A guidebook to 13 short treks and 14 day walks in the Japan Alps and on Mount Fuji. Routes are graded by difficulty and range from relatively short walks on easy terrain to strenuous mountain excursions, sometimes involving scrambling, aided sections and considerable exposure.

The routes cover the North , Central and South Alps, with each chapter offering information on local bases and public transport access. Also included are the four main ascent routes on Mount Fuji, Japan's highest mountain. The treks range from 2?8 days and the day walks from 4 to 20km (3?15 hours).

• 1:50,000 mapping provided for each route
• GPX files available to download
• All you need to know about visiting the Japan Alps and Mount Fuji
• Comprehensive information on the region's excellent facilities, which include mountain huts and hot-spring baths
• Japanese glossary

Tom Fay is the lead author of Walking and Trekking in the Japan Alps and Mt. Fuji. He is a British writer and teacher based in Osaka, and has been living in Japan for well over a decade. Growing up in the hills of North Wales, the mountains of Snowdonia were his first outdoor 'love', and he still returns there year after year. He has since hiked and climbed in many places including Scotland, Iceland, China, South Korea, New Zealand, the Himalayas and throughout every corner of Japan. Tom writes mainly about travel and the outdoors for a variety of publications and media outlets, and is the author of a popular guidebook called 'Must-See Japan'. He is a member of the Outdoor Writers and Photographers Guild. Check out his website www.thomasfay.com for more information.

Guidebook to the magnificent Japan Alps, which stretch across the middle of the main island of Honshu, and iconic Mount Fuji. The guide describes nine day-walks and thirteen treks of 2-8 days covering the North, Central and South Alps, as well as the four main routes up Mount Fuji - Japan's highest mountain at 3776m - and a further route on neighbouring Mount Kurodake. The routes visit many of the region's key summits, including several over 3000m. They are graded according to difficulty, although several entail steep ascents and difficult terrain and a few include scrambling and exposure, calling for a sure foot and a good head for heights. Comprehensive step-by-step route descriptions are accompanied by clear mapping. The Japan Alps and Mount Fuji boast a well-developed walking infrastructure, and the routes make use of the many mountain huts and campgrounds, full details of which are given in the guide. Some also include the opportunity to visit a traditional hot-spring bath for a refreshing soak after your hike. You will find all the information you will need to plan a successful walking or trekking holiday, with a wealth of advice on travel, bases, accommodation and facilities. There are additional notes on plants and wildlife, the history of hiking in Japan and safety in the mountains, as well as full mountain-hut listings and a helpful glossary. Inspirational colour photography completes the package, offering a taste of the breathtaking mountain vistas to whet your appetite.

Map key Overview map Introduction Preparations and practicalities When to go Getting to Japan Getting around Japan Rail passes Accommodation Mountain huts and camping Food and drink Hot springs Money Communications Language Tourist information offices What to take Luggage forwarding Maps and GPS Waymarking The typical hiking day Mountain etiquette Health and safety Emergencies Using this guide All about the Japan Alps and Mt Fuji Location and climate Geology and landscape Plants and wildlife History of hiking in Japan The North (Kita) Alps Hakuba Area Walk 1 Mt Shirouma-dake Trek 1 Mt Shirouma-dake and Hakuba-Yari Onsen Tateyama Area Walk 2 Mt Tateyama Walk 3 Mt Oku-dainichi-dake Trek 2 Mt Tsurugi-dake Trek 3 North Alps traverse Hotaka Area Walk 4 Mt Yake-dake Walk 5 Mt Nishiho-Doppy? Trek 4 Mt Oku-Hotaka-dake and Karasawa Cirque Trek 5 Mt Yari-ga-take Trek 6 Mt Ch?-ga-take and Mt J?nen-dake Trek 7 Mt Kasa-ga-take Norikura Area Walk 6 Mt Norikura-dake The Central (Ch??) Alps Walk 7 Mt Kiso-koma-ga-take Trek 8 Central Alps traverse The South (Minami) Alps North Area Walk 8 Mt Kai-koma-ga-take Walk 9 Mt Senj?-ga-take Trek 9 Mt Kita-dake Trek 10 Mt H?-? South Area Trek 11 Mt Arakawa-Higashidake (Mt Warusawa) and Mt Akaishi-dake Trek 12 Mt Kamik?chi-dake and Mt Hijiri-dake Trek 13 South Alps traverse Mt Fuji Walk 10 Mt Fuji - Yoshida route Walk 11 Mt Fuji - Subashiri route Walk 12 Mt Fuji - Gotemba route Walk 13 Mt Fuji - Fujinomiya route Walk 14 Mt Kuro-dake Appendix A Route summary table - walks Appendix B Route summary table - treks Appendix C Mountain huts Appendix D Glossary Appendix E Useful contacts and further resources Appendix F Further reading