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Product Description
Review
For sheer global reach and dogged research, attention must be paid to Lonely Planet...' --Los Angeles Times, February 2, 2003
Product Description
Contains information on extended hikes through a seldom travelled mountain wilderness; day walks to secluded temples and natural havens within easy reach of Japan's major cities; fascinating background on local culture and customs on the trail; and information illustrated sections on flora and fauna.
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First Sentence
Japan's earliest inhabitants are thought to have arrived via land bridges that once con the country with Siberia and Korea, a well as seafaring migrants from Polyne. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Japan's earliest inhabitants are thought to have arrived via land bridges that once con the country with Siberia and Korea, a well as seafaring migrants from Polyne. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
And that is descriptions of longer treks.
There are a few described as 4-8 days long in this book, but when walking I found that that would have been at a snail's pace and the times given had to be halved. Even a quick look at the regional maps will confirm that all hikes described only cover relatively small areas.
So those planning a longer trek through the backcountry of Japan might be disappointed, but I understand there aren't many of those.
On the other hand, those looking for advice on short hikes in national parks or near the major cities will find lots of good ideas, and practical details that tend to be amazingly correct by guidebook standards!
There are a few described as 4-8 days long in this book, but when walking I found that that would have been at a snail's pace and the times given had to be halved. Even a quick look at the regional maps will confirm that all hikes described only cover relatively small areas.
So those planning a longer trek through the backcountry of Japan might be disappointed, but I understand there aren't many of those.
On the other hand, those looking for advice on short hikes in national parks or near the major cities will find lots of good ideas, and practical details that tend to be amazingly correct by guidebook standards!
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is good if you plan on doing multi day hikes in Japan, but is scarcely mentions any one day hikes, apart from a couple of "alternative route" sections, which invariably make you feel like you're missing out on something, as otherwise, it would be a listed as a hike in itself.
It also only talks about set hikes, rather than providing information about the types and number of hikes an area has to offer, thereby making it difficult to plan a region to stay in for a few days for several one day hikes.
The particular hike we decided to undertake, also had chains and ladders, which were not mentioned in the book, this could be because the book is several years old now (2001) and I know that at least one of the routes had been subject to avalanche since and so is now more dangerous, but my partner is scared of heights and so we avoided any hike with mention of chains or ladders, only to be contronted half way up with such obstacles and had to turn back.
This may not be the fault of the authors, but it's worth bearing in mind that things may have changed and this book seems to be aimed at serious, heavy going hikers, rather than hobbyists and casual hikers.
It also only talks about set hikes, rather than providing information about the types and number of hikes an area has to offer, thereby making it difficult to plan a region to stay in for a few days for several one day hikes.
The particular hike we decided to undertake, also had chains and ladders, which were not mentioned in the book, this could be because the book is several years old now (2001) and I know that at least one of the routes had been subject to avalanche since and so is now more dangerous, but my partner is scared of heights and so we avoided any hike with mention of chains or ladders, only to be contronted half way up with such obstacles and had to turn back.
This may not be the fault of the authors, but it's worth bearing in mind that things may have changed and this book seems to be aimed at serious, heavy going hikers, rather than hobbyists and casual hikers.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
11 reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
I only missed one thing
15 Dec 2002
Format:Paperback
And that is descriptions of longer treks.
There are a few described as 4-8 days long in this book, but when walking I found that that would have been at a snail's pace and the times given had to be halved. Even a quick look at the regional maps will confirm that all hikes described only cover relatively small areas.
So those planning a longer trek through the backcountry of Japan might be disappointed (I was, anyway), but I understand we are just the minority...
On the other hand, those looking for advice on a variety of short hikes in national parks or near the major cities will find lots of good ideas, and practical details that tend to be amazingly correct by guidebook standards!
Don't worry too much about the book being a few years old - Japan is such a stable country that much of the information remains as valid as ever.
There are a few described as 4-8 days long in this book, but when walking I found that that would have been at a snail's pace and the times given had to be halved. Even a quick look at the regional maps will confirm that all hikes described only cover relatively small areas.
So those planning a longer trek through the backcountry of Japan might be disappointed (I was, anyway), but I understand we are just the minority...
On the other hand, those looking for advice on a variety of short hikes in national parks or near the major cities will find lots of good ideas, and practical details that tend to be amazingly correct by guidebook standards!
Don't worry too much about the book being a few years old - Japan is such a stable country that much of the information remains as valid as ever.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Hiking in Japan
24 Nov 2003
Format:Paperback
Another specialized book from the Lonely Planet team, this one catering to those who like to take exercise with their nature. Japan is heavily populated, and the megalopolis called Tokyo is easily the world's biggest, but nearly all the people live on the coastal plain of the Pacific coast, leaving the rest of this mountainous country open for the adventurous hiker.
The book follows the usual Lonely Planet formula with the first pages devoted to the geography, history, climate, flora and fauna as well as social and religious areas of Japanese life.
The second section deals with specific information for the hiker, including suggested itineraries, weather information, safety while hiking and, usefully, pre-departure planning. This last section tells us to have health insurance and know something about First Aid; good advice for those who haven't thought of such things.
The hikes suggested in the book, and there are over a hundred, cover the length and breadth of Japan, are classified into five levels from easy to hard, and are divided up into day-long walks.
The maps in the book show a marked improvement over earlier Lonely Planet publications, early editions of which often had no scale or compass point! "Hiking in Japan" on the other hand contains maps that are very difficult to obtain even in Japan itself.
For those who speak no Japanese, there is the glossary of everyday language at the back of the book, and, perhaps even more essential, a transliteration of the Japanese character place-names into the roman alphabet.
Recommended.
The book follows the usual Lonely Planet formula with the first pages devoted to the geography, history, climate, flora and fauna as well as social and religious areas of Japanese life.
The second section deals with specific information for the hiker, including suggested itineraries, weather information, safety while hiking and, usefully, pre-departure planning. This last section tells us to have health insurance and know something about First Aid; good advice for those who haven't thought of such things.
The hikes suggested in the book, and there are over a hundred, cover the length and breadth of Japan, are classified into five levels from easy to hard, and are divided up into day-long walks.
The maps in the book show a marked improvement over earlier Lonely Planet publications, early editions of which often had no scale or compass point! "Hiking in Japan" on the other hand contains maps that are very difficult to obtain even in Japan itself.
For those who speak no Japanese, there is the glossary of everyday language at the back of the book, and, perhaps even more essential, a transliteration of the Japanese character place-names into the roman alphabet.
Recommended.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Packed with ideas and advice
7 April 2004
Format:Paperback
This is a really good guide to the mountains of Japan, both informative and inspirational. All too often, walking guides focus on the easiest routes to tick off an artificial list of peaks (just about every Japanese-language guide fits this description), but instead the authors have produced a wide range of easy to fairly challenging walks in the most attractive settings around the country which should suit just about everyone. Ok, the suggested itineraries will not stretch the fittest (especially for hut-dwellers who are not carrying tents) but there is plenty of info to enable you to modify the plans to suit yourselves. For the routes that we have followed precisely, we have found the information to be very accurate and up-to-date, and they have all been memorable walks.
This book has significantly enhanced our time in Japan and I highly recommend it to anyone who is itching to get out of the cities but doesn't quite know where to go.
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