Fuji Adventurer

An amazingly dynamic and eclectic country, Japan has a lot more active options than most people are aware of. With so much of the population concentrated in the cities, much of the mountainous countryside is under populated and perfect for outdoor adventuring, a fact we make full use of on this trip.

This expedition offers you an adventure of a lifetime in this amazingly dynamic and eclectic country. Much of the mountainous countryside is under populated and perfect for outdoor adventuring, a fact we make full use of on this trip. We will climb the sacred Mt Fuji, raft down the Fuji river, trek and bike through fascinating landscapes and sea kayak off the Izu Peninsula.

Highlights
• Experience the real Tokyo both the new and ancient
• Climb the sacred Mt Fuji
• Raft down the Fuji River
• Trek through some fascinating landscapes and visit ancient temples
• Sea kayak sections of the Izu Peninsula

Starting off in Tokyo you'll quickly realize that even in the biggest metropolis in the world there are pockets of the old city which was once the home of samurai warriors and geisha. From Tokyo we travel to the iconic Mount Fuji, long revered as the abode of the gods. Not content with simply climbing it we take another route down the mountain and do some whitewater rafting on our way down the Fuji River. In the shadow of Mount Fuji ancient lava flows have formed the Izu peninsula and we hike, bike and kayak our way around this rugged landscape.

Our final stop before heading back to the capital is one of Tokyo's many islands to look deep into the crater of its recently erupted volcano.

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Itinerary / Highlights

Day 1
Arrive in Tokyo and take the convenient train to your hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure

Day 2 Tokyo
Tokyo is without doubt one of the most amazing cities in the world. From a sleepy coastal town in them early 16th century, after being chosen as the shogun's capital it became one of the largest cities in the world within a century. Suffering two major disasters (the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake and the 1945 bombings) and numerous fires it has bounced back every time and now only a few countries can claim economic output which exceeds that of this metropolis. An incredible 10% of Japan's population live in this metropolis area so it's no wonder most people's perceptions of it centre on neon and concrete but
there's much much more to this diverse city than first meets the eye.
We take to our bikes to discover the best of Old Edo and her 'downtown' area, as well as all the highlights of New Tokyo and start our day at the largest fish market in the world, Tsukiji. An incredible 450 different types of seafood are on sale here every day, including many you have probably never even heard of and it's estimated that 12 million people every day eat something that was sold here. We also visit a sumo stable to learn more about this ancient and often misunderstood martial art. The life of the wrestlers is rigid and their training intense, each dreaming of becoming the next yokuzuna (the highest rank a sumo
wrestler can achieve). As we ride around the backstreets of the old downtown, pockets of old Edo (as the city was once called) still exist and we take the chance to learn more about the history of this fascinating city.

Day 3 Tokyo
Urban adventure. Using orienteering and groups we spend the day in Tokyos back streets running, riding, climbing, kayaking as we solve variations problems and enjoy the chance to try a karate lesson and have a go at sumo. This event goes into the night involving introduction and explanation of Tokyo's seedy night lift.

Day 4 Kawaguchi
Ridge walk on a trail over 1,000 years old Samurai and Imperial messengers used. Chance for amazing views of Fuji.

Day 5 Fuji
We ride our bikes around the beautiful Fuji lakes area before starting our ascent of the iconic mountain from Fuji Yoshida. The five lakes are found at the northern base of Mt Fuji and were formed when lava flows blocked rivers in the area. Now classified as a dormant volcano, Fuji's last eruption was back in 1707 though scientists believe the mountain started forming several hundred thousand of years ago. Japan's tallest and most sacred mountain, Mt Fuji has long considered the abode of the gods of the native Shinto religion and has been a pilgrimage route for centuries. The first recoded ascent was by a monk in
the 7th century and we follow the oldest pilgrimage route all the way from the shrine at the bottom. Sengenjinja Shrine is where monks and pilgrims over the centuries have prayed for their safe return, long before our comfortable hiking trail was completed, and we too make an offering asking for protection. As we walk through the cedar forests on the lower reaches of the mountain we will learn about some of the flora and fauna of the area. Today we climb from 500 meters above sea level to our mountain hut
accommodation at around 3,000 meters. The huts have communal sleeping areas and shared facilities but ample clean bedding is provided so there is no need to carry your own sleeping bag.

Day 6 Numazu
After spending a night in our mountain Hut we rise around 3am to get to the summit for sunrise. Joining us are other hikers who are all as excited as we are to have the chance to see the sun rise above a sea of clouds from Japan's highest point. There is also, weather permitting, a chance to walk around the crater at the summit or to send a postcard to friends or family from the highest point in Japan! After a descent to the fifth station on the other side of the mountain we pick up special mountain bikes to
cut our way through some forest 4WD tracks on the lower reaches of the mountain. Dropping off the bikes we pick up boats and raft the Fuji River's white waters with the 3,776m mountain we just conquered as a backdrop.

We transfer to the Izu peninsula, the southern part of the Fuji Hakone National Park. With its wasabi farms and natural spring fed onsen towns Izu has long been a favorite for locals and international travelers in the know. Onsens are an important part of Japanese culture and we learn more about their properties and importance to the Japanese long life expectancy through the ages before having a pre dinner soak to soothe sore muscles.

Day 7 Matsuzaki
After a solid night's sleep we eat a healthy breakfast which uses the many fresh fruits and vegetables of the area to make a delicious traditional Japanese breakfast. We spend today on our road bikes, cycling along the spectacular coastline of the Izu Peninsula (100km).

Day 8 Matsuzaki
We are on or in the sea all day today. A great day sea kayaking around the great coastline the peninsula offers as well as some samurai swimming lessons for those interested in getting armoured up and wet. Swimming, canoeing, hiking, snorkeling and relaxing is also possible in this lovely place. Before we set off in our sea kayaks we do a skills and safety session in a protected bay before heading out along the coast as the day becomes evening. In the darkness of night the area is famous for illuminated plankton which dazzles and lights our way. Our resident expert will explain about the different varieties of deep sea fish the pacific currents bring here and the different properties of each. With 20% of the world's seafood eaten on the main island of Japan, the styles and methods of cooking, steaming, boiling, and of course, eating raw, are worth learning direct from a local and back at the ryokan we indulge in a fantastic seafood buffet. After dinner we have a talk from an expert working on different
sources of alternative energy that Japanese companies like Sony and Mitsubishi are researching in an effort to address the world's energy issues.

Day 9 Shimoda
Another great 80 kms on the bikes takes us to the historically significant Shimoda which was Commodore Perry's landing spot in 1853. From around 1630 to 1868 Japan's foreign policy was one of isolation. No foreigners were allowed to enter Japan (with the exception of some Chinese trading ships and a restricted Dutch enclave in Nagasaki) and it was illegal for Japanese to leave the country. Allowing Commodore Matthew Perry onshore to avoid bombardment from the technologically advanced “black ships”, the Japanese reluctantly accepted a letter from the American president demanding a trading port be opened to American ships. Returning a year later for his reply he brought an even bigger fleet but found the shogun's representatives had already drafted an agreement that was to become the Convention of Kanagawa. It guaranteed two trading ports (Shimoda and Hakodate) as well as guaranteeing the safety of shipwrecked American sailors. Similar treaties followed with other countries and the Shogun's inability to assert control over the foreigners brought about the collapse of the Tokugawa shogunate which had ruled over a peaceful and united country for 260 years. The beaches here are amazing and the water is crystal clear and a surfing or windsurfing lesson with our local guides comes highly recommended. Tonight we head out on a night hike to spot fireflies and wild boars amongst the wasabi farms and wilderness the area is famous for.

Day 10 Shimoda
We transfer up to the Peninsula's highest point, an extinct volcano, to pick up our mountain bikes for a twisting ride down to sea level through the area's lovely fertile farmland and get a feel for the agricultural life that generations of farmers have enjoyed. Rice is very important in Japan as it traditionally provided around 80% of the calorie intake of the average person. Highly respected (the Japanese attach an honorific prefix when talking about it), rice is considered important to the Shinto religion and sake (made from rice), rice and rice cakes are common offerings at shrines. Off the bikes and on to sea kayaks we do a skills and safety session in a protected bay before heading out along the coast as the day becomes evening. In the darkness of night the area is famous for illuminated plankton which dazzles and lights our way. Our resident expert will explain about the different varieties of deep sea fish the pacific currents bring here and the different properties of each. With 20% of the world's seafood eaten on the main island of Japan, the styles and methods of cooking, steaming, boiling, and of course, eating raw, are worth learning direct from a local and back at the ryokan we indulge in a fantastic seafood buffet.

Day 11 Oshima
It's worth getting up in time for the magical sunrise and we take a short hike to enjoy this amazing time of day before catching a ferry to O-shima. The largest island in the Izu area, O-shima (the name literally translates to “big island”) is a volcanic island dominated by Mt Mihara which last erupted in 1986. Originally formed by an undersea volcano the island has many hot springs which come hand in hand with the presence of Japan's many volcanoes. The country contains 10% of the worlds active volcanoes looking into the crater of the recently erupted volcano is sure to send a thrill down your spine. Not to worry though, the volcano is under constant monitoring and highly sophisticated systems are in place to predict any future activity.
We also do some great bike riding that is sure to be a highlight of the trip.

Day 12 Tokyo
After some final exploration of Oshima we take the ferry back to Tokyo.

Day 13 Tokyo
We spend out final day together back in the bustling capital, a change of pace from the last few days and one that illustrates the contradictions and contrasts that are ever present in Japan. Back in the big city we have some great group activities that will teach everyone more about Japanese life, history, religion, arts and culture while remaining active and raising a sweat to enjoy the great final night dinner (which we will cook ourselves) and the many beers and karaoke songs to enjoy and laugh along with after a great trip.

For dinner we take a night cruise on Tokyo Bay and cook our own dinner. On the menu are Okonomiyaki and Monja. Better known overseas as “Japanese omelette” or “Japanese pancake”, okonomiyaki is a mixture of batter, cabbage, Worcestershire sauce and a choice of other toppings. Monja is similar but the batter is runnier and it is a Tokyo specialty. Originally starting out as flour and water dribbled into a hotplate in the shape of characters and given to children it became a common dish in the shitamachi (downtown) area. On our boat we have the chance to try out out cooking skills as we whip up our own dinner at our own private hotplates and relax over a beer as the lights of Tokyo reflect off the waters of the bay.

Day 14 Tokyo
Expedition Ends

Other Details

Accommodation Details

3 nights tradition inns (ryokan); 3 nights mountain huts)