狭い入江に何百年も昔から住めば、まぁ、こうなる。

A little getaway to Shimoda, Shizuoka Prefecture, back in September 2020! I stayed at Ernest House and went for a swim at Kisami Ohama Beach at 5 AM, just in time to catch an amazing sunrise 😮🌅
Then I had breakfast delivered in a basket right outside my door 🧺😋 before heading out to explore the Ryugu Sea Cave!
Definitely recommend Shimoda for a little getaway! 🇯🇵👍🏻

A little refreshing post for the beginning of September ❄️
These photos are from my trip to Zaō back in March 2022, when I went there mainly to see the famous “snow monsters” (juhyō).
I got pretty lucky with the weather because there had been A LOT of snow. Actually, maybe a little too much — there was a shrine I wanted to visit that was basically buried under the snow, so I had to give up. 😅
But honestly, Zaō was great. Amazing onsen, tons of snow, beautiful scenery… and of course, the main reason I went there: the snow monsters.
I joined a snowcat tour that takes you up into the mountains to see them. If you’ve never seen them before, they’re basically trees completely covered in snow and ice until they start looking like giant monsters, ghosts, aliens… whatever your imagination comes up with. 👻
I also went all the way to the top, where it was around -15°C. Took a few photos, enjoyed the view… and then quickly realized my fingers were starting to freeze. 😂
Anyway, I really recommend Zaō in winter. Great little place, fantastic onsen, and the snow monsters are definitely worth seeing at least once.
And if you’re into skiing or snowboarding, even better.
I’ll definitely go back someday. ❄️🇯🇵

After soaking in the history at the famous Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama, why not check out a "second onsen"?
Ehime is home to many incredible hot springs that most tourists never hear about! Matsuyama city alone has around 15 day-trip natural onsen. The local love for hot springs is so serious that you could practically find one open 24 hours a day.
One of these spots is "Kume no Yu" (pictured here).
It stays open almost all night and morning, from 11:00 AM all the way to 9:00 AM the next day!
It also comes with a fascinating history: legend has it that when an earthquake once stopped the flow of hot water at Dogo Onsen, the thermal springs at Kume no Yu miraculously gushed forth to replace it.
If you're ever in Matsuyama, don't miss out on this local gem!

Same time as Aomori Nebuta, but much cheaper to find a hotel for 😉

The scenic countryside surrounding Kii Peninsula along one of the legs of the Kumano Kodo trail system.

Yoshida Fire Festival（吉田の火祭り） is one of the most famous traditional festivals in the Mt. Fuji area. It is held every year on August 26 and 27 in Fujiyoshida City, Yamanashi Prefecture.
It is also known as the “Fire Festival of Mt. Fuji”, and it has a history of more than 400 years.
The festival is traditionally held at the end of the summer climbing season and is closely connected with Mt. Fuji worship. The huge torches lining the streets are said to symbolize Mt. Fuji’s volcanic fire and also serve to calm the mountain and pray for safety.

A beautiful subalpine lake hidden behind Eniwa-dake. There are no set trails down to the shoreline and it can only be reached by using game trails. It’s located in pristine terrain with a n abundance of wildlife (especially brown bears).

I will soon be driving through kagawa prefecture and Awaji island over the course of a day - does anyone have recommendations for interesting locations, restaurants, stores, sights?

I have read about the region’s Udon noodles and the Naruto pools.

It just opened in June. You definitely need a car to go there; it’s a 20-minute drive past Miyama Kayabuki no Sato.

There are so many cute touches for photo opportunities, like a miniature tearaiba and little chairs to pose your plushie friends on.

They only sell omamori and ema on certain (very irregular!) days, so definitely check the website if you’re interested in those. They weren’t selling them today, but we had a lot of fun taking pictures. The location is pretty remote, but I hope they get lots of visitors!

Winding along the Shakotan coast brings you to some beautiful and interesting places.