Mountain Temples & Snow Monsters

At this time of year, Japan offers some unique travel experiences in stunning snow-covered environments. I wanted to share one wintery off-the-beaten-path adventure that might give anyone who visits the more northerly regions of the country a new idea to consider—a subzero outing among the mysterious mountain temples and forests of Yamagata Prefecture, on the trail of jyuhyo (snow monsters). Yamagata is situated in the north of Japan’s largest island of Honshu. It can be reached from Tokyo by a scenic journey on the Shinkansen (bullet train). … More Mountain Temples & Snow Monsters

Red Mountain – An Autumnal Antidote

Japan’s summer is very hot. It is also extremely humid. The discomfort begins in June, when rising temperatures coincide with the onslaught of the rainy season. By the time the one-month mini-monsoon wraps up in July, Tokyo has been transformed into a torturous concrete cauldron that bakes and broils its inhabitants as they scurry from one air-conditioned refuge to another. 2023 was the hottest summer on record and led to one of the highest amounts of heatstroke-related deaths in recent years. … More Red Mountain – An Autumnal Antidote

Magical Moments

As a writer based in the world’s most populous urban conurbation, occasionally, I find my clarity of thought overwhelmed by a variety of superfluous sensory stimuli that pollute both the environment and my mind. Fortunately, Tokyo provides easy access to some fantastic national parks and natural habitats that serve as refuges from the chaotic miasma. It is to these places that I regularly try to escape, not only for a quick fix of adventure but also to refocus and seek out moments of balance, comprehension and insight. … More Magical Moments