View at the bottom of Mt. Yufu after the climb. My first hot spring selfie. (Solo hot spring, so OK to take photos.)
Category: Asia
Mount Yufu Summit
View at the top of Mt. Yufu (Kyushu) today, Friday.
At the Edge of a Volcano
Hiked all day on volcano Aso-san. Massive caldera. Air quality got iffy at its steaming crater: told to “evacuate.”
Plan to Climb a Volcano
Thursday: early train from Kumamoto, hike on huge, live volcano (Aso-san–see map pin), then evening train to Oita.
Kumamoto Castle
History day #2: massive Kumamoto Castle, a reproduction. The last samuris largely destroyed the original in 1877.
Dejima, Nagasaki
Dejima artificial island, Nagasaki: from 1641–1859, Japan’s only link to Europe. That’s why I’m visiting Nagasaki.
Nagasaki Peace Park
Origami cranes, Nagasaki Peace Park.
Up Next: Nagasaki
Today, Monday: Kagoshima to my next base, Nagasaki. I’ll take a bullet train, then an express train.
Up a Volcano with a Swedish Dancer
Climbed a 3000 ft volcano with a Swedish dancer. The trail curves round the volcano, no switchbacks–unique in Japan.
Passing Through Cedar
A Shared Culture When I’m in Japan I feel happiest and most comfortable when I’m hiking. When I pass another hiker in rain gear on the trail, a cheery “konnichiwa” is enough said. We look at each other, knowing we are sharing the same experience. A shared culture across different cultures lets me belong. Pursuit… Continue reading Passing Through Cedar