Last Updated: Jul 16, 2024
Mountainous Minakami
Japan’s Top Spot for Outdoor Adventures
When you confine yourself only to Japan’s urban settings, it’s easy to forget just how much of Japan is defined by its mountains. In fact, approximately twenty-seven percent of the country is considered flat. Put simply, the conditions in the vast Kanto Plain (where Greater Tokyo resides) are actually the exception to the rule. Elsewhere in Japan, mountains, not flatlands, are the norm. Now, I am a pretty well-traveled guy and always game for visiting new remote destinations. Yet, given the distance I’ve covered, I’m repeatedly floored by the sheer majesty of Japan’s sweeping mountains.
On that note, I’d like to introduce today’s topic of Minakami. Located in the far-flung northwestern reaches of Gunma, on the border of Niigata Prefecture, Minakami is like heaven on earth for outdoor enthusiasts. Well renowned for years for its hot springs and ski resorts, this slice of Japan has also recently seen a boom in adventure tourism. For example, my good friend Mike Harris runs the company Canyons and is always taking both foreigners and Japanese alike on some sort of suicidal-looking undertaking. If you have a serious deathwish, I highly suggest checking out what Mike has on offer.
