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."

Chapter 07 | Shops for Trailer

Hikers Depot is located on the mezzanine floor just inside the building entrance. The store is divided into two sections, with clothing, bags, and accessories on the left side and larger items such as tents and sleeping bags on the right side.

A shop run by a leading expert in the long trail world.

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."

The owner, Mr. Tsuchiya, is in the center of the photo. The store is packed with UL items.

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."

The walls are filled with surprisingly light backpacks, available in a variety of capacities, designs, and price ranges.
There is a wide variety of highly functional and lightweight clothing, including many items made from merino wool, which has antibacterial and deodorizing properties.
As the Boy Scout motto goes, "Always be prepared," so you should be equipped with gear that will prepare you for any trouble you may encounter along the way.
In addition to maps of various places, there are also famous books that contain the words of our predecessors. It is often these things that can encourage us in difficult situations.

A store that has been promoting long-trail culture and UL equipment for a long time attracts a wide variety of customers. Not only people who want to walk long trails in Japan and around the world, but also people who want to start hiking, people who want to reduce weight during general mountain climbing, and people who want to do special activities such as packrafting and snowshoeing. Hikers Depot's product lineup is extremely wide, in order to meet all of these needs. In addition, because it has been in business for many years, it has received a huge amount of feedback from users, and it is also characterized by the fact that many of the tools it sells are "unmistakable" and have been recognized and proven by experienced people.

We recommend these two booths for advanced users. The one on the left has small parts that come in handy when you want to customize your bag. The one on the right has single-use sized condiments and freeze-dried foods.
There are many cooking utensils available. There are also many types of palm-sized burners. For dishes and pots, we recommend lightweight and durable titanium.
As the Boy Scout motto goes, "Always be prepared," so you should be equipped with gear that will prepare you for any trouble you may encounter along the way.
This is a corner where gear for activities that go well with hiking, such as packrafts and snow hikes, is lined up. Just being in this store tickles your sense of adventure.

There are several UL specialty stores in Japan, but when it comes to specializing in hiking and long trails, few stores can match Hikers Depot. Mr. Tsuchiya's knowledge, which comes from his experience walking many long trails, also serves as a guide for selecting equipment.

Proven track record. Five reliable items

Ray Jardine, a pioneer of UL hiking, walked long trails using a bag he made himself. Yasuaki Funada, the first Japanese to become a Triple Crowner, used a backpack made by Ray, but with a further modification. The Trailbum backpack was commercialized based on that. It has a capacity of 48 liters and weighs 516 grams.

Trailbum backpack ¥22,000
This is a bib tent (simple tent) made to order by Hikers Depot and Finetrack, a Japanese outdoor manufacturer. It has a spacious living space, but weighs just 378 grams. The two companies have released tents regularly, but this is the first time in two years that they have released a new color. The color is modeled after a canvas tent, so the inside of the tent is always bright.

Finetrack x Hikers Depot Bilt ¥37,840
The standard for long trails is to carry as little luggage as possible. That's why these zip-off pants are a great item that can serve two purposes and reduce the amount of clothes you need to change into. They can be worn as short pants that are easy to move in when walking during the day, and as full-length pants at night when the temperature drops. They are available in two colors: cream yellow and salmon pink.

Highland Design sleeping bag ¥16,000
The standard for long trails is to carry as little luggage as possible. That's why these zip-off pants are a great item that can serve two purposes and reduce the amount of clothes you need to change into. They can be worn as short pants that are easy to move in when walking during the day, and as full-length pants at night when the temperature drops. They are available in two colors: buttermilk and blueberry.

Highland Design zip-off pants ¥16,500
During long trails, it is not always possible to find safe and secure water. Sometimes you have to drink water from ponds or swamps. That's why a water purifier is a must-have item. The Sawyer water purifier simply attaches to the cap of a commercially available plastic bottle. With just that, it removes 99.99999% of harmful bacteria lurking in the water.

Sawyer Water Purifier ¥4,950

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).