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The trails around Otaru are still buried under snow drifts, so time for plan B: Museum Day. Otaru (Train) Museum Otaru had the first railroad on Hokkaido. One of the many snow plows on display I wanted to take this home with me Sapporo Beer Museum The old Sapporo brewery (now a museum) There’s something… Continue reading Hokkaido Museum Day: Trains and Beer

Trailhead: Seibu-Chichibu Train Station April 4, 2013 I stayed at a hotel two blocks from the station and walked directly to trails. Cherry blossoms, rice paddies There were several shrines Trailhead: Mitake Train Station April 5, 2013 I put my backpack in a locker, and set foot from the station. Great views, had it not… Continue reading Tokyo Hiking Trails

Today (Tuesday) was a day to pause the journey. Besides it rained hard all day, which would have made hiking less pleasant. Time to be a consumer of sights. I knew Matsuyama was a really cool place when I saw this heading along the streetcar line: I headed over to Matsuyama’s #1 sight (or is… Continue reading Bigu Feetu Around Matsuyama

Just after you enter the grounds of a Japanese temple, there’s always a fountain for rinsing hands and mouth. Here’s examples from the temples I visited when I followed the route of part of the Shikoku Henro (“Shikoku 88”). Temple 37: Iwamotoji March 29, 2013.   Temple 38: Kongofukuji March 30, 2013. Temple 39: Enkoji… Continue reading Temple Plumbing 2013

The Shikoku Henro (“Shikoku 88”) is an 88-temple pilgrimage around the island of Shikoku, Japan. The complete journey is about 750 miles. It is particularly appealing to me the pilgrimage goes in a circle: when you reach temple 88 you are just a few miles from temple 1, but your mind is in a different… Continue reading Shikoku 88: Some Observations

I grew up in an industrial town in the North of England. I love that town, and its attitude. I continue to visit it regularly. Consequently I decided to spend a while in Kokura, a town in the north of Kyushu that has been described as “half industrial park.” I dislike that description. I arrived… Continue reading A Hike under the Sea, a Buzzcutter, and a Visit to TOTO

I always pace around departure areas, so today was no exception at the Busan ferry terminal. A couple years ago, had I not been pacing around the Haridwar (India) station platform at 3:00 a.m. waiting for a train that never came, I might not have been spotted in the crowd by four backpackers. I would’ve… Continue reading Are you Trevor?

Tomorrow I go to Japan. I need a plan for a plan. The only fixed part of my “Japan Framework” is: March 22: Hydrofoil from Busan, South Korea to Fukuoka (Southern Japan). April 11: Check in to Sapporo New Chitose Airport hotel (Northern Japan)–I’m catching an early flight next morning. April 12: Fly Sapporo to… Continue reading Japan Framework 2013