Page 354 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

352  TR A VELERS ’ NEEDS

accommodations are often
sold out. Snow is generally
of an excellent quality, though,
and in most resorts there are
courses marked for beginners
and intermediates.
Weekend trips, daily
excursions, and skiing tours
linked to domestic air, road, and
rail routes are widely available
inside Japan and to many
agents abroad. Some times
these include equipment
rental. Large­size ski­boots
are hard to find, so check on
Hiker resting by a marker post on Mount Fugen, Kyushu availability or bring your own.
The most popular areas are
Hiking
climbing seasons – check in Hokkaido, Northern Honshu
Japan is a hiker’s heaven. for dates in advance. (Tohoku), and Central and
Mountainous and hilly regions, Volcanoes also occasionally Western Honshu. JNTO (see
including the many national take lives; even if an active p363) publishes a Top 20 ski
parks, are crisscrossed with a volcano is not actually in the resorts list, with full details
comprehensive network of process of erupting, poisonous and contact numbers.
trails. Signboards often give gases can be emitted without
precise distances and the warning. Check up­to­date
average time to be allowed safety announcements with Watersports
between each stage, but local tourist information centers. In a country with over
usually only in Japanese. There are usually facilities for 4,000 islands and
Much of north and west overnight stays on the foothills innum erable inland rivers
Japan is covered in deep snow and peaks of moun tains, and lakes, water is naturally
for up to five months a year. though these can be heavily a favorite playground for
Winter and spring hiking overcrowded. Expect the the Japanese. Since the sea
should be avoided unless standard and quality of is often polluted around
you have an experienced hospitality in such mountain major conurbations, indoor
guide and adequate clothing. huts to be variable. Many close and outdoor complex es of
Summer and early autumn outside the climbing season. pools, wave machines, and
offer different challenges: ex ­ water slides are popular.
tremes of heat and humidity, Skiing Unfortunately many outdoor
and thick vegetation that may pools are open for a limited
be difficult to penetrate. But The great skiing that Japan has time in midsummer only,
the comfort and clean green to offer is spoiled only by the coinciding with the time
of lower slopes, and the wild numbers of people in the the sea is officially open
beauty of many remote places most popular resorts. Long for swimming from mid­
make hiking Japan’s most lines for lifts are common, and July to the end of August.
rapidly growing pastime. Jet skiing, wind surfing, and
yachting are all popular.
Renting equipment is no
Mountaineering
problem on good beaches
Chains of peaks run through close to major cities; piloted
all four of Japan’s main islands. yachts can be chartered
Among the Japan Alps of from marinas. Hayama Marina
Central Honshu, for example, near Kama kura is classy and
many mountains rise steeply expensive. To sail a cruiser in
to 3,000 m (10,000 ft) and Japan, a specially issued license
can be as challenging as is necessary. Apply to the
anywhere in the world. Others Japan Marine Recreation
are gentler and ideal for less Assoc iation: a copy of a
experienced climbers. foreigner’s registration card
Japan’s mountains claim is required.
fatalities every season. While Many parts of the coastline
there is no law forbidding lend them selves to scuba
climbing at any particular time, exploration. Around any
many mountainous areas and Skiers setting off for the piste at Niseko developed area, diving can
peaks have designated ski resort in Hokkaido be murky to say the least;

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