Category: Nagano
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Film Nostalgia on the Kiso-ji
Every now and then I get pangs of nostalgia, pull out the Leica M6, and shoot a roll or two of film. Anyone that has shot film before knows that it slows you down, forces you to think before pressing the shutter
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Nakasendō/Kiso-ji – Walking Nagiso to Nakatsugawa
It took me a year, but the Kiso-ji section of the Nakasendō from Shiojiri to Nakatsugawa is now complete. Pre-baby-toddler daughter and I would have finished it much sooner, but I quite enjoyed stretching it out over a year – it meant I got to see the Kiso Valley in all seasons.
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Mt. Fuji Sunrise Hike – Eboshidake in the Minami Alps
This was the third time I’ve hiked this trail. In July 2019 Sampukutoge was the goal but then I was unaware that an additional 40 minutes southwest to Eboshidake would, on a clear day, present me with a clear view of Mt. Fuji.
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Adventure: Common Sense and How to Not Buy New Camera Gear
With the backpack packed and batteries charged, chocolate and sugary snacks purchased, I headed to the Torikura trail entrance (鳥倉登山口) late on Saturday afternoon to start the 2 to 3 hour climb to the campsite.
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Memories for a Journal: Agematsu Night Hike
Late last summer I went on a solo night hike up the Chuo Alps from Agematsu in Nagano. The A Course hike as it is known is infrequently used by other hikers as the east side from Komagane is far more popular. In fact, I’ve never seen anyone else use it. That night I nearly […]
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Hiking: Misaka – Fujimidai ・神坂峠・富士見台
Stress and difficulty can knock us down. Sitting at our computers, we are overwhelmed with information, with emails, with one thing after another. Should we just sit there and absorb it? Should we sit there with the sickness and let it fester? No. Should we get up and throw ourselves into some other project – […]
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Hiking: Mt. Ontake & New Goals・御嶽山
I’ve been cycling ever since I was a kid. When I moved to Japan permanently way back in 2001 I brought my mountain bike with me. This was two weeks before 9/11 so I just turned up at Heathrow Airport with the bike, pedals off, tyres deflated and it went onto the airplane without any […]
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Hiking: Sampukutoge・Eboshidake Hike / 三伏峠・烏帽子岳
The gateway to this part of the Minami Alps (南アルプス) is high up in Oshika village (大鹿村) in southern Nagano and I made my first scouting trip there back in July. This time I decided on an overnight trips to be ready for both sunset and sunrise and hopefully get some decent photographs. It’s […]