The instructions were: bring your own toothbrush and towel. Soap, bathing facilities, charging outlets provided. I didn’t read it to the end. That’s why the rest of my entourage ended up brandishing their toothbrushes glumly at the counter staff. But, they could rent towels for 150¥ apiece – […]
The weather was dismal when I got off the bus at Nozawa. It was raining/snowing, I couldn’t tell which; I had enough on my hands battling strong gusts of wind that threatened to veer me off the uneven slope. While Zao had been bright, cheerful and calm, Nozawa […]
To the Highlands! The kanji for Kamikochi 上高地 literally means ‘highlands’. That’s probably because some of the tallest mountains in japan are clustered there, and this is the shrine of the Japan Alps. here, even the terminal station of the Kamikochi buses is 1500m above sea level. Summer […]
When Winter Turns Up In Spring It is supposed to be spring, isn’t it, a friendly auntie stopped to tell us. No sooner have you removed your jacket, and you have to put it on again. And then it becomes hot and makes you want to remove it […]
First Trek! Making the Acquaintance of an Old World Road I have the sakuras to thank for this. Because they bloomed much earlier (3 weeks early) than anticipated, Takato castle 高遠城 had to be dropped from the plan. So what then? What could I fill that empty day with? […]
the last word 