Outdoor Japan

11/08/2026

Has the increase of reported bear encounters and media coverage of these encounters discouraged you from hiking in Japan?

Climber traffic fell more than 30 percent in northern Japan's Hokkaido and Tohoku regions between April and June compared with the same period two years earlier, with the sharpest declines seen in areas hit hard by bear attacks, an analysis of smartphone location data on major mountains showed Monda...

23/05/2026

The Water Battle Begins!
Entries for the "GoPro Water Games" are pouring in!!
SUP • Kayak • Rafting

An intense water battle where everyone's pride is on the line! This high-impact, splash-filled race is guaranteed to be absolutely thrilling, even just watching from the shore!!

Whether you want to have a blast with your friends or go all-out to claim the top spot, this is the place to be. This May, why not come and experience the hottest water event of the season with us?

There also is a Rafting Fun Race for the general public! It includes a guide, so anyone can participate.

Entries are still open!

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Event Details
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Date & Time: Saturday, May 30th

Location: Minakami Michi-no-Eki (Roadside Station) Mizukikokan – Special GoPro Venue

How to Register: Check the link in our profile to enter!

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🔥水上バトル開幕🔥
「GoPro Water Games」続々エントリーいただいてます！！
SUP ・ Kayak ・ Rafting
それぞれのプライドをかけた白熱のウォーターバトル💥
水しぶきが飛び交う迫力満点のレースは、陸から見ているだけでも大興奮間違いなしです！！
仲間とワイワイ挑むも良し、ガチでテッペンを狙いに行くも良し。
この5月、一番アツい水上イベントを一緒に体感しませんか？🌊
一般の方向けの　ラフティングファンレースも開催します！ガイド付きなので　誰でも参加可能となります。
まだまだエントリー募集中です🔥
皆さんの熱い参戦、お待ちしてます！！
📢 イベント詳細
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📅 日時：5月30日（土）
📍 場所：みなかみ道の駅 水紀行館 GoPro特設会場
🔗 エントリーはプロフィールのリンクからチェック！
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🔥水上バトル開幕🔥
「GoPro Water Games」続々エントリーいただいてます！！

SUP ・ Kayak ・ Rafting
それぞれのプライドをかけた白熱のウォーターバトル💥
水しぶきが飛び交う迫力満点のレースは、陸から見ているだけでも大興奮間違いなしです！！

仲間とワイワイ挑むも良し、ガチでテッペンを狙いに行くも良し。
この5月、一番アツい水上イベントを一緒に体感しませんか？🌊

一般の方向けの　ラフティングファンレースも開催します！ガイド付きなので　誰でも参加可能となります。

まだまだエントリー募集中です🔥
皆さんの熱い参戦、お待ちしてます！！

📢 イベント詳細
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
📅 日時：5月30日（土）
📍 場所：みなかみ道の駅 水紀行館 GoPro特設会場
🔗 エントリーはプロフィールのリンクからチェック！
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

#水上バトル #カヤック #ラフティング

23/05/2026

Naoko Watanabe, the first woman to summit K2 three times, has also climbed the world's 14 highest peaks.

20/05/2026

[Safety Notice] For anyone planning outdoor activities such as hiking or camping in mountain areas.
This spring, there have been repeated bear sightings and several incidents in regions including Tohoku. Before visiting, carefully check bear‑sighting information released by local governments and visitor centres, and make sure you carry essential items such as bells or bear‑repellent spray.
It is vital to avoid encountering a bear.
When engaging in outdoor activities in bear habitats, most problems can be prevented by acting cautiously. Keep the following in mind:
Reduce the risk of sudden encounters
Carry something that makes noise including a bell or radio, to alert bears to your presence. Also, stay aware of your surroundings, and avoid travelling alone.
Avoid attracting bears
Manage food properly and always take all leftovers and waste home with you.
If you do encounter a bear despite all of your efforts –
Stay calm, slowly back away, and never run. If you meet a bear at very close range, protect your face and head with your arms and immediately lie face‑down to minimise serious injury.
Do not approach bears for feeding or photography, as these are dangerous and inappropriate acts

[Safety Notice] For anyone planning outdoor activities such as hiking or camping in mountain areas.

This spring, there have been repeated bear sightings and several incidents in regions including Tohoku. Before visiting, carefully check bear‑sighting information released by local governments and visitor centres, and make sure you carry essential items such as bells or bear‑repellent spray.

It is vital to avoid encountering a bear.
When engaging in outdoor activities in bear habitats, most problems can be prevented by acting cautiously. Keep the following in mind:

Reduce the risk of sudden encounters
Carry something that makes noise including a bell or radio, to alert bears to your presence. Also, stay aware of your surroundings, and avoid travelling alone.

Avoid attracting bears
Manage food properly and always take all leftovers and waste home with you.

If you do encounter a bear despite all of your efforts –
Stay calm, slowly back away, and never run. If you meet a bear at very close range, protect your face and head with your arms and immediately lie face‑down to minimise serious injury.

Do not approach bears for feeding or photography, as these are dangerous and inappropriate acts.

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/