Glimpses of Japan

Kisoji is an old trade used during the Edo Period. It is in the middle of Nakasendo, one of the Edo Five Routes that connected Tokyo and Kyoto. Among many of the Shukubamachi, or staging post stations, on the route, Kisoji is the largest, with 11 stations. Some of the stations preserve traditional buildings very well.  The fountain used to be a water station for travelers, both human and horses. Also it was an important infrastructure to the village to extinguish fire back in the Edo period.  There were also many souvenir shops, cafes, and restaurants. Most of them used to be inns for travelers during the Edo period.  There are only few inns left in Narai Shuku. I stayed at Aburaya Ryokan. It was a traditional Japaneses building, small inn. The owner said that they can host only one group per night.  I could look down the street of Narai Shuku from my room Part of Kisoji is maintained as a hiking trail. I hiked from Narai Shuku to Yabuhara Shuku, which includes the h...

  Mt. Ibuki straddles the border of Gifu and Shiga prefectures and attracts visitors with its amazing views from the summit. Although it is 1,377 meters high, it's a relatively easy mountain to hike. Visitors can drive up to the 9th station through Ibukiyama Driveway. The shortest trail takes only 20 minutes to the summit. The driveway offers an amazing view.  Mt. Ibuki is famous for its alpine plants. Over 350 species of plants are said to inhabit the area around the summit.  The trail was well-maintained and easy to hike.  An amazing view from the summit. There was also several souvenir shops and cafes for visitors to take a rest.  Note that I could not start the hike from Mt. Ibuki's trailhead at the foot of the mountain due to heavy rains in July 2023. It made a part of trail collapse and it was still under maintenance in May 2024. (The situation was the same in February 2025) Visit the local municipality's website before planning the visit. 

I got a chance to visit Haguro-san, one of the three sacred peaks of the Dewa Sanzan. Dewa Sanzan is the collective name for the sacred tree mountains in Yamagata Prefecture; Haguro-san, Gassan, and Yudono-san.  The Dewa Sanzan has been a training ground for followers of Haguro Shugendo, an ancient Japanese religion. It preserves its sacredness with wild mountains and special local cuisines, and rituals and festivals continue today. Visiting three mountains is said to be "a journey to reincarnate." I desperately wanted to visit all three of them at once. Unfortunately, I could only visit Haguro-san this time.  Before visiting Haguro-san, I stayed a night at Shukubo, a pilgrim lodge. It is said the proper way to visit the Dewa Sanzan is to have Shojin Ryori, traditional Buddhist cuisine. By having Shojin Ryori and staying at a shukubo, you purify yourself before entering the sacred area.  Mt. Haguro is the easiest mountain to visit among the Dewa Sanzan. After walking up a...

Back in October, I hiked Mt. Kinpokusan on Sado Island. Although Sado island has only a few mountains, Mt. Kinpku is the highest. I took the most standard and scenic route, starting from Donden Highland Lodge, crossing the peak of Mt. Kinpoku, and ending at Hakuundai. The best time here is said to be May when countless alpine flowers surround the trail. Autumn was also good timing with colored leaves.  Sado Island is located approximately 32 km away from the main island of Japan. It flourished with goldmines, especially during the Edo Period. The island is still known for its goldmine as a historical heritage and the birthplace of Toki (Asian crested ibis). I first thought it would not be easy to access the island; however, it was completely the opposite. Ferries go back and forth about ten times a day! There are two kinds of ferries: Jetfoil and car ferry. Jetfoil is faster and more expensive. Car ferries are slow but cheaper. We wanted to carry our car to the island, leaving us n...

 Back in August, I hiked Mt. Fuji for the first time with my friends. Mt. Fuji is probably the mountain I’ve seen the most - it’s apparent from various places in the greater Kanto area.  I was fortunate that I was able to hike in nice weather. The forecast did not look good until two days before the planned day, which made me worry, and I wasn’t sure if I could go until the day before. As a result, we could enjoy hiking in beautiful weather, which turned out to be one of the best hiking experiences ever.  The hiking route was well-maintained with many signs, and every restroom was clean, as it’s a world heritage. I was surprised to see some mountain huts even sell clothes! I stayed at the closest mountain hut from the summit, called the eighth station Tomoe-kan. Although it was mostly cloudy, I could see the sunrise and hike around the Ohachi-Meguri trail to the highest point in Japan, Kengamine.  Day1 We arrived at the Fuji Subaru Line 5th Station around 11:00 AM wi...