Hiking in Nagano: Togakushiyama-Door Hiding Mountain
'If you don’t let go, you can’t fall off.' Jerry Moffat. Shiga Kogen (志賀高原) and Myoko Kogen (妙高高原) are two of the finest ski areas of central Japan, but until the recent expansion of the expressway... more
Hiking in Gifu, Dainichigatake
Dainichigatake (大日ガ岳) is probably more familiar as the mountain on which Dynaland ski resort sits, but as a hiking destination it is a great way to spend a day in the mountains of Gifu. For Nagoya... more
Turtles on the coast
Inside a small sunny building labelled “Sea Turtle Park,” on the stretch of Route 42 that winds through Mie Prefecture’s southernmost corner, four adult and three juvenile sea turtles float serenely in round blue pools.... more
Beaches in Fukui
Living in Chubu means we have probably the best access to the outdoors of anywhere in Japan. To the south and east we have the Pacific Coast, to the north the mountains of Gifu and... more
Hiking in Gifu: Yumorinoyama
The beach may be one answer to the heat of the Nagoya summer, but the mountains provide an enticing alternative — and a far less crowded one. So for those readers who might prefer boots... more
Kushimoto: southern Wakayama paradise
It’s an often-repeated cliché that Japan’s history and culture have been shaped by its island geography, but in Kushimoto more than anywhere else I’ve visited that cliché feels like its true. The town hugs the... more
Atsumi Hanto; away from it all
Atsumi peninsula is the one half of the enclosing pincers that define Mikawa Bay (the other half being the Chita peninsular). The northern side of Atsumi faces Mikawa Bay, the southern side straight out onto... more
Hiking in Mie: Nihonkoba, from the mountain to the sea
Mie and Nagoya summers are, to say the least, not much fun. As conscientious, environmentally sensitive global citizens, most of us Nagoya city dwellers doubtless try to use the air conditioner as little as possible,... more
Climbing Mount Fuji - A Very Long Walk
All Japanese should climb Mt. Fuji; only fools climb it a second time (old Japanese proverb) A thought occurred to me in the early part of this summer that I had not spent much time out... more
Hiking in Gifu: Black Princess Mountain
The northern ranges of central Japan are now, thanks to the expansion of the expressway system, much more accessible to Nagoya residents, and the opportunity to explore these beautiful mountains is well worth the long... more
