Yamatomichi
Yamatomichi is a Japanese ultralight hiking brand founded in 2011 by Akira and Yumiko Natsume in Kamakura. It designs backpacks, sleeping pads and technical apparel for lightweight long distance hiking.
| Founded | 2011 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Akira and Yumiko Natsume |
| Base | Kamakura, Japan |
| Factory | Toyooka, Hyogo (from 2025) |
| Specialty | Ultralight hiking gear |
| Website | yamatomichi.com |
What is Yamatomichi?
Yamatomichi, a name that roughly means 'mountain and way', is a Japanese outdoor brand founded in 2011 by the husband and wife team Akira and Yumiko Natsume, who started it from their small apartment. Its guiding statement is 'We are hikers. We make and use our own gear', and its mission is to help ultralight hiking reach a wider audience.
History
The first products were the UL Pad sleeping pad and the ONE backpack. The company's research and business hub moved to the Yamatomichi Daibutsu Research Laboratory in Kamakura in 2022, and in 2025 it established a factory in Toyooka, Hyogo Prefecture, to build up in house backpack production.
Products and positioning
The range now spans dozens of products developed in house, including:
- Backpacks such as ONE and MINI
- 5 Pocket Shorts and the Active Pullover
- Merino base layers and Chemical B synthetic base layers
- The UL All weather series of rain and shell wear
Distribution
Yamatomichi runs its own stores in Kamakura and Kyoto and works with selected partners abroad, such as samplus in Taipei and morimori in Hong Kong.
Why it matters
Yamatomichi is a leading example of Japan's cottage gear scene, where small, hiker led companies design and test their own products and build loyal communities around a clear philosophy.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Yamatomichi?
Yamatomichi was founded in 2011 by Akira and Yumiko Natsume, a husband and wife team of hikers.
Where is Yamatomichi based?
The brand is based in Kamakura, Japan, with stores in Kamakura and Kyoto and a factory in Toyooka.