In the U.S., a healthy resurgence of print media is underway, with more than a handful of independent outdoor print magazines launching or being revived in recent years (spoiler: Field Mag print is coming soon, too!). Despite the growing energy, you'll still have to head to specialty magazine shops to find a title beyond an increasingly thin issue of Outside. Overseas, it's a whole different story; in Japan, where I have lived since 2017, you just pop into a convenience store and browse dozens of highly specialized titles, each as beautiful and thoughtfully compiled as the next. Global declines in print media be damned, Japan still prints thousands of titles, many of which land somewhere between a magazine and a book, making them especially ripe for collecting.
Even if you don’t read Japanese, there is as much value in the visuals as the paragraphs. Inside you can find detailed route maps, full-page mountain photography of less-traveled areas, highly curated gear layouts, and an enormous variety of brands and styles popular in Japan. There's no shortage of reasons to grab one to have on your coffee table long after the trip.
The following selection of outdoor magazines shows how Japan’s print scene is thriving, each representing a different corner of the culture. While these are widely available across Japan, getting your hands on them in North America or Europe can be very difficult. Kinokuniya bookshops in the U.S. does offer subscription import programs, so reach out to them if you're interested. Otherwise, if you were looking for a reason to make a trip to Japan, here are ten more.
[Ed Note: Check out our guide to the best Japanese outdoor brands next!]
10 Best Japanese Outdoor Magazines for Gear Lovers
GO OUT
Subject Matter: Outdoor Fashion Founding Year: 2007 Frequency: monthly Cost (2025): ¥1,110
Easily the most well-known Japanese outdoor magazine, GO OUT has earned a cult following outside of Japan for its colorful, minimalist covers and densely packed pages that act as impressive mood boards for anyone who likes to window shop for clothes and gear. Born in the 2000’s from a desire to document the Japanese outdoor music festival fashion, GO OUT now is a leading resource on staying up-to-date with trends in outdoor clothing and gear. You can find sections ranging from profiles on overland-ready 4x4 rigs to curated product releases from brands like Grammici, F/CE, White Mountaineering, TNF JP, and many, many more. Multiple imprints of the magazine exist as well, including the seasonal Gear Book edition, and interiors-focused GO OUT Home, which I especially love for the views inside the cabin-like homes of Japanese outdoor enthusiasts.
GO OUT is available stateside from Canoe Club for $28
Peaks
Subject Matter: Hiking, climbing Founding Year: 2009 Frequency: monthly Cost (2025): ¥1,540
While most traditional Japanese hiking magazines (like Gakujin or Yama to Keikoku) targeted an older demographic, Peaks debuted as a magazine for younger enthusiasts concerned with newer approaches to hiking (like ultralight backpacking), longer trails, and trendier gear. Though it mainly focuses on highlighting hiking routes and mountain information (there is a whole issue dedicated to mountain huts in Japan), the magazine also features plenty of hiking gear reviews.
TRANSIT
Subject Matter: Travel Founding Year: 2008 Frequency: quarterly Cost (2025): ¥1,980
TRANSIT is a quarterly travel culture magazine. Each issue focuses on a specific region or country, and has previously featured stories about trekking around the Himalayas and island hopping in the Setouchi. Expect breathtaking photos of the featured area, as well as interviews with creatives involved in their exploration. It makes for a great addition to any coffee table book collection.
Gakujin
Subject Matter: Outdoor culture, hiking Founding Year: 1947 Frequency: monthly Cost (2025): ¥1,100
Gakujin, literally “mountain person,” is one of Japan’s oldest and most respected monthly mountaineering magazines. First launched in May 1947 by volunteers from the Kyoto University Alpine Club, it has been published under Japan’s famous outdoor company Montbell since 2014. You can find route and trail reports from mountains across Japan, as well as essays about mountain culture, portfolio showcases from established photographers, and interviews with leading alpinists. It’s worth flipping through while you’re shopping around for outdoor gear at any of the Montbell stores in Japan.
Randonne
Subject Matter: Outdoor tips, outdoor fashion Founding Year: 2009 Frequency: bi-monthly __Cost (2025): ¥1,600
Randonne, stemming from the French word for “trekking”, is a monthly magazine targeting the growing “yama girl” demographic of Japan (yama meaning mountain). Since 2010, “yama girl” has been a blanket term for the growing group of young women from urban areas that like to hike while looking trendy. It has, since inception, been considered the style bible of the outdoor girl crowd, but it also includes a mix of practical information on route and trail guides plus vibrant photo essays and personal narratives.
Yama-to-Keikoku
Subject Matter: Hiking, Climbing Founding Year: 1930 Frequency: monthly
Yama-to-Keikoku (which translates to “mountains and valleys”) is Japan’s longest-running monthly mountaineering magazine with the first issue printed in 1931. It celebrated 1,000 issues back in 2018. Inside you can find conversations on hiking culture and conservation, route guides, and gear. I recently picked up an issue (January 2025) that lists and details Japan’s top 300 mountains.
Trailhead
Subject Matter: Long Trails, General Outdoors Founding Year: 2012 Frequency: Irregular Cost (2025): ¥1900
An extra issue released periodically by Run+Trail magazine, Trailhead acts as an entry point to Japan’s long trail and trail running scene. You can find beautifully shot route guides and information on restaurants or lodges to stop by while traversing these long trails. The magazine also includes interviews with the folks keeping the trails maintained and clean.
Field Life
Subject Matter: Outdoor Culture, Nature Founding Year: 2003 Frequency: Quarterly Cost (2025): free
Field Life is a free, quarterly magazine from the same company that prints Peaks and Randonne. You can find the magazine at any of the 2,000 plus outdoor specialty shops around Japan—it’s aimed at everyone from entry-level beginners to seasoned outdoor enthusiasts. Each issue centers on a theme and brings together trail information, gear guides, and photo essays across Japan’s mountains, rivers, and coasts.
Brutus
Subject Matter: Lifestyle Founding Year: 1980 Frequency: Bi-monthly Cost (2025): ¥840
Brutus is a Tokyo-based bi-monthly culture magazine that dives into design, art, fashion, food, travel, and pop culture through thoughtful essays and striking photography. I’ve included it here because they often shift their lens to other subjects, like a memorable recent issue about walking in the mountains. Brutus celebrated the joy of wandering wooded trails and featured practical route indexes as well as first-person narratives by Japanese artists' favorite outdoor walks.
Be-Pal
Subject Matter: Outdoor Gear, General Outdoors Founding Year: 1981 Frequency: monthly Cost (2025): ¥500 - ¥1,100
BE-PAL, founded in 1981, is a small, slightly over 100-page print that blends hands-on gear reviews, camping and trail guides, outdoor cooking recipes, and essays on eco-friendly living – all illustrated with stunning photography. BE-PAL often includes a bonus product with the magazine purchase, usually wrapped together (like this steel table made in collaboration with Nanga), making the price tag a steal.
Published 05-29-2025
