15 years ago, in 2008, the word "hiking" was not common at the time, and there were only a handful of people who walked long trails. Ultralight (UL) equipment was also criticized by conservative mountain lovers. It was in that year, when there was nothing but headwinds, that the UL hiking specialty store "Hikers Depot" was born. Owner Tsuchiya says,
"At that time, online bulletin boards were full of threads criticizing me and my store. People were saying things like, 'How can you go to the mountains with such flimsy equipment?!' I was originally working as a buyer at another store before going independent, but the manufacturers I'd worked with up until then wouldn't let me carry their products."
HANG OUT VOL.1
"Mountain"
Chapter 07
HANG OUT VOL.1"Mountain"
Here are four shops that long trail beginners should turn to first.
VOL.1 Hikers Depot (Mitaka, Tokyo)
It's different from camping. It's also different from mountain climbing. The most important thing is that the equipment you take on a long trail hike, where you walk through mountain paths and rural areas for a long time, is "ultralight." By being light, you won't get tired as easily, which will lead to walking longer distances. However, for beginners, it's hard to know what is right and what is wrong. So, let's go to a store like this, where there are staff you can consult with about anything and there is a wide selection of equipment! The first store is "Hiker's Depot."
A shop run by a leading expert in the long trail world.
The turning point came in 2011, when Yasuaki Funada became the first Japanese person to become a Triple Crowner. From then on, the ideas of long trail and ultralight began to be picked up by the media and began to spread.
*A hiker who has thru-hiked the three major trails in the United States: the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail.
"Before Funada-kun came along, I don't think anyone could have imagined walking thousands of kilometers over the course of several months. But the fact that a Japanese person completed the journey changed the mood. Funada-kun often came to our shop, so we got more coverage and it seems like our customer base gradually increased."
Ask this person at Hikers Depot!
Tomoya Tsuchiya
Born in 1971 in Nerima, Tokyo. He joined the exploration club at university and became fascinated with the outdoor world. After thru-hiking the John Muir Trail in 2008, he opened Hikers Depot in the same year. He has traversed long trails both in Japan and overseas, and his knowledge is among the best in the country. He is like a big brother to the long hike world, and will answer any question you ask. His books include Ultralight Hiking (Yama to Keikokusha).
INFORMATION
Hikers Depot
Address: 2F Nissei Mitaka Mansion, 4-15-33 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka, Tokyo | Map
TEL: 0422-70-3190
Time: 12:00-20:00
Closed: Tuesdays
Instagram: @hikersdepot