Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route & Shirakawago
Two-day HIS bus tour on the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route & Shirakawago! Hida beef, rest stops, old villages, Japan’s sound of music, snow corridors, and great scenery all around!
Towadako, Oirase & Hirosaki
Quick 5-day trip up North to Lake Towada and Hirosaki! Surviving the sickness, relaxing walks by the lake, short hike through Oirase Gorge, and cherry blossoms in Hirosaki by the castle!
Okinawa Islands Part 2
Final days 4 and 5 – Return to Naha, Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Shuri Castle, Naha Kokusai Dori, and Don Quijote International Shopping Street!
Okinawa Islands Part 1
First trip to Okinawa! First 3 of 5 days spent on Ishigaki – public markets, kayaking, Shiraho Sunday market, Tamatorizaki lookout, Mt. Nosoko, Hirakubo Lighthouse, shave ice, Akaishi, star gazing, limestone caves, Banno Park skyline, Yaimamura Village, Kabira Bay glass bottom boats, Yaeyama Palm Tree grove, and Yonehara beach!
Nozawa Onsen
3 day trip to Nozawa Onsen Ski area! My favorite ski place in Japan so far!
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!