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2026 Japan exploration
  • Phil Ayliff
  • Cindy Ayliff
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  • Phil Ayliff
  • Cindy Ayliff

2026 Japan exploration

Our long anticipated open ended trip to Japan - we start in wild Hokkaido for about three weeks before working our way south. Our focus will be hiking, culture and seeing the beautiful gardens. The trip could take as long as three months. Read more
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    🇯🇵 Teshikaga, Japan
    2026 Japan exploration

    Day 10

    Yesterday in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    We started the day with a couple of spectacular waterfalls in Daisetsuzan NP near Kurodake Ropeway. At the first falls we met Amy who lives in NZ but was from Pittsburgh. Lots of interesting conversation!

    We also keep running into town cuckoo clocks on our travels. Last month it was in Ohio and now in Karakuri in the park in town.

    We then made our way to another NP, Akan-Mashu where we hiked the Wakoto Peninsula. It is a popular place for water sports. Our campsite is on Lake Kussharo.

    Overall the day was a 3 out of 5 and we need more exercise!    Read more

  • 2026 Japan exploration

    Day 9

    September 11 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    Today has been a slow day except for a couple of exciting moments. The first Hagoromo Falls which it the highest in Hokkaido.

    The other one was meeting Gump Suzuki. We were in the parking lot packing away our groceries when Gump and his rickshaw showed up and started talking to us. Google him and you will be in for a surprise!Read more

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    Day 8

    September 10 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    Last night was really cold in the van. We camped at Ashidake camping close to the starting point of today’s hike. Ashidake is the highest mountain on Hokkaido at 7,576 feet. We take a cable car up part of the way.

    Everything went according to plan and the hike was spectacular! It was cold and windy up there and the scenery kept changing as the clouds moved around. We ended up hiking 8 miles with about 3,000 ft of elevation gain. We decided to camp at the same spot again and to do a onsen for recovery.    Read more

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    Day 7

    September 9 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    One of the biggest PIA here is to get rid of your trash. There are no trash cans anywhere and it is a game of hide and seek. The company we rented the van from actually provided a Google Maps of the different places you can drop your trash off. The other interesting piece is that they over package everything so there is a lot of excess trash.

    The day started rainy so we decided to go to the local zoo instead.    Read more

  • 2026 Japan exploration

    Biei

    September 9 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Our free campsite is a meeting ground not only for retired Japanese campers but also for colorful Japanese silk moths at the end of their life cycle. They are gorgeous moths for 7-12 days, but do not have mouths that allow them to eat. Losing energy quickly, they find a mate (perhaps even on a lamppost) have a screw and then try to make it to an oak tree to lay their eggs. Just when these creatures find themselves to be beautiful, fly and truly enjoy living, it’s time is over, but what a way to go….Read more

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    Day 6

    September 8 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    It was one of our better days. They don’t have daylight savings time so sunrise is at 5am and it gets dark at 6pm. It was nice to be camping again.

    We visited the Blue Pond, the waterfall and then hiked to the top of Mt Kamifurano in the mist and then hit the onsen (our first one) to recover before return to the same campground we started at. Check out the photos!

    Cindy is a little behind but will be posting soon.    Read more

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    Day 6 photos

    September 8 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Northern Hokkaido is 27 miles from Sakhalin island. Russia’s mainland, is several hundred km away, Russian Far East (Siberia).

    Siberian Birch and Arctic Starflower photos. It’s exciting to see new vegetation species!

    Cyclists from Australia    Read more

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    Day 5

    September 7 in Japan ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    Today was moving day. We left Sapporo and picked up the campervan in Chitose. After resupplying at Aeon grocery store we drove a couple hours to south of Biei to our campsite.

    Shopping was quite an experience. It is tough going into the store and not knowing what 99.5% of the products are. I have to take a photo of the aisle and then ask Chat GPT which one I want. It is amazing how well it works. Even getting out of the parking lot had its challenges - a nice lady help figure out what we needed to do. When you drive into the parking lot, they take a photo of your license plate and then when you leave, you enter the last 4 digits of the plate into the machine and it figures out how much you owe - interesting system!Read more

  • 2026 Japan exploration

    Day 4

    September 6 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    We are starting to get the hang of the public transportation at last. We still get lost, get off at the wrong stop or can’t even find the train but it is happening less frequently. AI has saved us a number of times when we are not sure which way to go.

    We are still struggling with the food but at least we can cook for ourselves for now.

    Today we visited the Hokkaido Museum and the Historic Village close by. They were both well worth the effort. After this visit, we are ready to start exploring the island tomorrow when we pick up the campervan! Can’t wait to see the bears!    Read more

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    5 star day!!!

    September 5 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    I admit, I was not thrilled to be going to what sounded like a historic town filled with tourist shops and then staying till night to see fireworks.
    Otaru is not that old, changing from an Ainu fishing village to a trading port in the late 1800’s, with Western influences.

    What l loved: 1. watching the people on a Saturday enjoying themselves. Lots of smiles.

    2. Art museums. If you ask, will send more photos/descriptions. Woodblock prints, swords, Tiffany windows (sadly, a National Treasure sold from St John’s church NJ) And surprise… the erotic scrolls painted on commission for the newlyweds! (If you think your in-laws crossed a line…well, maybe not!) The artist did not sign his name to this explicit piece of work. I could have spent a bit more time there trying to figure out where all the arms and legs were located. No photos allowed.. sorry

    3. The 8 layers of different flavors of soft serve followed by a tremendous sugar high that was super enjoyable while listening to 1,000s of tinkling music boxes in this enormous shop. My body tingled as if I had arrived in heaven. Then followed by the antique music box store with the seated cubbyhole where the vibrations of the tinkling sounds reverberated throughout my entire body.

    4. At the dried out scallop shop including dried seaweed, Phil was handed (like it or not) a hot broth which he immediately gave to me. What was it??? I sat and drank it anyways feeling like Alice in Wonderland, finally gulping the last green seaweed at the bottom. This was a good for me, I just know it… you know healthy.

    5. The glass work, like being in Venice with Murano glass everywhere. Exquisite.

    5. The young people in their very cute outfits, some with outlandish hair color and designs complete with bunny or kitty ears.

    6. That we found our way home and were asleep before 9.    Read more

  • 2026 Japan exploration

    Day 3 Otaru

    September 5 in Japan ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    I did an early morning hike along the river in Sapporo and then we took the train to Otaru for afternoon. Lots of people were out and about on a beautiful Saturday. We visited a couple of museums and walked in an area that reminded us of olde town Alexandria. The area is known for its glass works. I will let Cindy get into those details and photos.

    We are still struggling to adjust to the time change    Read more

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    Sapporo

    September 4 in Japan ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    When you flush the toilet water comes out of the spigot and into the small wash bowl above so you can wash your hands.

    We checked out a whole store of gadgets to try capture stuffed animals (including wombats, beavers) and tiny creatures that many young women attach to their purses. Nearby stores for adult gambling.

    The brown bear is equivalent to our grizzly (hope to see but not close up and scary) the black bear with a white crescent similar to our Shenandoah variety, sweet and cute.
    Walked close to 8 miles.    Read more

  • 2026 Japan exploration

    Sapporo

    September 3 in Japan ⋅ 🌧 19 °C

    We made it to a rainy Sapporo late last night. This morning we hit the grocery store and bakery. ChatGPT is amazing. We take a picture of the products and it tells us what they are and which ones to buy.

    We are still trying to figure out how everything works, the one thing we did not do at home was learn enough Japanese words and phrases. Everyone is super friendly and helpful BUT we don’t want to violate some of their strict rules like queuing while waiting for the train.

    I will let Cindy provide her own comments and any photos.    Read more

  • 2026 Japan exploration

    Departure day

    September 2 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 33 °C

    After a rather hectic morning, we made it to Dulles (thanks Robin). I think we have beaten the planning and preparation to death and now it is time to start the exploration. We arrive in Japan tomorrow evening!

    Life requires a bit of intensity at times. I feel ready to rock and roll! (Cindy)

    This is the our first post on this system, so bear with me if I screw it up.    Read more

    Trip start
    September 2, 2026