Slowing Down

After a long journey to southern Japan, we are finally relaxing in a simple, traditional hotel in the Kirishima mountains, next to a national park. We are staying in tatami rooms, soaking in volcanic hot springs, and enjoying long, slow dinners. Tomorrow, we go hiking in the mountains.

A Quick Trip to Kawasaki Daishi Temple

Tonight we’re staying in a Tokyo Haneda Airport hotel, between flights. Made a quick side-trip to the Kawasaki Daishi temple. This statue depicts Kobo Daishi, a ninth century monk who established the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage. We’ll walk part of it for a day later in this trip.

The Sun Will Shine

Did risk analysis for next week’s trip. This system will have passed by the time we fly into Kagoshima (blue pin) to hike. Nearby Sakurajima (volcano) is active, but not enough to close the airport. The red line is the anticipated path of a typhoon. We will hike, the sun will shine.

Avoiding Russia

Posted Avoiding Russia. Next week, we’ll be flying on one of Delta’s newest planes from Minneapolis to Tokyo. Under normal circumstances, this journey would take us through Russian airspace for several hours.

Avoiding Russia

In normal times a flight from Minneapolis to Tokyo would take us through Russian airspace for several hours. This is no longer possible.