Comments on: Normal service will resume…

By: I-CJW

I-CJW — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 07:36:27 +0000

Peter – very true. I guess we have to just keep working with what we’ve get given!

Frank – that’s a good route, there’s plenty to see along there. I’m pleased the blog provided some inspiration – I can’t think of a higher compliment!

By: Frank

Frank — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 14:52:20 +0000

I’m jealous. I am about to go hiking for the first time in Japan after many hikes in my home country of Australia. I have a conference in Nagoya and it seems that the Kansai Pilgrimage region is the closest for a good hike. I have chosen the Omine-san (including Mt. Hakken) route from Lonely Planet. Your blog has inspired me !

By: Peter Skov

Peter Skov — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 01:35:07 +0000

Yes, one thing I am still having a hard time with in Japan is the light. I can see why so many Japanese landscape and nature photographs are in misty weather conditions. That haze just vanquishes any hope of decent alpine glow, even at higher elevations. Sunny days are disappointments. You need to be there when a storm is just clearing to get anything really exciting. Perhaps thats the biggest challenge here: overcoming the light and atmospheric conditions.

By: I-CJW

I-CJW — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:59:27 +0000

Hi Ole – thanks for reading, I do hope that you get the chance someday to come to Japan’s mountains. I’ll shoot you an email with the information you’re asking about. Hopefully there will still be some Japanese hedge funds left by the time you graduate….

By: Ole

Ole — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 04:46:58 +0000

I’ve read most of your blog now, because of the amazing pictures, the great quotes and that I might end up climbing Japanese mountains some day.

Also in the “About” section you reveal “.. and work at a hedge fund in Tokyo”, which I find most interesting- because I want a hedge fund job in Japan in a few years(but I’m also considering New York). Please tell me how you got the job, how good your Japanese is and what your education is? I’m sorry to be so prying, but this subject is of great interest to me.

As for myself, I’ve just started with studying economics, which will lead to a masters in technology(finance or economics). I believe that I might need some extra education after that, but for now I’m studing Japanese and maths as optionial subjects and doing well in both.

By: I-CJW

I-CJW — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 09:59:52 +0000

KamoshikaBob – it’s actually taken from the other side, from Ura-Myogi, but looking towards that great ridge that’s visible from Matsuida. You’re dead right about Myogi being an impressive mountain – the first time I saw it, I nearly steered the car off the road! And you could easily spend three or more days up there exploring, there’s a lot more to it than it’s 1100m would suggest..

Julian – mmm, Shimonoroka looks like a good trail, I might well give that a go this year. By the way, I finally got a GPS unit – still working it out, but many, many thanks for the pointers.

Simon – I’m an enormous fan of the Spiders, they get recommended to everyone. Also very pleased with the Suiterra Injected for summer use. Both are still going strong, but when they eventually succumb, I’ll definitely take a look at the new range!

By: Simon from Aku

Simon from Aku — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:04:40 +0000

Awe inspiring images – a great site.

Pleased to see your AKU Spider’s are still going strong. When they eventually need replacing, take a look at the new Spider Lite. Two more additions to the Spider boot family coming in the Fall. If you want more info, let me know.

Simon (the AKU rep for Southern England)

By: julian

julian — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 08:59:26 +0000

Shimonoroka is indeed that 1-meter wide path cut/blasted out of the rock face to build the Kurobe Dam, with a nice hut & rotemburo at the half-way point of the two-day route.

You’ll find plenty of links, or ä¸‹ã®å»Šä¸‹ on Google images will whet your appetite. Autumn colours are spectacular.

By: KamoshikaBob

KamoshikaBob — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 05:10:15 +0000

Is that first shot from the Kurabuchi side of the valley? Once years ago, I was driving toward Matsuida (aka the foot of Myogi) via Kurabuchi-mura, and as I crested a rise this huge, puffy, clump of cloud greeted me from the horizon. Except that it was a cloudy overcast that day. Myogi really is a unique and visually impressive mountain, that one could expect to be in the 100 meizan…

I can also recall the view from the summit of Asama at sunrise, and trying to distinguish between the fog blanket over Karuizawa and the fluffy outcrops of Myogi further in the distance.

Though I grew up spending summers in Karuizawa, passing under the shadow of Myogi as we journeyed from Kawasaki, I have never taken the time to hike around there, but I suppose you could spend an entire day and not get bored. But if you do, there is Arafune nearby, which may fit in the category of being more impressive to look up at than to climb, but I still find table-top mountains rather fascinating.

PS: I live within sight of Naeba, perhaps Japan’s best table-top.

By: Mikael

Mikael — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 20:23:07 +0000

Now that’s an interesting hike/climb. I came across a few hills with fixed protection when I was living in Japan some years back, but nothing this extensive. That rock and soil looks pretty loose and steep, though, so it’s good it’s there.