the original ice climbing company in japan
In 2009 we started the first trips ice climbing in Japan for foreign climbers.
Before we started running Japan ice climbing trips, almost nothing was known to the outside world about what was here. We ran as iceclimbingjapan for a lot of that time, until we decided to step things up to really meet the demands of Japan’s visiting climbers.
15 years later, after hundreds of trips across the country, no other company specializes like we do in the ice climbing japan has to offer.
Much, much more than the few famous and crowded locations that have become popular, we draw from the dozens of places we have been to over the years. We chase the best conditions and the ‘secret’ locations, to match the right ice to the right climber.
New Ice Climbers
With only a few months possible a year, ice climbing takes a long time to learn. Despite appearing simple, ice climbing has a lot of nuances and subtleties, that need to be developed properly within view of the risks.
As a true ‘extreme sport’ ice climbing takes place in locations where people normally don’t go, so picking the right place to learn is paramount. Each skill deserves its own location to be best developed, which means local knowledge, mobility and familiarity with conditions over the season.
Established Ice Routes
Right across the northern half of Japan there are conditions for ice, from easy stuff a few hours from Tokyo to the valleys of Hokkaido and the high alpine faces across the Alps. We frequently link up multiple locations across a week or more of climbing, as a sort of road trip, climbing, eating and hanging out in hot springs.
Over the years we have run trips ice climbing in Japan we have figured a lot out about conditions and access, meaning maximum time on the ice. Where most foreign climbers get stuck in the busy locations, waiting their turn, there are dozens of locations that see only a few locals, us and are otherwise unknown.
Pro Ice Climbers & Hard Ascents
We know where some of the hardest ice climbing routes in Asia are – because we helped put them up. Japan has great scope for World-Class level ice climbing, from high and scary alpine stuff to intense athletic ice and mixed.
Even now ice climbing in Japan has a lot of new route options, for the climber wanting to find new lines and work them out. Japan offers a cool lifestyle to ‘live in’ and work on hard first ascents, finding the best conditions and sequences in places away from crowds and disruption.
Like any hard ice climbing location, things take time and a relationship with locals to do it all right. We have a lot of experience making friends with the locals all the way out, including the old guard of Japan’s climbing forebears, who are happy to see foreign climbers come discover what they have known for so long.
