Japan 2022

More journeys ≫

Interactive map

Temple Plumbing 2022

Dec 19, 2022
Temple Plumbing 2022
I hiked to two temples of an 88-temple pilgrimage and photographed the plumbing.

Japan 2022 Itinerary

Nov 18, 2022
Japan 2022 Itinerary
I’m home from a solo three-week trip to Japan. As usual, I made it up as I went along based on research, past experience, and whim. I visited three of Japan’s main islands: Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. Hokkaido didn’t make the list this time because winter was setting in there and I didn’t want to carry winter clothes.

Bullet Train vs. Plane

Oct 28, 2022
Bullet Train vs. Plane
This evening I flew 700 miles from Sendai (Miyagi) to Fukuoka rather than taking three bullet trains. At the time of booking I was happy to pay $66 extra to fly. Current wisdom says flying has advantages over high-speed rail for journeys over about 500 miles (about 800 km). This data seems reasonable if we… Continue reading Bullet Train vs. Plane

A Hiking Theme for Each of Japan’s Main Islands

Sep 28, 2022
A Hiking Theme for Each of Japan’s Main Islands
Hiking doesn’t need to have purpose apart from the obvious act of putting one foot in front of the other while staying upright. Sometimes, though, I like to have a theme underpinning a hike. Here’s a hiking theme for each of Japan’s main islands. Kyushu: Matsuo Bashō, 17th Century Traveler and Poet My go-to guide… Continue reading A Hiking Theme for Each of Japan’s Main Islands

Iterative Travel

Sep 23, 2022
Iterative Travel
I don’t do bucket lists. If a place intriques me, I want to return. I reduce the pressure to do and see everything on a trip by telling myself it’s only a prototype. It’s sufficient to experience enough to whet my appetite for the next iteration, er, I mean visit. Just as well I held… Continue reading Iterative Travel
Slurping Ramen
Slurping Ramen

Practiced slurping ramen at Zen Box Izakaya. Earlier today, Japan’s Prime Minister announced his country will be open to independent tourists, starting October 11. Two weeks after that I get to use a ticket to Tokyo purchased optimistically in February.

Next up: Tokyo
Next up: Tokyo

On board UA881 en route to Tokyo HND.

Traveling with Salarymen
Traveling with Salarymen

Arrived Tokyo HND, late afternoon Thursday, off a thirteen-hour flight and a +14-hour time difference. Took rush hour trains to a downtown hotel and an early night. Japan only reopened to independent travelers two weeks ago, so I’m expecting to see few westerners on my travels.

Far From Tokyo Crowds
Far From Tokyo Crowds

Sendai, about 200 miles northeast of Tokyo, is my base for the next few days. From Sendai, rode a bullet train for 13 minutes, then rural trains to reach trails for some fall color hiking. The rural train line is in this photo.

Overload
Overload

Yodobashi electronics stores are often located next to main train stations. Each store is at least 215,000 sq ft; a typical Best Buy is just 38,000 sq ft. At Sendai’s store I set a goal to find something I didn’t realize I didn’t need, but left, overwhelmed.

In the Media
In the Media

Explored a mountainous area north of Sendai by train, local bus, and foot. In Kakunodate I was interviewed, via an interpreter, by a reporter for the local newspaper. American tourists are few and far between. Further down the road, almost walked into a professional photo shoot.

Bullet Train vs. Plane
Bullet Train vs. Plane

Posted Bullet Train vs. Plane.

Lost in Translation
Lost in Translation

Took a ferry from Fukuoka to a rural island. Disposed of small change at a shrine: 15 coins worth 65 cents. In return, took an Omikuji, a fortune printed on a strip of paper. Mangled by Google Translate, it appeared to urge me to drown in color and alcohol, and be a little selfish. On the front of the box with a blue lid is a coin slot for the ¥100 donation, and a larger hole for reaching in and taking an Omikuji. Fortune cookies were possibly derived from this custom.

Reclining Buddha
Reclining Buddha

Visited Nanzo-in Temple, near Fukuoka. Here, the reclining Buddha, fully enlightened, enters Nirvana in death, released from cycles of rebirth. The bronze sculpture is 135 feet long. It was good to explore more human-scale temple features, and the lovely grounds on a hillside.

Aso Kuju National Park
Aso Kuju National Park

Hiked in Aso Kuju National Park with Mount Aso, Japan’s largest active volcano, smoking in the distance. A few years ago, I walked up to close to the edge of Mount Aso’s sulfurous crater. Today, it’s off-limits. The whole area is set in a huge caldera, 75-miles in circumference.

Soaking Feet, Smoking Volcano
Soaking Feet, Smoking Volcano

After a day of walking, gratefully steeped my feet in the volcanic warmth of an unusually long (100 meters) footbath. Watched a plume rising above Sakurajima, a volcano that regularly rains ash on the city of Kagoshima.

Hiker’s Lunch
Hiker’s Lunch

Today’s picnic lunch, hiking an OLLE Course. Onigiri: rice, filled with pickled mustard greens, wrapped in nori (seaweed). Egg sandwich, tuna sandwich. Caramel custard. Pocari Sweat. Less than US$5 from one of Japan’s more than 50,000 wonderful konbini (convenience stores).

Hotel Cycle
Hotel Cycle

Checked into Hotel Cycle (yet again, third time), Onomichi, in a repurposed warehouse on a wharf. You can cycle right up to the front desk, then leave your bike on a rack outside your room. To mitigate bicycle separation anxiety, you can hang your bike on a wall rack in your room. I’ll rent tomorrow.

Cycling Above the Sea
Cycling Above the Sea

Cycled above the Seto Inland Sea on bridges and islands. In 2016 I did the whole Shimanami Kaido, 45 miles between two of Japan’s four main islands, Shikoku and Honshu on a creaky bicycle. These days, I take a scheduled bus or boat then cycle about half that, and can sit down comfortably afterwards.

Joyful Kids
Joyful Kids

Rapid footsteps and giggling behind me. Schoolgirl, now in front of me, directs me back towards a table. Shrieks of delight when I turn and walk to the table. To much applause and giggles, I buy a packet of cookies. Three teachers simultaneously take photos. Lots of goodbyes.

Daisen-Oki National Park
Daisen-Oki National Park

I’m staying in Matsue on the northwest coast of Honshu. My project today was to hike trails on Mount Daisen in Daisen-Oki National Park. A train and a bus got me from Matsue to trailheads. Lots of steep climbs, magnificent fall colors, and occasional ancient temples and shrines.

Instagram Bait
Instagram Bait

Couldn’t resist including this rural Shinto shrine in today’s journey. Three or four times an hour a train crosses the shrine’s approach path, between the torii gates, like a scene from an anime movie.

Sand, Sea, Sky
Sand, Sea, Sky

Broke the journey from Matsue to Okayama to visit San’inkaigan National Park to walk on massive sand dunes beside the Sea of Japan. Okayama Station was bustling, a contrast to my last few days. An elevator took me to the welcome solitude of a hotel room high above the station.

Shikoku Hike
Shikoku Hike

Incorporated part of the Shikoku 88 (temples) pilgrimage and temples 80 and 81 into today’s hike.

Another Pilgrimage
Another Pilgrimage

It was the one rainy day on this trip, so went to Osaka to ride transit, duck into buildings, and experience Tadao Ando’s architecture. Felt like a groupie, standing outside his office, touching the signature Ando concrete. The security sticker probably deters theft of the nameplate.

Teshima Art Island
Teshima Art Island

Walked across Teshima, one of the “art islands” in the Seto Inland Sea, looking for art installations. At one point, sat on the floor in a vast concrete inside space while little rivulets of water slowly formed around me, only to “find” tiny drain holes. (Photography wasn’t allowed.)

A Piece of the Past
A Piece of the Past

Dwight’s uncle was posted to Kyoto at the end of WW2. Today, I walked around his old stomping ground trying to reconcile some of his photos with today’s Kyoto. When I matched this 1946 photo I must’ve reacted: people started to gather around me and were excited to see the old photo. More…

Tenju-an Temple
Tenju-an Temple

Kyoto is over-loved like so many A-list places. For this reason I’ve avoided the city for over ten years. Today I visited for a few hours, took the subway to places that have escaped top-ten lists.

Tokyo Hike
Tokyo Hike

Took the train to Asakusa, Tokyo, walked back until I ran out of time. Along the way it was my kind of urban hike: huge temple; buildings not intended to last (that’s OK); the only Le Corbusier building in east Asia (went in); stark transit infrastructure (love it); and the gardens of the Imperial Palace.

Father and Daughter
Father and Daughter

On board United 882, Tokyo HND to Chicago ORD, in the good hands of father and daughter.

Beneath the Surface
Beneath the Surface

Walked past a construction site, which got me thinking about Azuma House in a working class suburb of Osaka. I’d made a point of standing in front of that home last week: it raises questions; with answers I warm to it. “Like” or “Dislike” are not enough.