Climbing Mount Fuji: Okay, so climbing Japan's tallest --
3,766m-high (12,355 ft.) -- and most famous mountain is not the
solitary, athletic pursuit you may have envisioned -- but with 400,000
people climbing it annually, it's a great, culturally enriching group
activity. Many opt to climb through the night with a flashlight and then
cheer the sunrise from the top of the mountain.
Hiking the Old Nakasendo Highway: Back in the days of the
shogun, feudal lords were required to return to Edo (now Tokyo) every
other year, traveling designated highways. Nakasendo was one of these
highways, and an 8km (5-mile) stretch through a valley still exists
between the old post towns of Magome and Tsumago. It's a beautiful walk, and the towns are historic relics.
Skiing in Honshu & Hokkaido: Host of two winter Olympics
(in Sapporo in 1972 and Nagano in 1998) and riddled with mountain
chains, Japan is a great destination for skiing, the most popular winter
sport in the country, and for snowboarding. The Japan Alps in Central
Honshu and the mountains of Tohoku and Hokkaido are popular
destinations.
Cycling: Hard to believe, but you can bike between Shikoku
island and Hiroshima Prefecture via the 70km (43-mile) Shimanami Kaido
route, which actually comprises seven bridges and six islands in the
Seto Inland Sea and follows a well-maintained, dedicated biking
path.Another favorite: Cycling through the historic, rural Kibiji
District in Okayama Prefecture on a path that takes you past paddies,
ancient burial grounds, temples, and shrines.
Shooting the Kumagawa Rapids: You can glide down one of Japan's most rapid rivers in a long, traditional wooden boat, powered by men with poles.
Fishing: Most foreigners laugh when they see Japanese fishing
spots -- a stocked pool in the middle of Tokyo or a cement-banked
river, lined elbow to elbow with fishermen. For more sporting
conditions, head to Lake Akan in Hokkaido's Akan National Park, where you can fish for rainbow trout or white spotted char.
Scuba Diving and Snorkeling: Okinawa, an archipelago of 160
subtropical islands, is blessed with coral reefs, schools of manta rays,
and operators offering excursions for all levels, not to mention some
of the best dive spots in the world. Favorites include the Kerama
Islands and Iriomote.
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