Hey there all,

I'm new to Tokyo and forum chat (please excuse stuff ups!).

Been in Tokyo for 6 weeks now. Living in Koto-ku and been climbing at T-Wall in Kinshicho. Having trouble meeting Japanese climbers (I don't speak Japanese). Keen as to get outdoors...so keen to meet anyone who knows outdoor areas or wants to explore with me... Also wondering about climbing guides in English, was given a few links, but unable to locate...?

Also...planning trip to Hokkaido in Dec to go snowboarding. Not so keen on big resorts, but want to find good powder. Any recommendations?

Hey zebra zebra,

Nice meeting you! I may have a partner for you for Ogawa, if you're still interested. He'll be testing a tweaked shoulder and making a final decision tomorrow. German guy - good company, safe climber.

Forgot to trade contact info. last night, so drop me a note at tokyobill123 at hotmail dot com and let's establish communications.

- Bill

Hi I am interested in climbing with you.

Please mail

redgreenandpotatoe (at) t.vodafone.ne.jp

Hey I would love to be able to catch up one day, I will be living a little away from you (yamanashi ken) but I am too looking for some keen climbers and places to go

Hi,

I'm moving to Akasaka at the back end of February. I've seen the web-sites for the climbing walls in Tokyo, but the maps are a mystery to me. Does anyone have any good directions for climbing walls around this area?

Also, it would be good to climb/socialise with others when I get there, I'm 6a standard, any takers?

PG

I've posted this before a number of times on other threads, but I'll post it again.

A bunch of us climb regularly at the Edogawabashi branch of the T-Wall climbing gym on Tues. and Thurs. evenings, generally starting at around 7:00-7:30 and continuing on until closing at 10:00 or shortly before. (We get out on real rock regularly as well.)

It's not a formal group or anything, just a bunch of friends and acquaintances who like to climb. Pretty much anybody is welcome to come along and see if they like the company and like climbing with us.

The T-Wall web site (Japanese only but with an access map), is here:

http://www.nona.dti.ne.jp/~t-wall/top/

Click "gym info" at the top of the page, and then in the resulting page click the second orange button in the "contents" box. This'll get you detailed info. on the Edogawabashi branch, including the map. (Be sure to use Exit 4 from Edogawabashi Station, otherwise you won't recognize where you are on the map.)

In addition, it may be worthwhile to check out the International Adventure Club (IAC), which runs various outdoor activities, including some climbing. I'm not a member, but have heard that it's at least partly a social club as well as an outdoor/active one. Nonetheless, probably worth a look. Here's a web site:

http://www.iac-tokyo.org/

If you come to T-Wall, look for a group of foreigners warming up on the top ropes and then down on the lead walls. I'm very short with graying, thinning brown hair. Pretty easy to recognize. Come say hi!

If you can't figure out how to get to the gym the first time on your own, you can e-mail me at tokyobill123 at hotmail dot com and we can arrange to meet and go together. (PG: From Akasaka it will be pretty easy to access the Edogawabashi gym, if you decide you're interested.)

PG if you want to hook up then please leave your email or use mine in my earlier post.

Hi Tokyo bill, I might come, do you have to pass any safety test to join ?

Hey soulboy,

They might hit you on your first evening with a minimal belay test on the gri-gris that they pre-rig and require you to use on their toprope setups. If you tell them you're experienced (and sound convincing), they may not even make you do the gri-gri test.

Lead belay is all on ATCs - generally no test. Weird, huh?

It's virtually impossible to fail the gri-gri test, assuming you know how to use one. Besides, even if you do fail, all they'll do is give you around 30 minutes of hands-on practice with explanation. (I sometimes get roped into translating for non-Japanese speakers and believe me - the testing is MINIMAL.)

(Just for your information, tomorrow will be a post-session farewell party for one of our regulars who is being transferred to London. That most likely means that we'll knock off climbing earlier than usual. As a result, you might get more bang for your buck by waiting until Thursday, if you're thinking about coming to check the place out this week.)

This message has been edited. Last edited by: tokyo bill,

Sorry I haven`t relplied to messages, but seems that Bill has sorted it out. Thanks Bill. I climb with the crew at Edogawabashi Tues nights and usually bouder at T-Wall in Kinchicho on Thursdays. email me at zebrazebra@hotmail.com for more info if you still have trouble with maps etc or wanna confirm days/times etc...

cheers, zz

Thanks for the replies, I'll definitiely be in touch once my work visa comes through, hopefully in a few weeks time.

Well, we finally made it to Tokyo, will try and head down this Thursday, work permitting.

Welcome!

It's looking like a pretty busy week for me, so I'm not sure if I'll be making it on Thurs. or not.

If you want to confirm in advance, feel free to e-mail me late that afternoon (tokyobill123 at hotmail dot com).

If I don't manage to meet you this week, then hopefully things'll be calmer next.

- Bill