Rain for a week straight, multiple typhoons, stupid levels of humidity, Japanese giant hornets, and a record-setting heat wave all made my 425 mi / 684 km traverse of the Japanese Alps quite interesting (but mostly just justified all the ramen I ate). Hiking in Japan is different, and
Interview With Jotaro Yoshida of LOCUS GEAR
Prior to beginning my traverse of the Japanese Alps this year, I had the chance to visit Jotaro Yoshida, founder of LOCUS GEAR at their headquarters in Japan's Kanagawa Prefecture, just outside of Tokyo. LOCUS GEAR is a small gear manufacturer, based in Japan, that specializes in lightweight
Bicycling Around Biwa-ko (琵琶湖), Japan’s Largest Lake
Name: Biwa-ko Japanese name: 琵琶湖 Location: Shiga Prefecture (滋賀県) Shore length: 146.1 mi / 235.2 km Area: 258.8 mi² / 670.3 km² Difficulty: Easy-Moderate Lake Biwa (琵琶湖) is the largest lake in Japan and is located in Shiga Prefecture. It's 8 mi / 13 km east of Kyoto (a city in Japan you've
Thru-hiking The Japanese Alps
A lot of my hiking endeavors began with me thinking to myself, "Hmm, that thing would be cool to do," and last November, I thought to myself, "Hmm, traversing the entire Japanese Alps would be cool." I got super into planning a traverse of Japan's Alps for exactly two days before I gave up,
14 Things You Didn’t Know About Japan
As far as countries of the world go, I would wager that Japan is one you think you might know something about (as opposed to say, Equatorial Guinea). However, if you have yet to visit Sunrise Land (and even if you have), then you may missing some of the finer details of what life in the country
Tokyo’s Robot Restaurant: The Greatest Show On Earth
Simply put, the Robot Restaurant in Tokyo is incredible. It's everything you are hoping it will be and more. Yes, it is one of the most touristy things you can do in Tokyo. No, you will not find many Japanese people at the show (or even any who know what it is). Are either of these things
15 Subtle Differences Between Japan & The US
If I asked you, "What are some differences between the United States and Japan?" then your initial reaction might be to say something like: J-Pop, karaoke, or getting naked with strangers in public baths! Sure, all those things are far more exciting in Sunrise Land than they are in the Forge of
Japan’s Most Dangerous Hike: The Okuhotakadake – Nishihotakadake Traverse
The most dangerous thing you will encounter on most hikes in Japan is probably dehydration or perhaps one of the giant Japanese hornets if you're unlucky enough to catch one on bad day. However, the number one killer of hikers and people in the outdoors is not bears, snakes, ax-murderers, or even
Japanese Middle Schoolers Do English
During my time teaching in Japan, I have managed to learn a lot about my the English language. My students here are fond of using and combining letters in ways that would have never crossed my mind as a native speaker. Unfortunately, due to the way English classes function here in Fukui (and