The Yatsugatake mountain range, just 150 kilometers west of Tokyo, is a convenient destination for outdoor winter sports. Ice climbing is one of its popular attractions. Beginners can even get in practice on an artificial ice wall near a mountain hut before taking on the area's many waterfalls. On this episode of Journeys In Japan, the guide practices ice climbing and heads to the summit of Yatsugatake's highest mountain, Mt. Akadake (2,899 m), passing through a ravine with a series of frozen waterfalls. Cveto Podlogar is an experienced alpinist who has scaled numerous peaks around the world. He is not only a reporter, but also a guide to the area's fantastic ice climbing and snow trekking.
