While Harajuku, Roppongi, and Shibuya are nice, sometimes I just need to get away from all the skyscrapers, the people, and the noise. I need to see some trees, breathe some fresh air, and have a little peace and quiet. At the same time, I don’t want to spend a long time traveling or pay an arm and a leg.

Only about an hour from Yokohama on the Tokaido line, Yugawara is a great place to take a deep breath and slow down. I visited there recently to escape the city life for a couple days. I even enjoyed the train ride. It may have been because it was a weekday, but the ride was quiet with plenty of available seats for napping or luggage. I wasn’t complaining. After about a half hour, the scenery out the train window changed from houses and bui... Read More

I can’t really put into words the feeling I had when I walked into the grounds of the Meiji Jingu shrine. Admittedly, I went with a purpose in mind, to help find some clarity and direction in my life. But what I felt once inside was a true spiritual connection.

I have visited numerous places of worship across the world ? some as famous as St Peters Cathedral in The Vatican, others less celebrated, like the small Buddist shrine I visited when high in the mountains of Sapa, Vietnam. But I can honestly say, although these places are incredibly beautiful, none has touched me the way being at Meiji Jingu did.

Meiji Jingu is the largest Shinto worship place in Japan. It is located in the grounds of Yoyogi Park in Harajuku as a dedicatio... Read More

There are few symbols that represent Japan as clearly as does Mt. Fuji, or Fuji-san in Japanese. Its near perfect conical shape makes it a much sought after photo opportunity for foreign tourists and Japanese nationals alike. The only thing better than snapping that wonderful photo of the mountain, is climbing it. Making the trek to the top of Fuji always seems like a great idea when on the ground, far away from the mountain with friends over a few beers, and while extremely rewarding, it is a long and tiring journey.

You don't actually climb from the bottom to the top of Fuji. The highway approaches Fuji and winds up the base to an area with some shops, restaurants and a hotel designated as station five. From here is where the hike begins. Its best to br... Read More