Magnetic North

May 21, 2007 | Filed Under Hiking, Japan, Climbing 

Shobunsha’s Yama to Kogen series of maps have some serious problems (more on their egregious crapness some other day) but they do at least show magnetic versus grid north.  No sign of True North, but it could be worse.

Japan’s magnetic declination runs on average at around 7 degrees west for most of the country, but with faily wide variation - from 5 degrees in southern Kyushu to 10 degrees in northernmost Hokkaido.

It’s been moving steadily westwards since the middle of the 17th century.

Having been caught in a whiteout on Shirouma-dake at the beginning of Golden Week I’m more aware than ever of the importance of solid navigation skills.  Accurate declination is worth paying attention to.

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