7. Northern Yatsugatake: Adventures in Snow Hiking

Scenic northern Yatsugatake in Nagano Prefecture is an outdoor lover's paradise just two hours from Tokyo. It's defined by a series of peaks rising above 2,000 meters. Novice mountaineers can enjoy snow climbing safely if they travel with a guide and proper equipment. This time Michael Keida, who is new to mountaineering, traverses the area on cross-country skis, snowshoes and with crampons to fully explore the snowy mountains.