Ghost Of Yōtei Fan Completes Four-Day Journey To Climb The Game’s Namesake

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Sucker Punch Productions’ Ghost of Tsushima, a 2020 third-person action adventure game, was a huge hit on the PlayStation 4. It gained popularity not just because of its captivating story-following Jin Sakai’s fight to protect his homeland from Mongol invaders-but also for its beautifully realized setting of 13th century Japan.

With over 13 million copies sold, Tsushima gained a large and dedicated following. Many players are now excited about the next installment, Ghost of Yotei, which takes place in Ezo, Japan – now known as Hokkaido – during the early 1600s.

Nate Fox, Co-Creative Director at Sucker Punch, explained that he and other developers took two detailed research trips to Hokkaido and the Oshima Peninsula. They aimed to capture the rugged beauty of Hokkaido’s natural environment for realism and to portray the Ainu culture of that period accurately in Yotei.

A dedicated fan, ‘Chemical’ Yoshino-who works as an editor for the Japanese video game magazine and news website Famitsu-went the extra mile to understand the new character, Atsu, and her ties to Ezo. He actually climbed Mount Yotei to gain a better perspective and really connect with her story and background. This allowed him to fully appreciate and highlight the significance of her connection to Ezo.

Yoshino’s Drive to Connect With Ghost of Yotei’s Atsu

Like so many other gamers, I totally fell in love with Tsushima. I remember staying up for nights playing it when it came out in 2020, and I was so excited when they first announced Ghost of Yotei back in 2024. I’ve been eagerly awaiting news ever since!

Yoshino hoped to build a stronger relationship with Atsu, the new leader of Ghost of Yotei, but he realized they were quite different. Yoshino isn’t skilled in combat and isn’t as physically powerful as the Onryo.

Instead, Yoshino considered going to Hokkaido. He believed experiencing the region’s unique atmosphere and following a similar path to Atsu’s travels would help him become more fully involved while playing the game.

To accomplish this, Yoshino went to Hokkaido around mid-September and began his own challenge: to reach the top of Mount Yotei with a hiking trip lasting three nights and four days.

How Yoshino Climbed Mount Yotei

As detailed in a Famitsu article and a video by Yoshino documenting his experience, the editor had some prior outdoor experience and climbed with a professional mountain guide. However, the ascent was still very difficult.

Mount Yotei reaches a height of roughly 1,900 meters (about 6,230 feet). This makes it about half the height of Japan’s more well-known Mount Fuji, and around 2.3 times taller than the Burj Khalifa in Dubai – currently the world’s tallest building.

For much of the ascent, Yoshino had to navigate through thick plants, as the majority of the mountain is blanketed by dense forests except for its rocky, snow-capped peak.

To make his climb easier, Yoshino used trekking poles for support and packed quick, energizing foods like rice balls and bread. He did suggest bringing snacks that wouldn’t crumble, since someone on his hike brought energy bars that turned into powder during the trip. It’s a good idea to consider how your food will hold up!


famitsu.com

So, I heard from Yoshino that climbing Mount Yotei is seriously challenging, especially if you’re new to this. It’s not just the steep slopes and how high up you go; you really need the right gear. He told me he was lugging around a 10 kilogram (22 pound) backpack the whole time! And you’ve got to keep an eye out for Ussuri brown bears – apparently, they’re spotted on the mountain pretty regularly. Definitely something to be aware of!

There were some small wooden shelters on the mountain, resembling those in the game. However, near the summit, climbers need to be careful of craters because Mount Yotei is a live, layered volcano.

Having finally reached the top of Mount Yotei, Yoshino said the view was amazing. She also commented that Atsu must have been a “superhuman” to climb the mountain so effortlessly in the game, but she now understands how strong Atsu’s connection is to her home country.

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2025-10-04 23:39