About - the guide and hiking level
Who I am
Guide : Moto
(Motohiro Hayashi)
I am a freelance guide as MMGuide (Moto Mountain Guide)
In 2009, my first glimpse of the great Himalayan peaks was overwhelming and that was enough to lead where I am and what I do today. Throughout my 20's, I spent most of my time in trail running, hiking and skiing. My guiding career started in my 30's.
I worked for Fuji Mountain Guides to learn guiding. Ski patrol is my winter work to learn how to deal with emergency cases. Eventually, I moved from Saitama (where I grew up the most) to Nagano because I love this place and want you to know that Japan offers so much; countless stunning peaks, deep forests, and unforgettable landscapes. If you want to spend your time on mountains in Japan, I am honored to guide you. Spending more time in nature, moving your body, breathing deeply and experiencing new environment enriches your lifetime, I believe.
Certified
Japan Mountain Guide Association - Trekking 2
able to guide any mountains on decent trail in Japan
Wilderness Advanced First Aid
by Wilderness Medical Associates JAPAN
Hiking Levels
Our guiding plans are divided into one-day and multi-day hikes.
Most of day hike takes roughly 4-6 hours at an average walking pace.
On multi-day trips, we hike for 6-10 hours per day.
For each tour, you will find the distance, time, and elevation gain/loss given at each guiding page.
Hiking is open to anyone, and the guide role is to support your journey. But if the difficulty level is far from your actual ability, it can feel like a mismatch- for both you and us. While we are happy and honored to support your "challenge," the most important thing is that trip feels enjoyable. To avoid that mismatches, we set recommended levels for each plan.
This is only a guideline- we will also ask your level of fitness and experience before you confirming your booking.
Level 1 - Beginner A
- never hiked before, no excise in a daily life
- able to keep moving for 2-3 hours
- no idea what to bring on mountains
Level 2 - Beginner B
- have hiking experiences
- know what to bring on mountains
- able to hike 4-6 hors per day
Level 3 - Intermediate A
- several years of hiking experience including multi-day trekking
- have what you need on mountains
- able to hike 6-9 hours per day
Level 4 - Intermediate B
- several years of hiking experience including multi-day trekking on alpine area (above 2,500m)
- able to deal with scrambling