12 days Hokkaido motorcycle touring are over - lots of memories remain. Let me share some of them with you.

Going from Toon City (Shikoku) to Maizuru City (Kyoto-ken) for the ferry to Otaru City (Hokkaido) was my first challenge. Roughly 450 kilometers with a fully loaded bike. At Otaru I stayed at a friend's place, who is a log house builder. From there I went to Wakkanai, my home for two nights, enjoying the nature, great food, talking to other bikers and visiting places like Cape Soya, with Russia's Sakhalin island 43 kilometers away. Wakkanai to Shiretoko National Park past Lake Saroma was next. Long, straight roads with little traffic, along the coastline everything that makes a biker's heart beat faster. Two nights at the Raussu camp ground, watching ... Read More

During a recent trip to Hiroshima, I had the opportunity to visit the intriguing island of Miyajima (means “Shrine Island”) located just a short distance by ferry between Iwakuni and Hiroshima in western Honshu. Home to the well known floating Torii gate and the Itsukushima-jinja shrine, this island is considered one of the most captivating places in the country as well as officially one of the most beautiful. So much so that Confucian scholar named Shunsai Hayashi made it official in 1643. Any day or a few days spent on this historical 12 square mile island will be well worth your time.

A simple train ride from Iwakuni brought me to the small town of Miyashimaguchi where I was able to catch the ferry to the island in about ten minutes. While only a quick jaunt... Read More

I understand that after several days of work, we must have time to pamper ourselves. We must refresh ourselves and liven up before another challenging week. We must loosen up to fade away all the stresses that make us weak and unproductive. Go out and look around your surroundings, find green scenery and surely you will find relaxing feelings. You can go to a park near your home.

That is what we did one beautiful Sunday. We went to Miyagase Dam Park in Sagamihara City to chill out. While I was in the car, a few minutes before we reach the park, passing the whirling road, my tears suddenly rushed down my cheeks because of what I was seeing. The mountains covered with different trees were being shown to me from outside the window. I was touched by its beauty and its simplicit... Read More

I was flicking TV channels late one night when a story comes on about on old Wisteria tree that is located at a temple. It is over a hundred years old and the monks are worried, as it has been dying over the last twelve months.

They call in a woman who is a tree doctor, and she told them that if the tree isn’t moved, it will die. The soil was slowly killing it off. After she saw photos the monks took of the tree when it was in bloom and healthy, she decided to move it, and over a year’s time, restored to its former glory. This was my first time to see what a giant Wisteria tree (or “Fuji” in Japanese) looks like in full bloom.

I spoke about the tree the next day with my father in-law, and he told me a story about an old Fuji tree which is f... Read More

Moments with friends are the best times to get away from the city and have some time nature-tripping especially on spring and autumn. If you want to have a relaxing, refreshing experience away from the busy and fast pace Tokyo; explore Hakone. It’s 2 hours away from Tokyo Station and cost ?2,000 one way by JR Line. The trip is quite exhausting though but the experience is worth it, I can guarantee that. Anyways, you’re riding a train with friends or family ?it’s never boring! You don’t have to worry about the transportation or the traveling because it’s all taken cared of especially if you have the Hakone ticket that you can get in Tokyo Station.

By the time you arrive at Hakone, you could see beautiful flowers at both sides of the roads, tall and golden colored grasses... Read More

In the foothills of Mount Akagi lies the fantastic Gunma Flower Park. It is difficult to reach without a car, but if you are ever driving in the area, head just a bit north of Maebashi city to find this enchanting landscape.

The park is 18.4 ha of perfectly manicured gardens. Be sure to allow several hours to see all of them. The inner gardens of the park are carefully laid out spreads flowers in exciting shapes and colorful patterns. The park is centered around a strip of fountains and an intriguing Park Tower. The view from the tower is not to be missed and allows an incredible photo opportunity. You can fully see all the dazzling landscape designs and understand the layout of the park. There is also a lovely view down the valley to Maebashi and beyond.

O... Read More

Summertime in Japan can often prove humid and tiring, some weeks holed up in the apartment with the storm shutters down avoiding the latest taifu or typhoon. Summer can also seem very long for those who are not used to incessant humidity hanging in the air like a wet towel making one feel like they are constantly in a sauna. Yet as you down another mugi cha (barley tea) and have another cool shower you remember that Japan is renowned for having a flower for every season. Then the quandary, where to go, what to see?

We live in a good proximity to many small yet historical and interesting towns, and one such is Shobu, here in Saitama prefecture. In summer it has what is called the Blue Festival. One cannot only see Fuji (Wisteria), and Lavender during this time, also Ayame... Read More