Route Planning
Trail Planning and Route Mapping
A two-session service that turns your multi-day walk idea into a written itinerary with route notes, lodging options, and transport links between trailheads.
¥25,000
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Gear Advice · ¥44,500
Go outside knowing your kit is right for where you're going
A quiet, practical conversation about what you own, what the conditions call for, and what adjustments might make things easier. Written notes follow. No pressure to buy anything in particular.
What this gives you
Clarity about your kit, season by season
Outdoor equipment is a subject people often feel uncertain about — there's a lot of it, the differences between products aren't always obvious, and advice online tends to be either too general or too focused on high-end gear that most people don't need.
This service is a conversation first. We look at where and when you're going outside in Japan, talk through what you already own, and work out together whether your current kit is well matched to those conditions. Some items will be fine. Some won't suit the season or the terrain. Some gaps are genuinely worth filling; others aren't.
After the session you receive written notes that cover every category we discussed — not just a list of product names, but an explanation of what matters in each category and why, with references to brands available in Japan. You can use the notes however you like: as a shopping reference, as a basis for borrowing from others, or simply as something to revisit next season.
The difficulty
Gear choices for Japan are less straightforward than they seem
Japan's outdoor conditions don't fit neatly into a single set of gear recommendations. Humidity in the lowland forests of early summer is a different kind of challenge from the dry cold of a November ridge in Hokkaido. Rainfall in the Kii Peninsula is among the heaviest in the world; the same waterproof jacket might be well suited there and over-engineered for a spring walk in the Northern Alps.
For people assembling a kit for the first time, the sheer volume of options can make the process feel harder than it needs to be. For people who've been outside in other countries, there's often a question of whether what worked well in the Scottish Highlands or the Canadian Rockies will serve them here.
And then there's the practical side: some well-regarded international brands are hard to find in Japan, while excellent Japanese manufacturers are almost unknown abroad. Knowing what's actually available and at what price changes the calculation somewhat.
A common situation
Someone arrives for a summer walk in the Japanese Alps with a mid-layer suited to cool Scottish summers. By the third day at altitude, in rapidly changing conditions, they're cold in a way they didn't anticipate and didn't pack for.
Another common situation
Someone spends considerably more than necessary on a full-spec hardshell jacket for a series of day walks in autumn, when a lighter rain layer would have done the same job at a fraction of the price and weight.
And another
Someone planning a long walk discovers partway through that their footwear — perfectly adequate for European trails — isn't well matched to the rooted, often wet forest paths common in Japanese mountain terrain.
Our approach
A review that starts from what you already have
We begin by understanding your plans and your current situation. Where are you going, which seasons will you be outside, how long are the days likely to be, and what do you already own? There's no need to prepare extensively — if you can describe your kit roughly, or even just tell us what you think you have, that's usually enough to start.
We work through each category — base layers, insulation, shell layers, footwear, packs, sleep systems if relevant, navigation tools — not as a checklist, but as a conversation. For each one, we look at what you have, what the conditions actually call for, and whether there's a meaningful gap worth addressing.
Where we suggest additions or changes, we explain why and reference specific options available in Japan — by brand and approximate price range, without pushing you toward any particular retailer or product. The written summary that follows the session covers everything discussed, organised by category, so you can refer back to it over time.
Japan-specific knowledge
We know the conditions across Japan's main walking regions and seasons. Advice is grounded in what actually happens on the ground here, not general outdoor principles.
No product affiliation
We don't have commercial relationships with any brands or retailers. Suggestions are based on fitness for purpose, availability in Japan, and value relative to your needs.
Honest about what to keep
Much of the session often involves confirming that what someone already owns is well suited to where they're going. There's no pressure to replace anything that doesn't need replacing.
What to expect
One conversation, a document that lasts
01
You describe your plans
We start with where you're going and when. Even a rough idea — "autumn, somewhere in the Japanese Alps, a few days" — is enough to calibrate the conversation.
02
We look at what you own
You walk us through your current kit — descriptions, photos, or model names if you have them. We listen, ask clarifying questions, and start building a picture of where things stand.
03
We talk through each category
Base layers, insulation, shell, footwear, pack, accessories — each one considered against your plans and the likely conditions. We note what works and what doesn't, with reasoning rather than just conclusions.
04
Written summary follows
Within a few days of the session, you receive written notes covering every category discussed — what to keep, what to consider adding, and specific references to help you act on the suggestions if you choose to.
Investment
¥44,500 for a review that saves you from costly mistakes
The service is priced at ¥44,500 for the full session and written summary. There are no separate charges for follow-up questions about the notes, and no commission arrangements with retailers that might colour the advice.
For context: a single piece of mid-layer insulation suited to Japanese conditions typically costs between ¥12,000 and ¥30,000 in Japan. One well-informed decision — keeping what you have rather than replacing it unnecessarily, or understanding which single gap in your kit matters most — can more than offset the cost of the session.
The written notes are also something you can return to across multiple seasons. Gear wears out; plans change; the notes remain a useful reference point for future decisions even after you've made the initial changes.
What's included
- One focused gear review session
- Review of your existing kit against your plans
- Category-by-category written summary
- Japan-specific brand and product references
- Seasonal and terrain-specific considerations
- Follow-up questions on the written notes included
Total investment
¥44,500
How it works in practice
What the session covers and what you take away
For someone just starting out
If you're new to walking in Japan, the session helps you understand what you actually need for the specific trips you're planning — rather than buying a comprehensive kit for every possible scenario. Most people starting out need less than they think.
We identify the two or three things that genuinely make a difference for your conditions and leave the rest for later, when you have more experience to draw on.
For someone refining their kit
If you've been walking for some time and have accumulated gear over the years, the session helps you assess what's still serving you well and what might be worth replacing or reconsidering. Older gear isn't necessarily worse gear, but some things degrade in ways that aren't always visible.
We also look at whether your kit has any systematic gaps — categories that have been under-invested relative to how you actually walk.
For someone switching terrain
If you're an experienced walker in other countries coming to Japan for the first time, the session focuses on what's different about Japanese conditions and whether your existing kit handles those differences well.
Often the adjustments needed are modest — a different approach to layering for humidity, or footwear with better grip on wet roots and rock. We identify the specific adaptations that matter.
Our commitment
Advice that's for you, not about selling
We don't work with retailers, and we don't receive referral fees from any brands. When we suggest a product or a category of gear, it's because we think it will make your time outside in Japan more comfortable or safer — not for any other reason.
If, after receiving the written summary, you feel that something important was left out or that a suggestion doesn't reflect what you discussed in the session, tell us. We'll revisit it. A written summary that doesn't reflect the actual conversation isn't useful to you.
There is no obligation in getting in touch before you've decided to go ahead. A short initial conversation to understand what you're planning is free and commits you to nothing.
No commercial affiliations
No retailer relationships, no brand commissions. Suggestions come from experience, not from incentives.
Summary revisions if needed
If the written notes don't reflect what was discussed, we revise them. We want you to have something you can actually use.
No-obligation first conversation
You can ask questions before committing. We'd rather you start by getting in touch than spend weeks wondering whether this is what you need.
Getting started
What happens when you reach out
01
Tell us what you're planning
A short message about where you intend to walk and roughly when is all we need. If you already have thoughts about your kit — or specific concerns about it — mention those too, but it's not required.
02
We confirm and schedule
We'll reply within two working days, confirm that the service suits what you're looking for, and suggest a time for the session. Sessions are typically sixty to ninety minutes.
03
Notes arrive within a few days
After the session we write up the summary and send it to you. If anything needs clarifying once you've read it, you can ask and we'll respond — there's no additional charge for that.
Gear Advice · ¥44,500
Know your kit is right before you set off
Whether you're assembling a first kit or reassessing one that's accumulated over years, a conversation with us can save time, money, and the kind of discomfort that comes from finding out what doesn't work when you're already on the trail.
Get in touchOther services
Two other ways we work with people
Skills Session
Wilderness Skills Development Session
A full day on the ground covering map reading, weather observation, and self-care practices — built around walking and quiet observation rather than lectures.
¥32,500
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