Japan’s chill mountain culture: where is the high-energy vibe??

I’ve spent years living in Japan and visited almost every prefecture. My favorite places in winter are Hakuba and Nozawa Onsen because they have some kind of positive vibe that not many places have in Japan. The feeling that people are super excited to be in the mountains and hit the snow to challenge themselves - all filled with adrenaline.

But this kind of energy is really hard to find in areas that don’t have international tourists around in large numbers.

Approach to outdoor recreation in Western Countries

In Japan, life in the outdoors has a very different approach to what I was used to in Western Countries. In Australia or US, there’s a strong sense of adventure, overcoming, and pushing the limits. It’s pretty normal for Australians or New Zealanders to take off a few weeks or a month to head to the slopes and go all out breaking the boundaries - or their bones.

On the way up the mountain, some people like to play some tunes to mentally prepare or just get super hyped for the journey. There’s a lot of “stoke” involved in the whole experience.

Approach to outdoor recreation in Japan

It feels very different in Japan. People seem more tame about the experience and rather than a high-energy place it seems like quite the opposite. The mountains are a place of peace, tranquility, and serenity. This does of course exist in Western Countries but it feels like it leans more toward excitement and danger rather than Zen meditation.

The question I’ve reflected on over the last few years is: why is Japan playing those lo-fi chill beats up the mountain?

Traditions

Even though Japan is 75% mountains, the activities in those terrains were mostly used for religious reasons such as pilgrimage hikes or temple meditations. Even today you can experience these in places like Koyasan in Wakayama Prefecture, where you can visit mountain temples and shrines. This is not just limited to Koyasan where a lot of people will do parts of the Kumano Kodo trail, there are literally thousands of mountain temples and shrines across Japan.

This religious practice has certainly led people to visit the mountains to pray for good fortune or just to experience the cultural traditions of their home country.

Hiking wasn’t a thing until the late 19th century

William Gowland was a British archeologist who extensively explore the Japanese Alps for research and recreation purposes. People say he was the dude to kick off hiking in Japan and brought a new view to climbing in the mountains - for pleasure and not just enlightenment.

These days you will find people up the mountain in thousands of Yen worth of equipment.

Different goals

Speaking of equipment, when you see local hikers up the top of the mountain they bring with them some interesting items. People will take mini tables, chairs, and kitchen accessories to make fresh coffee or ramen. As mentioned above, the goal is different. Being in the mountains for Japanese people is generally about being more comfortable and relaxed. The people in my circles will just sacrifice in order to have more freedom to go a little faster and explore a little more.

Age gap in hikers

The average age of hikers in Japan is 50 years old. Personally, I will run into people more in their late 50s and 60s so I feel the average is a little skewed. In the USA, the average age for hikers is 30 years old. I imagine that a younger age bracket is bringing more energy, adrenaline, and testosterone to play in the mountains.

Overworked? Hot spring to relax!

People work too much in Tokyo. Hot spring culture is a very big reason why people go to the mountains. People from the cities flock to the countryside to escape after another long week of overworking at the office.

Let’s think about the itinerary: overwork until Friday night, take a night bus or drive out to the mountains and arrive late evening for a buffet, and then late night hot spring in the hotel. Wake up the next day feeling dead from the week, buffet breakfast, stroll around a lake, visit a shrine to pray for money, eat lunch, have an afternoon sleep, buffet, and hot spring. Repeat the next day but leave early to beat the traffic home.

There’s no time or energy for a high-adrenaline adventure!!

Food culture

Paired with the hot springs is the amazing Japanese food. Every area has so much to explore. Compared to Western Countries where we mostly just have the same old same old, Japan prides itself on the “special” onion or potato grown in the region. This also takes some of the heat away from getting to the top of the most intense mountain peak.

Everything is “abunai!!” Japan’s “danger culture"

You pretty much can’t do anything in Japan without it being called “abunai” or dangerous. Ok, I’m exaggerating, but for real, people will say that anything which isn’t within reach of an 80-year-old person is dangerous. My guess is that 1) the median age in Japan is 50 and 2) old people rule society. If old people say something, younger people will generally listen.

When you were a kid, your grandparents or parents probably told you not to do something because it’s dangerous. It feels like a grand scale of this in Japan and younger people generally respect the advice.

A lot of young people just aren’t interested in pushing the limits

People seem to have a grip on their lives where they don’t need to feel push the limits. This is not a bad thing at all. Instead, people focus more on their careers, their other hobbies, and time with friends.

From what I’ve seen over the last few years, it is starting to change and younger people are exploring the outdoors more and more. But there is a huge image attached most likely thanks to Instagram. If you’re an outdoors person there’s a good chance you have a Suzuki Jimny and wear Patagonia. But this is the same story for Western Countries too with Jeeps, Landcruisers, Outbacks, 4Runner, and Tacoma/Hilux.

So, where can I get the high-energy vibes I need?!?

If you are looking for that high-adrenaline influence in Japan, the chances are that you probably won’t find them. The best thing to do is head to mountain areas overloaded with international people. Niseko and Hakuba have been overtaken by internationals and both areas have a lot of outdoor recreation activities to enjoy. This would be your best chance to take some of that energy and find some like-minded people looking to push the limits.

Alternatively, just take the chance to Zen out and wander through the mountains with your hands coupled behind your back as though you’ve accomplished life.

Happy lo-fi chill beats travels!!