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Scale the mammoth Mt. Fuji or visit the
nearby hot-springs town of Hakone, relaxing
with a boat ride on Lake Ashi or appreciating
dazzling bird’s eye views by cable car. Explore
countless hiking trails crisscrossing the alpine
scenery of Kamikōchi within the majestic
wilderness of Nagano Prefecture. Walk
amongst thousand-year-old yakusugi trees in
the UNESCO-designated Yakushima forest,
go canyoning in Okutama or visit Daisetsuzan,
Japan’s largest national park in Hokkaidō. The
options are abundant.
If you’re torn between the historical sites of the
bigger cities and the allure of remote outdoor
exploits, Japan boasts a distinct experience
which is an astounding mix of both—an
industrial dose of Shinrin-yoku reserved for the
most ambitious explorers. Read on to discover
two of Japan’s legendary pilgrimage routes and
peek inside the kind of rogue adventure that
goes far beyond a conventional tour. A blend
of stunning natural scenery and captivating
ancient history, this is an immersive dive into
the heart of Japanese tradition.
ANDREWHARPERTRAVEL.COM
PHOTOS
L E F T PA G E :
W AT E R FA L L O N
YA K U S H I M A
I S L A N D, J A PA N
T O P R I G H T:
H O TA K A
M O U N TA I N A N D
AZUSA RIVER
IN KAMIKOCHI,
N A G A N O, J A PA N
B O T T O M L E F T:
T O R I I G AT E I N
H A K O N E , J A PA N
SPRING | 2019