The town that got bypassed
2 November 2019
Visiting Maebashi, which has no Shinkansen station
Where I am staying, Takasaki, has a major Shinkansen station where two lines split and go in other directions. There are also 4 or 5 other normal ....
Surprise Buddha
2 November 2019
Tokyo to Takasaki with a quick visit to Byakue Dai-Kannon
Now I am in Takasaki, about an hour out of Tokyo by bullet train. Now I have escaped the millions of tourists in Tokyo, so that I can be the only ....
The station is so station
1 November 2019
Eating ramen at the ramen street at Tokyo station
As skillfully predicted, not many photos tonight. This is one of the things I type often, apology for not many photos. Tonight I had to figure out....
Au naturale hiking trail
1 November 2019
Mount Takahata and Mount Kuratake from Torisawa to Yanagawa stations
SPLENDIFEROUS weather. No wind, no cloud, forecast max of 21C. You know what that means. Todays hike was out on the Chuo line. This line was badl....
Busy but not as busy
31 October 2019
Braving the madness of Shibuya on Halloween
Tonight I went to Shibuya for the second year in a row on Halloween. It was not as busy as last year. It was still madness, but I made it across t....
The quiet river
31 October 2019
Walking along the all but abandoned Sumida river
A rest day for me today. Hopefully a big day tomorrow. Also a big night tonight, for me, I might even get back to the hotel after 8:30pm, which wi....
All the neon in all the places
30 October 2019
Ueno to Akihabara to Kanda for Sichuan style ramen
Just a short outing tonight, all on foot. I set off through Ueno, passed through Akihabara and then ended up where I was originally booked to stay....
Three peak party
30 October 2019
Climbing three mountains near Mitake including Iwatakeishiyama
Awesome weather, lets get hiking! Todays hike started from Mitake, the main village up the very picturesque and familiar to me Ome line. Most peop....
New and undercover
29 October 2019
Eating pasta in Shin-Koiwa
It was still raining when it was time to head out for dinner. My challenge was to go somewhere in Tokyo I had not been before. That part is easy, ....