Fast Enough, Slow Enough: Japan Through a Cycling Guide’s Eyes
“The bicycle is the perfect speed — fast enough to go far, slow enough not to miss the warmth.” Unexpected encounters on the Shimanami Kaido, in Kyushu and West Izu.
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Stories from our guides
Field Notes
Guide stories, travel tips and Japanese outdoor culture.
The Mountain Is Alive: A Fuji Guide’s Philosophy
“Mt. Fuji isn’t something to conquer.” Fujiyoshida-born guide Sho Tanaka on climbing as a conversation.
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Fifteen Years in Hakuba: The Character of Japanese Snow
Nagano’s silky snow, Niigata’s ‘feather snow’, Zao’s snow monsters — SAJ instructor Takuya Sato on the personality of every resort.
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Tenderness by the Campfire: A Night at Lake Yamanaka
A father who never stops checking his watch walks barefoot through the dew; a teenager glued to his phone sees a shooting star — the most precious part of camping in Japan.
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Michi and Satoyama: Redefining Outdoor Travel
Nature as a lifelong companion rather than something to conquer — the biggest difference between Japanese and Western outdoor culture.
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