Itineraries from taking the backroads
... for six weeks. After saying a bittersweet sayonara to my sleepy city on the west coast of Japan, I'm back stateside and enjoying an extended working holiday in Hawaii, where I'm volunteering on a beautiful organic farm on the North Shore of Oahu. I've already been exploring new beaches daily and filling up my … Continue reading I moved to Hawaii!
If you've ever read anything by Banana Yoshimoto* you'll have a clear image of life along the coasts of Japan. Tiny towns, mysterious neighbors, stunning nature and the ever-present churning of ocean waves. It's a beautiful image, and thanks to Japan's nearly 30,000 kilometers of coastline an experience to be had all over this charming … Continue reading Japan Seaside Life on the Noto Peninsula
Photos and tips for visit Yamadera, a Buddhist temple tucked into the mountains of Northern Japan.
Every year in early June, Kanazawa hosts a major festival to celebrate Lord Maeda Toshiie arrival at Kanazawa Castle all the way back in 1583. The name Hyakumangoku refers to the production of 1 million "stones" of rice and the events run over the entire first weekend of June. On Friday night there is live … Continue reading Hyakumangoku Festival
Towering waterfalls, views of snow-covered mountaintops, and a natural hot spring bath on the banks of a crystal clear mountain stream. NWT’s guide to driving the White Road through Hakusan and Gifu prefectures.
Torigoe is one of my favorite places in the world. A charming little town nestled into the foothills of Mt. Haku and the Japanese Alps, it is full of stunning natural beauty, grandmas and grandpas tending to their rice fields and vegetable gardens, and a whole tribe of wild monkeys! These are some of my […]
Exploring an abandoned onsen hotel near Kaga temple.
How to explore the biggest city in the world without losing your mind.
Photos and guide to hiking Hakusan, one of Japan's three sacred mountains
Travel guide to walking a section of the Nakasendo, an old route that connected Tokyo and Kyoto