Bungy Japan
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Under the shadow of the Tanigawa mountain range and 42 meters (140 feet) above the Tonegawa River, Bungy Japan has established Japan’s only bridge bungy jump site. Located in Minakami, Gunma Prefecture, it offers a unique opportunity for people to challenge themselves, and experience the overwhelming sense of achievement that comes from conquering their fear in a safe and controlled environment. Seriously, you’ll be amazed how you can go from terrified to ecstatic in less than 30 seconds.
Bungy Japan hopes that the sense of achievement which customers gain from pushing themselves out of their comfort zone will stay with them long after they have jumped, and hopefully give them the strength to challenge themselves in other areas of their daily lives. Although just two hours out of Tokyo, when you’re standing on the Minakami bridge about to take a leap of faith, with a mountain range towering above you and rafters and kayakers floating in the river down below, the stress of everyday city life couldn’t be further away.
Bungy Japan’s Minakami site has two New Zealand Safety Standards-approved Jump Masters on hand. Both have over 15 years’ experience in bungy jumping in Japan and New Zealand, and have assisted thousands of customers in taking up the bungy challenge. The company strictly adheres to the NZ Safety Standards Bungy Jump Code of Practice (NZ/AUS 5848), ensuring that all procedures, safety systems, training and equipment comply with this internationally recognized standard.
Adding to the already rich variety of adventure sports on offer in the area (mountain biking, rafting, canyoning, canoeing and paragliding), bungy jumping has solidified Minakami’s reputation as the “Adventure Sports Capital of Japan.” A weekend in Minakami could consist of a slide down a 20 meter waterfall, exploring some of Japan’s most remote locations in a canoe, or soaring through the air hundreds of meters above the ground on a paraglider. All this followed by a BBQ by the river and a long, hot soak in some of the country’s most famous hot springs makes for an unforgettable escape.
143 Obinata, Minakami-machi, Tone-gun, Gunma. Tel: 0278-72-8133. Email: info@bungyjapan.com. Nearest stn: Jomo-Kogen or Minakami. www.bungyjapan.com/en
Canyons
Canyons is an outdoor adventure company that specializes in providing quality experiences year-round. From spring to autumn, you can enjoy white-water rafting, canyoning and climbing; while winter is all about the fluffy white stuff, with backcountry skiing and snowboarding, ski and snowboard instruction and snowshoe hiking. Throughout the year, Canyons organizes caving (spelunking) expeditions, plus team-building and outdoor education activities.
Canyons prides itself on providing a fully customizable experience—from thrill and wilderness levels to duration and goals—so that all clients can enjoy their ideal adventure. The broad client base includes companies (for team building, bonding and social events), international schools (outdoor education), thrill seekers and families.
Canyons currently has three main base locations in Minakami, Kusatsu and Akagi (Gunma Prefecture), plus affiliations with companies in Shikoku and Hakuba (Nagano Prefecture). Minakami is an especially popular choice, thanks to its close proximity to Tokyo (just 75 minutes by Shinkansen) and the wide variety of outdoor adventures available. In summer, these include rafting, canyoning, bungy jumping, mountain biking, climbing, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, horse riding, paragliding and more.
The international guides and instructors at Canyons are all fully qualified professionals with years of experience in conducting outdoor adventures. A day with the Canyons crew is guaranteed to be a refreshing and memorable experience!
Canyons also offers convenient package deals including accommodation, barbeques, onsen bathing and live music. Even if thrill-seeking isn’t your idea of fun, the Minakami Alpine Lodge’s riverside deck provides the perfect place to relax before taking part in a yoga class or indulging in a relaxing massage. If it’s a full-service adventure getaway you’re looking for, Canyons is the answer.
45 Yubiso, Minakami-machi, Tone-gun, Gunma. Tel: 0278-722-811. Nearest stn: Jomo-Kogen or Minakami. www.canyons.jp/index_E.html
Evergreen Outdoor Center
Sometimes the glitz and glamour of the city gets too much, the bustling masses start to grind, and you just want some downtime away from the urban sprawl. If that sounds familiar, a short journey to Nagano Prefecture may be in order.
Hakuba is the gateway to Japan’s Northern Alps, with massive peaks rising to 3,000m and abundant rivers, lakes and trails to explore. Even in summer, the mountain air is cool and refreshing, while the clean, sparkling waters are perfect for swimming. Those who make the journey can choose to enjoy the scenery at their leisure or get more intense with some fun outdoor sports.
The Evergreen Outdoor Center has been providing outdoor recreation activities, ecology tours and mountain safety courses in the Hakuba area for over a decade. With programs that run year-round, it offers professional, safe and environmentally sustainable tours for all ages and abilities.
Hakuba has the benefit of being situated directly under the mighty Northern Alps, and as such gets plenty of clean flowing water from the alpine snowfields, creating fantastic canyoning areas. The canyons here have amazing features such as deep pools for jumping, big waterfalls to slide off and sections where ropes are used to descend. If you haven’t tried canyoning yet, get on it!
Whether it’s a wild day in the natural water-park of Kamoshika Canyon, a relaxed one canoeing or kayaking on beautiful Lake Aokiko, or some fantastic trail riding on a mountain bike tour, Evergreen guarantees an unforgettable experience. Families can easily get out into nature and enjoy fun-filled days on a combo tour, and kids will have an awesome time at the lakeside summer camps.
Evergreen’s staff of professional instructors and experienced guides are passionate about their work and, above all, focused on making each experience a safe and memorable one. No matter what your ability or desired activity, allow Evergreen Outdoor Center to set up a summer getaway that will leave you refreshed and revitalized.
4377 Hokujo Hakuba, Kita-Azumi-gun, Nagano. Tel: 0261-72-5150. Email: tours@evergreen-outdoors.com. Nearest stn: Hakuba. www.evergreen-hakuba.com
Karuizawa Camp Crest
On a clear summer night, the view of the stars is amazing. 1,000 meters above sea level, the evening air is cool and refreshing even without air conditioning. Before you know it, you’ll have forgotten all about the urban life at Karuizawa Camp Crest, a camping ground close to Mt. Asama in Gunma Prefecture.
The spacious site includes glade and open-air camping areas, some of them with electricity, as well as spaces for campervans and a “free” site where you’re allowed to pitch your tent wherever you please (August only). Guests can take a soak in the open-air spa, or even whip up their own pizza in the stone stove. There are also wood cabins and barbeque houses available, and pets are welcome.
Camp Crest makes a great base for exploring the natural delights of the local area. You can go foraging for edible wild plants in spring, catch insects in the summer, enjoy the leaves in autumn, and sample delicious foods whatever the season. Nearby, you’ll find green pastures, tennis courts, golf courses, a riding club, and a farm where you can experience harvesting for yourself. Other attractions include Shiraito Falls, Onioshidashi volcanic park, the Kyu-Karuizawa Ginza shopping district, and Karuizawa Outlet Mall, all of which are less than 30 minutes away. In the opposite direction, you’ll find the famous Kusatsu Onsen and the scenic Agatsuma Keikoku valley.
Entrance: ¥500 (adults)/¥300 (3-12 years). Auto camp site: ¥4,800; electric site: ¥6,000; cabin: ¥15,000. Garbage collection: ¥200. 1544 Kita-Karuizawa, Naganohara-machi, Agatsuma-gun, Gunma. Tel: 0279-85-2229. Nearest stn: Karuizawa then bus to Kita-Karuizawa. www.campcrest.co.jp
Forest & Water
Don’t get stuck in the city this summer. Gunma-based company Forest & Water is in the business of showing you just how much fun there is to be had in the great outdoors. And judging by the huge grins regularly seen on their customers’ faces, they must be doing something right.
Put your stresses behind you with a thrilling day of white-water rafting, canyoning and canoeing. Full-day rafting courses are offered from the beginning of spring until June, as the snow from the past winter melts to produce strong rapids. When the waters grow calmer in July, you can embark on a double adventure of rafting and canoeing or rafting and canyoning instead. All include a fortifying lunch to keep you going. Half-day water rafting is also available from April until the beginning of November.
On the canyoning course, which runs from July to the beginning of October, you can plunge down natural waterslides created by waterfalls and streams. It’s more about having fun than proving how tough you are, and anyone can participate and enjoy the ride, whatever their athletic ability. All the necessary equipment is provided, and the safety-first, friendly staff give easy-to-understand explanations before each activity.
Let Forest & Water’s outdoor activities programs whisk you away from the hustle and bustle of life in the big city. Get an advance taste of what real excitement looks like by visiting their website, which features daily photos and tour blog postings. Mention Metropolis when making a reservation to receive a free CD-R with photos from your tour (normally ¥1,000).
191-12 Yubiso, Minakami-machi, Tone-gun, Gunma. Tel: 0278-72-8017. Email: booking@fw-jp.com. Nearest stn: Jomo-Kogen or Minakami. www.fw-jp.com/en
Forest Adventure
Mother Nature feels a lot more awesome when you’re dangling between enormous cedar trees, over ten meters above ground. That’s the idea behind Forest Adventure, where intrepid nature lovers are invited to follow high-wire courses—Tarzan swings, zip wires and all—around stunning natural forests.
The first “fôret de l’aventure” was established in Talloires, France, and its family-friendly thrills proved an instant hit. Other parks soon followed in France, Germany, England and Switzerland, before the concept spread to Asia. Japan’s first park opened in August 2006, in a prefectural forest at the foot of Mt. Fuji, 1,100 meters above sea level. It’s an eco-friendly experience in every way: the project was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and profits raised go directly towards forest upkeep.
Courses are available for groups, families or even couples. After a short safety briefing session, visitors are harnessed up and sent off on their own around the forest, moving from one raised platform to the next via bridges, ropes, swings and zip lines. The activities get more challenging as you progress, and there are escape routes on the more difficult bits should you want to bail out. The standard course takes two-three hours to complete, but the experience can be tailored according to your ability—and whether you’ve got young children in tow. Note that teens and children aged 18 and under must be accompanied by a parent.
Forest Adventure Mt. Fuji: 8545-1 Fujisan, Narusawa, Minami-Tsurugun, Yamanashi. Tel: 090-3345-0970 (Park); 0555−85−3227 (Office). Email: fuji@foret-aventure.jp. Advance booking recommended; online booking available. www.foret-aventure.jp
Hakuba Tokyu Hotel
The town of Hakuba has held a fascination for skiers and snowboarders around the world since it played host to the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. Once the winter snows fade, the area explodes with lush greenery, transforming into one of Japan’s premier summer destinations with a rich array of exciting outdoor activities.
Hakuba is home to the well-known Hakuba Tokyu Hotel, a superb resort boasting a 50-year history. With superb views of the Northern Alps from the guest room balconies, lavish French and Japanese cuisine made using local ingredients, and a large public hot spring bath that leaves your skin feeling silky smooth, this elegant, modern European-style hotel—rebuilt in 1996—allows guests to get the most out of their summer vacation.
Guests from abroad will doubtless appreciate the hotel’s outdoor activities program featuring instructors from English-speaking countries. Their Firefly Canoe Tour is unmissable—guaranteed to be one of the most amazing nights you experience in Japan. Paddle out with a guide in a Voyageur Canoe on Lake Aokiko and explore the fireflies’ natural habitat, traveling under the branches of trees as they light up the sky overhead. Tours run from mid-July until the end of August (approximately), and may be canceled in case of rain.
That’s just one of the many activities on offer, though. Other options include nature walking, hiking, whitewater rafting, canyoning, mountain biking, kayaking, bouldering and climbing. For reservations or further information, contact the activities desk. Bookings can be made on arrival, but they recommend reserving early to avoid disappointment.
Happo-Wadanonomori, Hakuba-mura, Kita-Azumi-gun, Nagano. Tel: 0261-72-3001. Email: hakuba-r.ro@tokyuhotels.co.jp. Nearest stn: Hakuba or express bus from Nagano. www.hakuba-r.tokyuhotels.co.jp/english
Nozawa Onsen Mountain Escape
Nozawa Onsen in Nagano is famous for its hot springs and ski slopes, but it’s a beautiful place to visit at any time of year. In the “green” season, you can come and relax, take a long hike in the mountains, then have a relaxing soak in one of the many free onsen baths around the village and breathe in the fresh country air. If you want something more adventurous, you can go mountain biking, canoeing in the Chikuma River, or visit the golf course and outdoor adventure center in nearby Madarao Resort.
Nozawa Holidays own and operate three great places to stay in the area. Their mountain lodge, Lodge Nagano, is open all year round and provides a fantastic base for exploring the surrounding mountains and village. Alpine Villa Nozawa, open December through May, is a ski and snowboarder lodge with spacious Japanese-style rooms. If you want a more private escape, there is also Nozawa House, a beautiful wooden holiday home tucked away in the tranquil forest, with amazing views. It’s just the ticket for a relaxing weekend, school holidays, a romantic getaway, corporate event or simply to chill out.
The village of Nozawa Onsen itself is truly a unique place: with its traditional charm, amazing food and friendly people, it’s intriguing and inviting at any time of year—and just three hours from Tokyo. Spring sees the blossoming of many flowers and the beginning of the farming season, as the snow melts. It’s a great time for hiking and exploring the surrounding mountains. Summer is warm and peaceful; there are many festivals, and it’s also ideal weather for mountain biking and swimming in the waterfalls and lakes. Don’t miss the Avalanche mountain bike downhill race in August!
Fall is a magical time of year, as the days and nights grow cooler and the autumn leaves bathe the landscape in a breath-taking array of colors. It provides the perfect excuse to take a hike and then indulge in an onsen. During winter, meanwhile, the village and ski resort are blanketed in stunning white, creating some of the best ski conditions in the world. The whole town is transformed as it’s overrun by people of all ages, enjoying the snow, scenery and ambiance of Nozawa Onsen.
For more information see www.nozawaholidays.com and www.lodgenagano.com. Tel: 050-5532-6026. Email: lodgenagano@gmx.net. Skype: markbaum. Nearest stn: Togari Nozawa Onsen or express bus from Nagano.
Morino Lodge
Whether you like hikes with abundant wildflowers and spectacular mountain scenery, or adventure sports such as mountain biking, white water rafting, canyoning and paragliding, Hakuba has it all—while offering a cooler climate to escape from the heat of the city.
Guests at Morino Lodge may spend a day hiking up to Happo Ike to see the spectacular three peaks of Hakuba reflected in the water of the lake. The next day could be spent swimming in the clear, spring-fed waters of Lake Aoki, followed by a barbeque on the wooded shores and an evening kayak trip illuminated by thousands of fireflies.
Other days might include a breathtaking tandem paraglide jump from one of three lift-accessed mountains, or flying down natural water slides and jumping from waterfalls while canyoning. You could also mountain bike along kilometers of cross-country and downhill trails, through villages of traditional thatched cottages and temples. It’d be easy to spend a whole week experiencing the myriad of activities in this burgeoning adventure capital—though you could always just chill out, relax and breath in the mountain air while recuperating from a stressful week in the Big Smoke.
“Morino” means “of the forest” in Japanese, and the lodge is a cool, secluded haven within Hakuba, surrounded by acres of scented Japanese pine and oak. A selection of fine wines, microbrews and freshly roasted gourmet coffee awaits in the spacious lounge and cafe, where large windows on three sides look out over the verdant oak forest.
4692-3 Wadano, Hakuba-mura, Kita-Azumi-gun, Nagano. Tel: 0261-85-9098. Email: morinolodge@hotmail.com. Nearest stn: Hakuba. www.morinolodge.com
Easy Surf Kugenuma
Summer is here and nothing is more appropriate than a day at the beach! Easy Surf Kugenuma knows how confusing it can be for a foreigner trying to surf in Japan. As the only foreign-owned surf shop in Shonan, their staff are fully bilingual and ready to get you suited up and in the water.
Even if you’re a first-time surfer, it’s never too late to start. Gentle conditions and easy access from Tokyo make Kugenuma an ideal place to get your feet wet. Easy Surf’s head instructor has almost 40 years of experience riding the waves at Kugenuma beach. A two-hour group lesson for beginners is just ¥5,000 per person, and kids are welcome too. The lesson fee includes surfboard and wetsuit rental, as well as access to clean, modern shower and changing facilities. All you need to bring is your towel and beach sandals. Private lessons are also available by appointment (¥15,000 for 3 hours).
For more experienced surfers with their own equipment, renting one of Easy Surf’s secure, indoor board lockers allows you to forget the hassle of lugging your gear to the beach and back (¥5,000/month for members). The shop is conveniently located just minutes from Kugenuma-Kaigan Station on the Odakyu Line, a short walk from the beach. Surfboard (¥3,000/day) and bicycle rentals (see site for hourly and daily rates) are also available. A wide range of boards, accessories and surf wear is sold in the store, and if you’re looking to trade up, they also buy used boards.
2-5-18 Kugenuma-Kaigan,
Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa. Tel: 0466-47-9919. Open daily 9am-6pm. Nearest stn: Kugenuma-Kaigan. Check website for more details, including surf reports, in English: www.surfkugenuma.jp/english
Surf Shop Real
Surrounded by beautiful forests, mountains and white sands, Shimoda is a surfer’s paradise. Its location at the tip of the Izu peninsula means that it catches west, south and east swells, making it possible to surf all year round. What’s more, the turquoise-blue ocean waters have been verified A-AA by the prefectural water examination committee.
Shimoda’s sand bar provides ideal conditions for learners—and Surf Shop Real provides the ideal lessons to get them up and riding waves in no time. Real’s instructors all hold International Surfing Association (ISA) Level 1 accreditation, so you’ll be in safe and experienced hands. They’ve already taught people from the USA, UK, Australia, China and Russia, as well as budding boarders from the British School in Tokyo and American School in Japan’s Ocean Camp.
Surf Shop Real’s “Longboarder” package (¥9,000 plus tax; insurance included) gets you 90 minutes of instruction, covering the basics of surfboard/soft board and wetsuit use, a lecture and “pop up” demonstration on the beach, followed by hands-on teaching in the water. If you just need some gear, meanwhile, board rentals cost ¥4,000 (plus tax) and wetsuit rentals are ¥2,000 (plus tax). The shop itself stocks competitively priced short boards, fun boards, long boards, and soft boards for beginners, as well as wetsuits for kids and adults, board shorts and rash guards—all available in sizes from XXS to XXL. Take your pick from brands including Quiksilver, Billabong, Volcom, Hurley, Nixon, Blackfly and many, many more.
1612-1 Kisami, Shimoda, Shizuoka. Tel: 0558-27-0771. Email info@real-surf.com. Nearest stn: Shimoda (2 hours 30 mins by limited express from Tokyo). www.real-surf.com/english
Eugene Teal Surf School & Clubhouse
You’re never too old (or young) to try surfing. And when you finally decide that it’s time to give it a shot, you want to be sure you’re learning from the very best. Eugene Teal is one of the finest surfers in Japan. The Hawaiian native was the Japan Pro Surfing Association’s longboard champion in 2005, and has over ten years’ experience teaching both here and in his home country.
Eugene’s surf school and clubhouse in Onjuku, on the Chiba coast, caters to both newbies and hardened boarders alike. Test the waters with a two-hour beginner class, just ¥8,000 including surfboard and wetsuit rental. More experienced surfers can improve their skills with a one-on-one “level up” session with the maestro (¥6,000 for two hours; students must bring their own equipment). Or try your hand at the newest water-sports sensation, Stand Up Paddling (SUP), where surfers stand upright on their boards and steer with a long paddle (¥8,000 including board, wetsuit and paddle rental).
For a weekend getaway, the clubhouse offers overnight accommodation for just ¥2,000 (¥2,500 during July and August; ¥3,500 during Golden Week). Surfers who don’t need a lesson can still take advantage of the board (¥4,000/day, ¥3,000/half day) and suit rentals (¥2,000/day, ¥1,500/half day) offered at the shop.
809 Iwawada, Onjuku-machi, Isumi-gun, Chiba. Tel: 0470-68-5488. Email: etsurf@hotmail.co.jp. Nearest stn: Onjuku (JR Sotobo line). www.kanaloa7.tv/teal
Swimming with Wild Dolphins at Mikurajima
About 200 kilometers south of Tokyo lies the island of Mikurajima, where natural beauty remains unspoiled and swimming with wild dolphins is a part of daily life. The island’s sole village, nestled amid hills and dense forests, contains just 300 residents. In recent years, the island has become a popular ecotourism destination, thanks to the surrounding waters which provide a permanent habitat for some 140 Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins. Even enthusiasts who have traveled to similar spots the world over rave about the wonders of Mikurajima.
Access is easy, either by overnight ferry direct from Hamamatsucho, or via nearby Miyakejima, a slightly larger island with an airport and regular ferry services. Package tours including three meals, overnight accommodation, dolphin swim, tour of the island and optional snorkeling lesson are available for visitors to both Mikurajima and Miyakejima for ¥26,640 and ¥35,000 respectively (transportation not included). The guides on both tours shoot as much video as possible, and their films have been featured on TV numerous times.
Visitors to Miyakejima stay at an old-fashioned pension; while on Mikurajima, you can experience a traditional Japanese minshuku guest house. If you find yourself pressed for time, a two-day package might be the thing: travel to Miyakejima via overnight ferry, enjoy a morning swim with the dolphins followed by lunch and an afternoon dip in the onsen, then catch an afternoon flight or ferry back (¥16,500, excl. transportation).
Though chances are good that you’ll see some dolphins on your trip, Dolphin Club is extending a special offer to Metropolis readers who sign up for the Miyakejima package tour: a ¥5,000 refund if the captain fails to locate any bottle-nosed friends. And for readers on the Mikurajima tour, you’ll be presented with a free DVD of your experience as a souvenir.
Dolphin Swimming Mikurajima: Tel: 04994-8-2605 or email tamaruto@ceres.ocn.ne.jp. www17.ocn.ne.jp/~tamagide/eindex.html Dolphin Club Miyakejima: Tel: 04994-6-0996, or email dolphin-club-tag@fork.ocn.ne.jp. www.dolphin-club-miyakejima.com/eindex.html
Hagi Takayama - Takayama Kanko Hotel
From a raised promontory on the edge of Kitayama Park, you can take in a panoramic view of Hida-Takayama, the North Alps and Mt. Norikura. And you won’t even have to get out of the bath. Takayama Kanko Hotel’s aptly named “scenic lookout” rotenburo is just one of the attractions at a hot spring resort that combines pure relaxation with the best in Japanese-style hospitality.
Takayama Kanko Hotel’s elegant guest rooms convey a special atmosphere that evokes memories of old Japan. And guests certainly won’t go home feeling hungry. The hotel’s Hagi kaiseki is a sumptuous array of traditional, seasonal food from the mountainous Hida region, all lovingly hand-prepared. The renowned Hida beef features extensively on the menu—grilled, as shabu-shabu, and atop hand-rolled sushi. All of this can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own room (confirm at time of booking).
Before or after your meal, you can unwind in the hotel’s onsen. The indoor shared bath is decorated with murals depicting the Takayama Festival, while the open-air rotenburo offers a prime vantage point from which to soak up nature and the clean country air. There is also a private open-air bath available, complete with Jacuzzi. The reinvigorating hot spring waters are mildly alkaline, and can relieve muscle pain and improve circulation.
Take the relaxation to new heights with a body treatment using aromatic oils in the Japanese-style esthetic salon, and make sure you find time to browse the on-site art gallery, which displays works by Shinpei Asai, illustrations by the hotel’s own president, landscapes of Takayama, crafts and calligraphy. International visitors will appreciate the hotel’s English-speaking staff—a rarity in this area—as well as the free shuttle bus that runs to JR Takayama station, stopping off en route at the popular Asa-ichi morning market.
280 Hachiman-machi, Takayama, Gifu. Tel: 0577-32-4100. Email: admin@takayama-kh.co.jp. Nearest stn: Takayama. www.takayama-kh.co.jp/english
Hidatei - Hanaougi / Hanaougi - Bettei Iiyama
After a day exploring the traditional quarters of Takayama, there’s no better place to spend the night than at this pair of exquisite inns. Starting with the matcha green tea served to guests on arrival, Hidatei Hanaougi and Hanaougi Bettei Iiyama represent traditional Hida culture at its best.
The inns have access to one of the finest hot springs in the area, renowned for the beautifying properties of its waters. Relax in the shared rotenburo and hinoki cypress indoor bath, or pay a little extra for the private open-air spa. Both inns also have rooms with their own en suite outdoor baths; families and groups are recommended to get one of the maisonette-type suites, complete with veranda and private rotenburo—though be warned that these tend to get booked up well in advance.
Naturally, you’ll also get a chance to sample some of the area’s famed Hida beef, as well as seasonal produce from the local rivers and mountains. Hidatei Hanaougi serves up a Kyoto-style kaiseki dinner, while guests at Hanaougi Bettei Iiyama can enjoy irori kaiseki by the fireplace. If you’d prefer something a little more intimate, you can also dine in the comfort of your room—just ask when making a reservation.
After an onsen soak and fine Japanese dining, you can continue to unwind with a spot of aromatherapy, Thai-style massage, or a drink in the lounge. That’s luxury Japanese hospitality, 21st century style.
Hidatei Hanaougi: 411-1 Honobu-machi, Takayama, Gifu. Tel: 0577-36-2000. Hanaougi Bettei Iiyama: 262-2 Honobu-machi, Takayama, Gifu. Tel: 0577-37-1616. Email: mail@hanaougi.co.jp. Nearest stn: Takayama. www.hanaougi.co.jp/english
Takayama Guide
It’s received a three-star rating in Michelin’s French-language Voyager Pratique Japon and Green Guide Japon 2009 guidebooks—the mark of a must-visit destination. If you want to get to grips with everything that Hida-Takayama in Gifu Prefecture has to offer, look no further than Takayama Guide. This website aims to attract international visitors by providing a wide range of useful information on where to eat, stay and see in this fascinating traditional city. The website’s hotel, dining and sightseeing guides contain all the information you’ll need for your visit, from accommodation and public transportation to maps and details of local events and festivals. Hotel reservations can
also be made via the website, at accommodations ranging from affordable minshuku to luxurious five-star ryokan.
www.takayama-guide.com. Email: customersupport@takayama-guide.com
War Zone Paintball & Survival Game Field
Being the only paintball field in Kanto isn’t War Zone’s sole claim to fame. The newly opened 15,000m2 field in Chiba Prefecture is run by a former Israeli Special Forces soldier, Avi Mazalto, who also offers special military training and self-defense seminars.
Paintball, for the uninitiated, is a survival game in which teams of players battle it out using “marker” rifles powered by compressed air that shoot soft gelatin balls filled with colored ink. Players hide behind bunkers, running from one to the next in order to get closer to the other team and take them out. The last team standing, naturally, wins the game.
Although paintball has garnered a strong following worldwide, restrictions on air guns in the Tokyo area have made it difficult to play it here… until now. War Zone solves this problem by using order-made markers customized specifically for Japan. And unlike traditional paintball markers, these ones actually look like real firearms, including the famous M-4 military rifle and MP-5 SWAT team rifle. To further preserve the sense of realism, War Zone’s bunkers come in the shape of Humvees, war tanks and log houses. You’ll feel like you’ve just stepped into… well, a war zone.
If paintball isn’t your thing, they also offer survival games in which players use battery- or CO2 gas-powered BB guns. And when you’re done, you can take advantage of the on-site camping and BBQ facilities—why not make a weekend out of it?
2349 Moroto, Inzai, Chiba. Tel: 090-7194-1718. Nearest stn: Inba-Nihon-Idai (Hokuso line). www.war-zone.jp
Mammut
Swiss Alpine goods brand Mammut has been equipping mountain climbers for nearly 150 years—in other words, for as long as there have been mountain climbers. The company’s products combine safety and functionality with an eye for the latest fashions.
Mammut started life in Dinikon, Switzerland in 1862 as a manufacturer of handmade ropes, and has been actively involved in the development of rope technology ever since. In 1968, the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA) adopted Mammut’s rope safety standards as its own—which is about as ringing an endorsement as you could ask for.
Mammut is renowned in climbing and outdoor sports circles for the knowledge and experience that it brings to the development of climbing equipment and clothing. Its pioneering “soft shell” fabrics, produced in collaboration with Schoeller Textiles, have been frequently imitated but never bettered. Mammut products are now sold in around 40 countries—not just clothing, but also shoes, backpacks and other climbing and hiking goods. You’ll find them on sale at hundreds of outlets around Japan, but for the widest selection—including this season’s new lines—head to Mammut Store Omotesando, near Meiji-Jingumae station.
2F YO Building 1, 6-7-5 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku. Open Thu-Tue 11am-8pm, closed Wed. Tel: 03-6418-7238. Nearest stn: Meiji-Jingumae. www.mammut.jp
Water Group
Tokyo has fallen in love with bicycles over the past few years. And rightly so: not only are they a convenient, economic, green means of transportation, they also keep you healthy—and fashionable. You can get set up in style at the following Shinjuku area shops:
BikeIt enjoys a special relationship with Cannondale—it was the first store in Japan to stock the brand exclusively. Since then, it’s remained Cannondale’s number one shop for sales in the country—and the staff speak English, too. Check out the 2010 SuperSix Hi Mod: it hits the sweet spot, for sure.
While most cycle shops just settle for a token “gear corner,” Psy!z is a concept salon dedicated to cycle wear. This store in Shinjuku-Gyoen carries brands which combine good design and functionality, including Castelli, 2XU, Outwet and Rapha. Uchida-san will have you stylin’ in no time.
ZukiBike is a popular Euro brand shop that’s been running since 1988. From steelies to carbon frames to piste bikes (fixies), it has a wide range of bicycles to closely match your needs and price range, with Euro bikes like Cinelli, Orbea, Colnago and Pinarello.
Psycrithm specializes in Trek, Gary Fisher and Bontrager. Lance Armstrong rode Trek bikes to seven consecutive Tour de France wins, and with Project One you can customize your own. Gary Fisher was one of the first names in mountain biking, and, even after all these years, is still one of the
most innovative. Trek makes a bike for everyone.
BikeIt: 26 Sakamachi, Shinjuku-ku. Tel:03-3351-0489. Open daily 11am-8pm. Nearest stn: Akebonobashi (Toei Shinjuku line). www.cannondale.jp Psy!z: 1-11 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku. Tel: 03-5919-4227. Open Mon-Fri noon-8pm, Sat-Sun & hols 11am-8pm. Nearest stn: Shinjuku-Gyoenmae (Marunouchi line). www.psyz.jp Zuki Bike: 24 Sakamachi, Shinjuku-ku. Tel. 03-3358-9636. Open Mon-Fri noon-10pm, Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 11am-8pm. Nearest stn: Akebonobashi (Toei Shinjuku line). www.zukibike.com Psychrithm: 1 Funamachi, Shinjuku-ku. Tel. 03-5919-2300. Open daily 11am-9pm. Nearest stn: Yotsuya-Sanchome (Marunouchi line). www.trekbikes.jp
Splashdown
As swimming season approaches, here are some famous (and lesser-known) places to get wet this summer
Tsujido Kaihin Park
They weren’t mincing their words when they named the “Jumbo Pool” at Tsujido Kaihin Park, which offers water slides, rapids and a wave pool—right on the waterfront. When you’re done, the adjacent park also contains a transport museum and ample lawns that are perfect for relaxing with the whole family.
Open daily Jul 10-Sep 12, 9am-6pm (until 6:30pm Jul 17-Aug 22). Admission ¥800 (HS and over)/¥500 (MS)/¥200 (elem and under). Nearest stn: Tsujido. www.kanagawa-park.or.jp/tujidou
Tokyo Summerland
Open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun & hols 9am-6pm (open daily 9am-9pm, Jul 17-Aug 31). Regular admission: ¥2,000 (adults)/¥1,000 (seniors/elem and under); summer admission (Jul 1-Sep 30): ¥3,500 (adults)/¥2,500 (elem)/¥1,800 (seniors/ages 2-6). Tel: 042-558-6511. Nearest stn: Akigawa (JR Itsukaichi line). www.summerland.co.jp/english
Kujuppama
Lifeguard 8am-5pm during swimming season. Parking for 130 cars (¥1,000/day). Nearest stn: Izukyu Shimoda (Izu Kyuko line). Research by Ako Kitamura
Ichibu
Lifeguard 8:30am-4:30pm during swimming season. Parking for 100 cars (¥1,000/day). Nearest stn: Rendaiji (Izu Kyuko line), then bus to Matsuzaki bus terminal, followed by bus to Ichibu Onsen.
