Vietnam Part 3 (Hanoi)
Final four days back in Hanoi, exploring the town… eating, walking, shopping, night market, life on the train tracks, and water puppets!
Vietnam Part 2 (Sapa)
My days in Sapa! Short hikes, nice views, and learning about different cultures.
Vietnam Part 1 (Hanoi & Ha Long Bay)
First three days in Vietnam! Going out with hotel staff, long bus rides, and an overnight boat cruise at Ha Long Bay!
Oze National Park
3 days, 2 nights backpacking in Oze National Park! Hatomachi Toge trail, Yamanohana, Ozegahara Marsh, Miharashi, Sanjo-no-taki, and Lake Ozenuma!
Kumano Kodo Part 4 – Toba & Ise
Kumano Kodo trip days 7-9. Bonus visits to Toba and Ise! Meoto Iwa, Mikimoto pearls, dugongs, the holiest of Shinto shrines, Matsusaka beef, and the best akafuku shave ice ever!
Kumano Kodo Part 3
Kumano Kodo days 5 and 6! Koguchi, Kii-Katsuura, Nachi, Shingu, – final grand shrines, cave onsen, and the super sour ume conversion!
Kumano Kodo Part 2
Kumano Kodo Hike Days 3 and 4 – Chikatsuyu, Nonaka Springs, Yunomine Onsen (World Heritage), Koguchi… snakes and quitting early!
Kumano Kodo Part 1
Home of Aikido and hiking the ancient Kumano Kodo route! Days 1-2, Kii-Tanabe, Takijiri, and Chikatsuyu
Kagoshima, Sakurajima, & Yakushima
Seven day trip down south – an active volcano island, 1000-plus year old cedar trees, great nature hikes, and circle island drives!
Zao (Yamagata), Fox Village, and Alpaca Farm
A two-day, one-night trip with skiing at Zao Onsen with the snow monsters, walking around with foxes in the snow, and playing with alpaca in Nasu!
Mother Farm & Ichigo (Strawberry) Picking
Family friendly farm with lots to do and all-you-can-eat strawberry picking in Hadano… plus I got to milk a cow!
Niigata & Sado Island
New Years trip to Niigata, my family’s hometown! Skiing at Gala Yuzawa, New Years in the city, side trip to Yahiko Shrine, and finally over to Sado Island!