Recommendation for hiking routes and affordable gears!

[captainspoke]

Also, I never pursued it, but as a retirement gig, did browse these. Scroll down a little for the Tateyama and/or Kamikochi listings. Seemingly more of a young person's job, or that's what they usually ask for. But there are the "over 50" and "over 60" listings.

https://www.inkknot.com

[goran]

Also, I never pursued it, but as a retirement gig, did browse these. Scroll down a little for the Tateyama and/or Kamikochi listings. Seemingly more of a young person's job, or that's what they usually ask for. But there are the "over 50" and "over 60" listings.

https://www.inkknot.com

hmm..interesting. If someone's looking for something to do after (early) retirement.

Also, thank you for sharing the maps. Did you buy them online or from bookstores?

[Gulliver]

I used to do a lot of hiking, but not anymore because of mobility issues. I do, however, still buy hiking boots for ankle stability and keeping my feet warm and dry. I also buy rain gear because I don’t like holding an umbrella when I’m going on a long walks or when the rain is coming in sideways.

I pretty much buy all of my gear from Amazon. The trick is to make sure you’re using the US .com website and not the Japanese . jp one. Any gear that you can find in Japan is usually 25 to 50% cheaper on amazon.com, even when you include shipping. This is especially true if you have access to US dollars.

Other benefits include being able to find sizes that would fit western bodies and liberal return policies (anyone who has bought things in Japan knows that returning items it’s like pulling teeth). Just make sure the item is shipped by Amazon and not an independent seller.

[mikele3]

Japan is FULL of hiking options.

If you haven't yet, I suggest doing the Kumano Kodo.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4952.html
A friend and me went from Kii-tanabe to Kii-Katsuura in 4 days, it was spectacular.

My favorite piece of gears is the inflatable mattress, I bought this years ago:
https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B001QWFD9O

[goran]

I used to do a lot of hiking, but not anymore because of mobility issues. I do, however, still buy hiking boots for ankle stability and keeping my feet warm and dry. I also buy rain gear because I don’t like holding an umbrella when I’m going on a long walks or when the rain is coming in sideways.

I pretty much buy all of my gear from Amazon. The trick is to make sure you’re using the US .com website and not the Japanese . jp one. Any gear that you can find in Japan is usually 25 to 50% cheaper on amazon.com, even when you include shipping. This is especially true if you have access to US dollars.

Other benefits include being able to find sizes that would fit western bodies and liberal return policies (anyone who has bought things in Japan knows that returning items it’s like pulling teeth). Just make sure the item is shipped by Amazon and not an independent seller.

Thank you for the tips.
Any particular recommendation on brands or models for the rainwear?

[goran]

Japan is FULL of hiking options.

If you haven't yet, I suggest doing the Kumano Kodo.
https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e4952.html
A friend and me went from Kii-tanabe to Kii-Katsuura in 4 days, it was spectacular.

My favorite piece of gears is the inflatable mattress, I bought this years ago:
https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B001QWFD9O

Kumano Kodo seems like a beautiful route. Easily accessible from where I am too. Hopefully, I can walk this trail later this year or late spring next year.

About the inflatable mattress, do you put it directly on top of the tent floor? And sleeping bag above this?

[captainspoke]

...
Also, thank you for sharing the maps. Did you buy them online or from bookstores?

Bookstore, a good one will have a map section, where there will be mostly Mapple variations for driving/motorcycling, but possibly also some of these. A decent hiking/outdoor/mountaineering store will also have them. Those are certainly dated, but they do give hiking times along all the routes, always two times (up vs down along a course), also where chains or something like that are.

I've had long term connections to maps, USGS topo, also aviation, weather, etc. Some of the mapple books are excellent (for cycling as well as driving), much better than google maps or open street maps. (I'm biased.)

When out in the mtns, I'd rather not be looking at my phone at all.

[mikele3]

My favorite piece of gears is the inflatable mattress, I bought this years ago:
https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B001QWFD9O

About the inflatable mattress, do you put it directly on top of the tent floor? And sleeping bag above this?

yes.

I bought mine in 2013, there might be better ones on the market, but at the time the strong selling points were size/weight/puncture resistance and the fact that it did NOT require too much air to inflate ...

If I had to choose I would ditch the tent and maybe even the sleeping bag, but still carry the mattress (and an eye mask)

[goran]

My favorite piece of gears is the inflatable mattress, I bought this years ago:
https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B001QWFD9O

About the inflatable mattress, do you put it directly on top of the tent floor? And sleeping bag above this?

yes.

I bought mine in 2013, there might be better ones on the market, but at the time the strong selling points were size/weight/puncture resistance and the fact that it did require too much air to inflate ...

If I had to choose I would ditch the tent and maybe even the sleeping bag, but still carry the mattress (and an eye mask)

wait. do these come with built in pumping system? I wouldn't want to be blowing air into my mattress at 3000m! lol

[mikele3]

wait. do these come with built in pumping system? I wouldn't want to be blowing air into my mattress at 3000m! lol

oops! sorry! I did edit my last one with : it did NOT require too much air to inflate.

no pump, you can buy a very small one, I guess.

I like the challenge, my best was filling it up with 10 deep and long breaths. 15~20 is most common.