Volume 04, Number 10
Features
Get the best out of the great outdoors
Adventures in and out of Tokyo
by Danielle Tate-Stratton
Even if the weather has been a little bit hit or miss lately (as I write this, thunder and lightning wash away this morning’s welcome sun), soon summer will be fully upon us, and it will be time to start taking advantage of the great outdoors in and around Tokyo. Although living in Tokyo can leave you with the impression that Japan is an urban jungle, move just an hour or so outside of the city and the opportunities for outdoor fun and adventure grow inversely to the dwindling population density of Japan’s rural countryside. Whether you are a thrill seeker who wants to try paragliding, or prefer to take it easy relaxing at onsen, Japan offers a surprising number of outdoor activities suitable for all members of the family. Below are some of Weekender’s picks for the best aspects of the great outdoors. We’ve tried to select the locations which provide the fewest barriers to foreigners, and therefore, all of the companies speak English, have good English websites, and many even have foreign guides. Have fun and enjoy exploring the great outdoors this summer!
Float around the country
Canyoning
Take water sliding to a whole new level with the natural, high adrenaline version—canyoning. An action packed adventure sport, canyoning participants slide and jump down waterfalls and natural shutes, rappel up to 40 meters, use rope systems like flying foxes, and swim through crystal clear natural pools. Canyons Adventures offers a variety of half and full-day canyoning trips for those eight and up, starting from ¥8,000. Chose from a variety of courses to suit your level of adventure. The courses are located in Minakami, Kusatsu or Shikoku. Canyons Adventures also offers rafting, caving, mountain biking, winter activities, and combination tours. www.canyons.jp/index_E.html
Whitewater Rafting
Whitewater rafting can range from barely-there bumps through an otherwise calm river to rough and wild class four rapids, which require skill and experience in order to zip down the river with a wild rush of adrenaline. For most of us, a river somewhere in the middle suits the mild adrenaline junky hidden deep inside. Hokkaido Outdoor Adventures (HOA) offers rafting for the whole family, with runs suitable for those five and up. HOA also offers kayaking—beginners spend time learning how to paddle and steer in calm water, while those with experience can try their hand at whitewater kayaking. HOA also offers canyoning, bridge swings (like bungee jumping, but you swing at the bottom instead of bouncing), mountain biking, and trekking. www.rafting-hoa.co.jp/e_top.htm
Wakeboarding
Tokyo is surrounded by water, and locations such as the Edogawa River allow for some fun of the wetter variety that can be accomplished without even leaving the metropolis. Flying High Wakeboarding, owned by a New Zealander, operates on the Edogawa River and offers instruction for everyone—whether or not you have ever strapped on a wakeboard. A combination of waterskiing and snowboarding, wakeboarding is an exhilarating way to beat the summer heat! Flying High provides all of the necessary equipment, and even has a money-back guarantee if you don’t stand up during your first session. For information, bookings, photos, and more, visit www.flyinghighwakeboarding.com.
Onsen
For a truly unique onsen experience, head to the Kusatsu Spa Resort in Gunma, which boasts the highest output of thermal onsen water anywhere in Japan. The acidic water is said to ease neuralgia, alleviate muscle pain and the symptoms of chronic skin disease, and relieve chronic fatigue. Restaurants and souvenir shops line the streets of Kusatsu that is centered around the main spring—Yubatake. Between dips in the healing water, enjoy visiting museums, art galleries, temples, and shrines, all located in the immediate vicinity. The resort town features a great English website with information about the onsen, bathing tips, access information, links to hotels and ryokan, museum information, and more. www.kusatsu-onsen.ne.jp/eng
Surfing
It might be surprising, but Japan is actually a great place to catch a wave and hang ten! The waves in some areas rival stereotypical surfing locations with the added bonus of safe beaches and good waves that generally coincide with the best weather (surf’s up during the summers as opposed to the winter as with most surfing hot-spots). Experienced coaches can help you by teaching you the steps to standing up on the board and then they take you out on the water in protected areas that provide perfect waves (small and regular) to get you started. Hata Surf Dojo in Shikoku provides lessons to beginners taught by an Australian coach with over 15 years of experience. Camping or surf and stay packages, as well as equipment rentals are available. Lessons run almost daily from May through November. www.hatasurfdojo.com
Land-lubbing fun
Mountain biking
Head to Nagano and experience the thrills of mountain biking with Northstar Outdoor Adventures. A comprehensive winter ski lodge, Northstar also offers a variety of summer activities such as mountain biking, which is offered in half and full-day options. Located in the Japan Northern Alps National Park, Northstar’s staff hails from around the world, and the camp uses high-quality Rocky Mountain bicycles. Accommodation is available, and the camp also has an indoor rock-climbing wall, large trampoline, and the capacity to host large groups in both Japanese and English. www.ridenorthstar.com/en
Climbing Mt. Fuji
Fuji-san is the ultimate symbol of Japan, and it’s a rite of passage for many to climb to the summit. Although you can do so year-round (during the winter, only go if you’re an experienced mountaineer), the best time to go is July and August, although the warm months can lead to crowded slopes. You can tackle the mountain on your own, but consider joining a group hike to take advantage of the camaraderie and the safety of a buddy system. The Tokyo Gaijins, who organize a few dozen outdoor trips each year, are planning to climb Mt. Fuji three times this summer—twice in August and once in early September. For more information, visit www.tokyogaijins.com/fuji/hikes.html.
Hiking in Hakuba
Head to Hakuba 47 Mountain Sports Park for a variety of family-friendly activities that are perfect for a relaxed weekend away from the city. Visit one or all of their four worlds, such as the Secret Hydrangea Garden, where two kinds of hydrangeas bloom between July and August (visit during the Hydrangea festivals on July 15 and August 6 for special activities). Also enjoy walking and trekking paths, other flower gardens, a ropes course with tree houses and tarzan swings for the kids, soba making workshops, and more. Consider taking the gondola ride up to the top of the mountain that is used for skiing and winter activities for half of the year. Interestingly, this is a pet-friendly gondola, so fido can join in with the family fun! The summer camp, which includes camping, biking, and other activities, opens July 14. www.hakuba47.co.jp/07summer/e
Get Sporty Around Tokyo
While there are plenty of fantastic ways to get out into the great outdoors both in and out of Tokyo, if you want to get involved in more regular outdoor activities, there are plenty of ways to do that as well. The Tokyo Gaijins offer weekly futsal sessions in Shiba Koen on Sunday afternoons. Sessions are drop-in, with no need to pre-register, and cost ¥1,000 for two hours. www.tokyogaijins.com. If you want to work out on wheels, head to Komazawa Koen for weekly street hockey games. You can drop in, but you must have your own equipment to join. www.tokyohockey. com. Alternately, head to the Tatsumi Seaside Park with the Tokyo Rugby League, which offers Oz tag (like rugby but without the tackling) every Saturday, and welcomes beginners and girls as well as guys to join in the fun. www.geocities.jp/japaneserugbyleague/e/info.html
Fly through the air
Gliding
Learn to fly without the aid of engines when you try gliding with the Japan Soaring Club. Gliders are small, light aircraft, which are towed to the height of a few thousand feet by a larger aircraft before being released to ride to the ground on the air’s currents. Prospective members can take a trial flight (on weekends and national holidays) for ¥11,500 per 2,000 ft arrow-tow-launch (that should take about 20 minutes to come back to the ground). Members of the club speak enough English to make sure you won’t have any problems, and fly year round from their home base at the Itakura Gliderport about 90km north of Tokyo. Visit www.glider.jp/english/index.html for more information and contact details.
Paragliding
Paragliding is the sport where you launch yourself off a small cliff, attached to a large rectangular, nylon canopy, and strapped into a harness, which cushions you for long flights. Although experienced gliders can stay up on the air currents for hours and rise up to 3,000 feet, that takes time and practice. Get started on the road to becoming an experienced paraglider when you join one of the basic training courses offered in Ogose, Saitama through the Tokyo Gaijins each year. While details for the September 22 trip aren’t posted yet, expect it to include instruction, transport, and equipment, and cost around ¥10,000. For details, check www.tokyogaijins.com
Outdoor Japan
If you are still looking for more options for spending time outside, visit www.outdoorjapan.com, a fantastic resource for English-friendly outdoor operators across Japan. The website includes information and tour guide suggestions on a variety of sports and other outdoor activities ranging from onsen to hiking and rafting to surfing. Outdoor Japan also provides travel information, area guides, accommodation information, weather information, message boards, and more. As you plan your foray into Japan’s great outdoors, be sure to visit www.outdoorjapan.com.