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Allie Bally · Joined: 22 Apr 2012 Posts: 13 Location: Huaraz, Peru

Hey! I love climbing, camping, trekking/backpacking, rafting, mountain biking, and anything that has to do with nature. Beaches are also cool. Are there things like this to do in Japan? I might go crazy without nature. What about national parks?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

You can do all those things here. See www.outdoorjapan.com for more info.

You should focus more on your goals of finding work and possibilities for your boyfriend, first.

Allie Bally · Joined: 22 Apr 2012 Posts: 13 Location: Huaraz, Peru

Thanks for the info. However these things are EXTREMELY IMPORTANT for me otherwise my quality of life is going to be horrible and I will not be happy. A good friend of mine who lived in Korea says that after living in Peru I will be very unhappy with the nature scene in Korea, and I am just wondering if it is similar in Japan. What are the national parks like there? Crowded? Hard to access? Expensive? Un-nature like?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I'm sad to say that with a spouse who hates nature, I have not done any outdoor activities in the parks here. I have not heard of any major complaints, though, other than some crowdedness in tent camping areas.

Please look at that link more closely and let Google help you out on what the parks are like. I hope people who have been fortunate enough to get out into nature can lend a hand here.

Just a word of advice, though. As much as this topic is very important to you, be careful how strongly you bring it up in any interviews. That's because it may turn off employers who might think you put more value on your own needs rather than those of the customers. After all, in their minds that is why they are hiring you.

MotherF · Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2012 2:35 pm Post subject:

I know that in Peru, you probably don't have access to any physical guide books to Japan--but this is the information age. Like Glenski said--use your googling skills.

(Lonely Planet's website would be a good start. And how about Flickr for photos of Japan. There's the National Geographic Travel website. There are tons of expat blogs coming out of Japan. And there are English language publications from Japan that surely have websites.)

Allie Bally · Joined: 22 Apr 2012 Posts: 13 Location: Huaraz, Peru

Thanks guys yes I know I have done some research on my own but there doesn't seem to be much info. Also that website was not very informative. I have looked at Lonely Planet's website and they are also quite vague. The rock climbing websites also have very little info on topos. I am begining to wonder if there really is very much nature. Wikipedia gives a huge list of national parks, so maybe there is hope...we'll see.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Go to the LP thorntree discussion site and ask travelers.

Japan is 75 percent mountains and forest. Can't be "un-nature-like". Not sure what you meant by expensive, so could you elaborate?

Allie Bally · Joined: 22 Apr 2012 Posts: 13 Location: Huaraz, Peru

ssjup81 · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:06 am Post subject:

I am in the Tohoku region and one of the students I work with loves outdoor activity such as hiking in the mountains, camping, snowboarding, etc. I will see him and another student tomorrow for the Hanami. I could p