The long flight to Japan

I sneak out of the hotel room early but Oliver and Jill were awake and I get to say goodbye again.
The flight is uneventful and I reach Japan where I am a bit bewildered trying find the sim cardRead more
Osaka rain day

I know it's raining all day so the plan is to find an interesting museum.
I am trying the area around the Osaka castle. I take the metro with a day card so I can go anywhere all day without walkingRead more
To Tokushima

I tried to make a bus reservation online but it was not really possible, however I did figure out the bus route. As a result I was able to find the closest station to board the bus. It was a very niceRead more
Good foot work - good life

That's what the bill board said, how appropriate. The downtown train brings me to the first temple on the other side of the wide flat industrialized valley. I ride with Agnes, a French lady who hasRead more
Temples 4 to 10

Up too early but did some more lodging research. Prachantam from Portugal and Antar from Ukraine, who are both advanced yogis were also up and we rode the train together. Prachantam told interestingRead more
Climbing to temple 12

Today is a little tricky because of the lodging situation. I check out and get on the road early walking over to the youth hostel for tonight. I dropped my bag there and I managed to also check in. SoRead more
Sunday rest day

After just 3 days of walking it seems a little early to take a rest day but I actually need it.
I have a chance to download Shogun the book and start in on it and I have some homework that I broughtRead more
Temples 20 21 and 22

I'm going to skip walking through the city and dash on the bus to the trail that leads to Temple 20. Agnes had figured that one out and I'm tagging along for the ride. Unfortunately we have differentRead more
Hiwasa rest day

I walk down the coastal road to the hole in the rock. A small path leads all the way down to the water. It's sunny and much warmer, at least it feels that way. I enjoy that moment. The Onsen lastRead more
Coastal road walk

I had breakfast of savory dishes that I bought the day before at the market down the street. Agnes and a Japanese traveler were having a conversation. I started out just after 9 and arrived at 5, butRead more
To cape Muroto

The day starts with a sunrise over the bay that I share with four young Japanese with big cameras.
I walk as far as I feel like along the coast and off the beaten path through a fishing port andRead more
To Kochi

As I walk out of the hotel there is a drizzling rain and the Japanese couple points it out to me. I smile and indicate I'm walking. The rain soon subsides and gets replaced by a nice ray of sunshineRead more
Kochi's old and new

It's a rain day in the city. I have the hostel for two nights, no need to move. I got lucky to be in the city, the Danes are walking in the rain to get to the next hostel.
I visit the Sunday marketRead more
To Sukumo

It's another rainy day and I find myself on the platform at Kochi station to take the train to Sukumo. Several Henro and a cyclists are escaping the rain as well by taking the train to move on toRead more
Bike it is

I'm a local today. Staying put for a few days, already got used to the supermarket, weirdly feels homey to be here. Sitting at a desk in my room I can get some of my admin done while it is still nastyRead more
Brain, heart or intuition?

My brain said; go to the cape, it's a sunny day and you'll be able to walk all around it and take in the views. My heart is rejoicing for the good weather and is happy to get out. Along the way myRead more
Back on the Henro

Today I move on to my next lodging by walking a part of the Henro trail that goes through the woods. It's an overcast day with rain forecast for later on, which turns out to fall earlier.
Along theRead more
Spring is here

I have two nights in Tsushima and it allows me to walk the 700m climb of this 15K Henro section with a very small backpack. It's sunny it's in the '70s spring is finally here and the trees areRead more
Nanrakuen Garden to Uwajima

This is one of the quintessential Japanese gardens. Not the most famous one but definitely a beautiful example. I go early so I can leave my pack in the house. There is nobody in the gardens and I'mRead more
Ferry to Beppu

I took the bus from Uwajima to Yawatahama and bought the ferry ticket. I met Leon from Germany, who also walked half of the Henro and is moving on to Kyushu. At the port was a speciality market whichRead more
Sakura are prime

Tosi my host confirms that there is a track up the 1300 meter mountain. So it's easy to get motivated on such a sunny day to get out and go conquer a peak eventhough I had promised myself to take aRead more
Onsen rest day

Ah, finally that rest day. Overcast, mellow, some time on my tablet while lounging on the tatami.
I found a remote outside Onsen that transported me back a hundred years or so, it was in a woodsyRead more
Mt. Ogi Fire Festival

The Mt. Ogi Fire Festival was started in 1976 and signals the arrival of spring by offering to the hot spring gods, who are said to rest on Mt. Ogi during winter, the grass and flowers that will bloomRead more
To Fukuoka

I failed to make a reservation for the 9:47 highway bus, but I got lucky that I was able to go on the 12:45. So I had some extra time in Beppu and figured I would get in another Onsen. I picked a veryRead more
Fukuoka meander

Did a nice tablet work session in the morning while the weather wasn't all that great outside. Then I went meandering through the city which is highly industrious, cosmopolitan, very rich andRead more