It’s been a long time since I walked a section of the Nakasendō (中山道). Back then it was the mountainous trail between Magome (馬籠宿) and Tsumago (妻籠宿), an insanely popular Nakasendō ‘theme park’ for both Japanese and foreign tourists.
A 3 a.m. start thinking I’d be the only one on the trail. But you are never alone in Japan, even in the middle of the night on a mountain. Frustrating, yes, but reassuring too.
It was during a walk around my neighbourhood – I saw grandson and grandmother out with a kite.
The trails are open and the longer hikes are possible again. Back in 2014 I hiked up Eboshigadake (2291m・烏帽子岳) in southern Nagano and have wanted to return for a long time.
Photo above – A brief glimpse of the Mt. Shiomi area in the Minami Alps. As I mentioned in a
I can’t take landscape photographs. I’ve tried but I don’t have the patience or the skill.
