Paragliding
Japan has a great number of paragliding locations that encompass a multitude of different landscapes ranging from beautiful ocean views to remarkable mountain peaks.
Mount Fuji (Asagiri Kogen)
Mt. Fuji is widely known as the highest mountain in Japan and has been venerated by Japanese people as a symbolic landmark for centuries. Imagine racing through the skies with the towering 3,776m peak of Mount Fuji casting a bold presence in the background. Asagiri Kogen Paragliding School offers an exciting paragliding experience for any level of paraglider from beginners to advanced. Beginners who are paragliding for the first time can experience a short flight where they take off from a gentle slope at just 22m. Instructions and practice lessons are provided by professional pilots in advance to ensure rider safety.
Mount Aso (Kumamoto)
If you are planning to travel to the southern island of Kyushu, head to Mount Aso in Kumamoto to find yourself an unforgettable paragliding experience.The area boasts Mount Aso which is known as Japan’s largest active volcano. Aso Natura Land is a popular tourist attraction in the area as well that offers a wide range of outdoor activities including paragliding, hot-air balloon rides, motorized mountain boarding, and trekking.
Furano
Nestled in the central part of Hokkaido, Furano welcomes tourists with beautiful natural attractions as well as world-famous ski resorts. While it is widely renowned for the scenic lavender fields that are flushed with purple lavender flowers during the summer, it also offers a great paragliding experience which is available all year round.MPG Sorachi offers a motor-powered paragliding experience that uses a motor to provide a powerful thrust to take off and control the glider without the help of wind or the pull of gravity. All you need to do is wear a back-mounted motor (a paramotor) which enables a take-off from level ground. If you visit in the winter, you can enjoy a wonderful winter flight across the beautiful landscape covered completely with snow, creating a stunning view along with the snow-capped mountains!
Matsushima
Matsushima is a magical natural dreamscape located in the Matsushima Bay of Miyagi prefecture. It is widely recognized as one of the three most scenic spots in Japan along with Amanohashidate in Kyoto and Miyajima in Hiroshima. Other than the stunning scenery, it also offers a great paragliding adventure that brings you to fly over Matsushima Bay. With the help of a professional pilot who controls the glider, you can enjoy Tandem paragliding while taking pictures of the scenery with your phone or camera. Landing is also easy as riders typically land on a sandy beach which is soft and cushy.
Takayama
Takayama is a peaceful mountainous enclave nestled in the northern part of Gifu prefecture. It welcomes numerous tourists from around the world with its beautiful townscape featuring traditional Japanese buildings dating back all the way to the Edo period. It is also located at the base of the Japanese Northern Alps, an iconic mountain range that encompasses towering peaks exceeding 3,000m. Takayama Sky Sailing Club takes you on an unforgettable paragliding adventure with great views of the surrounding mountains. They offer tandem paragliding for beginners that is suitable even for children. If you have paragliding experience and are capable of controlling the glider on your own, solo flight is also an option.