Tag: Japan
Japan 2025
So I visited Japan again in the later half of October 2025. Unlike my previous trip in 2024, this trip was kind of booked without much plans in mind. Back when booking the flights, I only knew I wanted to explore Kansai region and maybe visit Tottori & Hokuei, the Detective Conan's author's hometown. But...
Somewhere to go to do one thing
Missing going to places to do precisely one thing.
Some art I like
Art from Japan and Finland that makes me feel wistful but also a little happy.
Rebuilding Ise Shrine
Ise Grand Shrine has been rebuilt every 20 years for the past 12 centuries. Here's a video of them doing it in 1993.
Japan 2024
I finally went to Japan! It was really nice. I found myself enjoying through both the ups and downs. Many things happened in the planning and execution of the trip. In this post I reflect on what happened, what I enjoyed and not, what I learned, and what I hope to do next. Ideation The...
Classy Bear
The intellectual rights to Japanese national treasure Classy Bear have apparently been sold to Ralph Lauren.
2015 Gokibiru 30K trail run
Back in 2015 I did a 30 km trail run on the west coast of Hokkaido, and it was the pinnacle of my running career.
Hybrid online/offline transactions
Patrick McKenzie's fantastic breakdown of how online transactions work in a society where not everyone has access to online payments.
Flavor of the Now: Orange
The flavour of the now used to be peach; now it's orange. Soon it will be something different.
Nakaaibetsu-yama (中愛別山)
Sam climbed Nakaaibetsu-yama on a sunny day in the late winter of 2016
Fuyuji-yama (冬路山)
Climbing Fuyuji-yama on a beautiful day in early march on snowshoes, which turned out to be a mistake.
Mokoto-yama (藻琴山)
Climbing Mokoto-yama on skis, early in the morning, all alone.
Naei-zan (那英山)
Climbing Naei-zan in Kami-Furano by snowshoe with Sam and a couple of buddies.
Okirika-yama (冲里河山)
Climbing Okirika-yama, just outside of Fukagawa, by ski in the wintertime.
Kitoushi-yama (鬼斗牛山)
How to climb Kitoushi-yama, a small hill just north of Asahikawa, in the wintertime.
Abandoned bus in a field
The little-remarked-upon phenomenon of using old disrepaired buses as mobile storage in rural Japan.
Abandoned home
Coming across an abandoned home. Nanowrimo 2015.
Beach to town
Walking from the beach into town. Nanowrimo 2015.
A rural Japanese elementary graduation
A grade 6 graduation at Kaisei Elementary School.
Week 104
A visit to Tsuru-no-yu at Nyuto Onsen in Akita Prefecture. I sit in a very hot bath far longer than is considered normal.
Week 101
Climbing Tomuraushi with Tony over two days and running out of water on what was maybe the best walk I've ever done.
Week 66
My first real trip out to Shiretoko, touring of the Five Lakes district in the late fall.
Week 65
Climbing Yotei for the first time, alone in the early winter, and being absolutely floored by the beauty.
Week 64
Twenty-fourth tour round the sun and I'm still enamoured of the autumn.
Week 62
Climbing Kogane-yama out west with Jordan, padding out the post with a bunch of rubbish about steep dropoffs
Week 59
Driving over Ukishima-toge on the way back from Asahikawa to Takinoue
Week 57
My first long distance ride, to the Northern Welcome Party in Nakagawa
Week 56
Running in the 10km Biei Healthy Marathon, riding my bicycle to Monbetsu and back, remembering Canada Days with the Boutins.
Week 55
Camping down south, at one of the welcome parties I think, coinciding with the Jigoku-matsuri in Noboribetsu.
Week 53
Driving down south, visiting the Jozankei sex museum, sleeping in the Matsumae Michi-no-Eki parking lot
Week 49
Climbing Teshio-dake with Tony and Oliver, visiting an abandoned school on the outskirts of Monbetsu.
Week 48
Driving north from Asahikawa with the windows down.
Week 47
A brief interlude at the top of the Nissho Pass, driving with Tony down to some event in the southwest.
Week 45
Returning to Shari after the abortive attempt the previous fall, a trio of Kiwis and I summit in glory.
Week 43
The first day of summer, coming surprisingly late to northeastern Hokkaido.