" spirit says the music genres coax out different flavors fr...

15/07/2025

One from the Vault: Field of Dreams: Inakadate Tanbo Art
By Gardner Robinson

The story unfolds among the rice fields in Aomori Prefecture where villagers have created their own dramatic scenes attracting scores of visitors each summer.

15/07/2025

Shohei Otani and the "Field of Dreams" in Japan's rice field art.

Shohei Ohtani swings for fences in hometown rice paddy art
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15907082

04/07/2025

Japan's greatest music festival is back at Naeba Ski Resort on July 25, 25 and 27, 2025. Three days of music and outdoor fun whether camp, stay or just come for the day the music never stops. There are still some tickets available to all three days as well as special Friday night tickets and discounts to make it affordable for students and music lovers under 22 years old and 17 years old. Info below but check full details and lineups on the Fuji Rock website

(★1) Friday Night Ticket
Valid for entry to festival from 6:00pm Friday July 25th to 5:00am Saturday July 26th.
Limited number available.
Purchase of Parking Ticket with this ticket is not permitted.
(★2) Under 22: 1 Day Ticket
Available for those aged 16 or older and under 22 years of age as of July 27th, 2025. (Photo ID required.)
Those unable to provide photo ID and proof of age upon entrance to the festival will be required to pay the difference in price of a general sales ticket price.
Limited number of tickets for each day available.
There is no 3 Day Ticket discount available for “Under 22”.
Parking Ticket not available for purchase with this ticket type.
(★3) Under 17: 1 Day Ticket
Available for those aged 16 or older and under 17 years of age as of July 27th, 2025. (Photo ID required.)
Those unable to provide photo ID and proof of age upon entrance to the festival will be required to pay the difference in price of a general sales ticket price.
Limited number of tickets for each day available.
There is no 3 Day Ticket discount available for “Under 18”.
Parking Ticket not available for purchase with this ticket type.

https://en.fujirockfestival.com/

12/06/2025

A nice piece on Tatsuno-san, Montbell's founder and the Japan's homegrown outdoor brand hitting the half-century mark.. And we are proud to have Montbell as a supporter of Outdoor Japan for a quarter century now! Congrats to the Montbell team.

Drawing on his experience as a climber, Isamu Tatsuno planned ahead for the survival of his outdoor gear and clothing company. It paid off.

10/06/2025

One from the Vault: 10 for 10 with Isamu Tatsuno

A look back at an interview with Montbell's founder Isamu Tatsuno as Montbell celebrates it's 50-year anniversary.

https://www.outdoorjapan.com/activities/travel/people/10-for-10-with-isamu-tatsuno/

17/01/2025

Outdoor Japan has been a Free for All since 2000!
If you haven't been able to get your hands on the hard copy, not to worry you can read every issue on the go, no matter where you are. Check out the digital edition at

We’ve often said over the years that what makes Japan such an endlessly enjoyable adventure and cultural destination is that you can be skiing some of the world’s deepest powder one day, and the next, diving clear sub- tropical waters—and all while discovering a diverse natural and cultural hi...

05/01/2025

Killer avalanches can move as fast as a Shinkansen and involve thousands of tons of snow transforming from big slabs into a fast-flowing, almost liquid torrent with a snow-laden air blast leading the way. These can destroy forests. You don’t have a chance. The sad thing is, dying in an avalanche is almost entirely avoidable.

See full story at:

I have to admit, I’m not entirely crazy about the, “He died doing what he loved,” narrative. If I was out in my kayak and a whale decided to breach on top

02/01/2025

Finding Fresh in Fukushima
“Please don’t put up English signs!” the young American couple pleaded with me. We were enjoying some drinks after a backcountry trip together in Myoko. It was fifteen years ago and they had just been to Niseko and Hakuba and said they preferred the more Japanese experience here.

See full story at:

“Please don’t put up English signs!” the young American couple pleaded with me. We were enjoying some drinks after a backcountry trip together in Myoko.

29/12/2024

“On Amami Oshima, there is a kimono woven with the natural environment itself.”—Thida Moon The family that runs the Thida Moon hotel believes Amami Oshima