Explore the Outdoors Competition

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Planning a Trip to Japan?

Share your travel photos with us by hashtagging your images with #visitjapanjp

Congratulations to our winners and runner-ups!

✈️ Return flights to Kyushu with ANA:
Kim Cook

🏨 2-night stay at Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Tomamu:
Joel Boyd

💧 Stainless Steel Drink Bottle:
Sophie Angus
Stephanie Barnes
Terri Bastow
Samantha Bramich
Meagan Briggd
Teiannah Cambronero
Geoffrey Chang
Cynthia Chin
Adelina Darbyshire
Mairead Dunbar
Lok Gideon
Neil Guasch
Leisa Grant
Vanessa He
Kathy Huynh
Sriram Kannan
Elizabeth Keen
Romy Lauder
Beau McCrimmon
Charlotte Mills
Wendy Morey
Sam Polonsky
Andrea Suttiyotin
Mian Wang
Kimberley Yasuda

WIN return flights for 2 to Kyushu with ANA You’ll receive return flights for two to Kyushu in Japan courtesy of our friends at All Nippon Airways (ANA). Since 2013 ANA has received a 5-star rating every year from Skytrax, the UK based airline-ranking organisation, making it the perfect start to your outdoor adventure. Learn more about ANA

WIN a 2-night stay for 2 at Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Tomamu You’ll receive a two-night stay for two in a suite room at Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Tomamu in Hokkaido. Enjoy a luxurious mountain resort stay with breathtaking panoramic views, jet-bath, a sauna and access to up to 20 restaurants catering to every taste and occasion. Learn more about Hoshino Resorts RISONARE Tomamu

WIN a stainless steel drink bottle You’ll receive a powder coated stainless steel drink bottle with a bamboo screw lid that is BPA free. These are the essential outdoor lover’s accessory. Tough enough for any challenge and light enough to carry all day. There are 25 bottles up for grabs!

Win return flights for 2 to Japan with ANA or a 2-night stay at Hoshino Resorts and have the adventure of a lifetime.

Japan is a dream destination for lovers of the outdoors. From snowy mountains and lush valleys to ancient forests and sheltered coasts plus 34 national parks, all kinds of adventures await.

Whether you love speeding through some of the world’s best powder snow, the peaceful pace of cycling scenic coasts, the wild thrill of rafting down remote valleys or contemplating nature as you hike ancient spiritual trails, there’s an unforgettable trip waiting for you.

For your chance to win, read about the outdoor adventures below then answer four questions about what you’ve learned. There’s also 25 stainless steel drink bottles to be won (T&Cs apply).

Cycling is the perfect way to see Japan’s scenic landscapes at your own pace

Make a day of it by cycling the Shimanami Kaido from Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture to Imabari in Ehime Prefecture, a famously scenic 70km route across 6 islands in the Seto Inland Sea. Or for the more experienced, the Trans Tohoku Cycling Tour is a 12-day, 900km guided adventure through three national parks, including Nikko, Bandai-Asahi and Towada-Hachimantai. Whether taking in coastal views or passing through quaint mountain villages, there’s something for everyone.

The quality of the powder snow makes Japan a must for winter sports lovers, and with over 500 resorts there’s something for everyone

Nozawa Onsen in Nagano Prefecture is an example of a great place to experience a classic hot spring town as part of your trip, or to ski with snow monsters there’s Zao Onsen Ski Resort in Yamagata Prefecture. If carving deep snowboard lines is what inspires you there’s Hokkaido Prefecture, the powder capital of Japan and home to renowned resorts such as Tomamu, Niseko and Furano.

With many pristine rivers running through narrow gorges, Japan is ideal for rafting adventures

The waterways of Kamikawa and Sounkyo Daisetsuzan National Park in Hokkaido Prefecture offer breathtaking scenery that are inaccessible on foot or by car. The Nikko section of the Kinugawa River in Tochigi Prefecture is dramatically beautiful and the Yoshino River in the Iya Valley, Tokushima Prefecture, has adrenaline-pumping drops in clear mountain water. Wherever you go, your guide will pick the best and safest experience for the conditions of the day.

From volcanic peaks to green plateaus and sacred summits, there’s endless choice for lovers of the great outdoors in Japan

The ancient Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route winds through the Kii Peninsula in Wakayama, Nara and Mie Prefectures and is one of only two pilgrimages in the world registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site. In Kyushu, go trekking in Aso-Kuju National Park in Kumamoto and Oita Prefectures, taking in Mt Aso and its giant caldera, or explore the mysterious ancient cedar forests of Yakushima in Kagoshima Prefecture and marvel at yakusugi cedar trees that are over 1,000 years old. With two thirds of Japan’s land being mountainous it’s truly a paradise for hikers.