Year: 2025
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Ogoto Onsen
This hot spring is in Otsu, on the shores of Lake Biwa. It’s almost a 1-hour ride from Kyoto and we decide to spend the weekend there. We get off the train at the small station of the same name, and a shuttle takes us to the hotel in the middle of the afternoon. We…
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Hangzhou
Arrived on the previous evening, we headed straight to our hotel in the Qing Zhi Wu district. This area had long been neglected by residents, but the city helped owners renovate the buildings and convert them into hotels. As a result, there’s now a good concentration of accommodation and restaurants in this neighborhood next to…
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Hiking Along the Water, Again
+50m / -100m / 8km Today we’re back on the same route as two months ago, between Takao and the Hozu Gorge. We catch the bus around 9:50 at Marutamachi Onmaedori. We don’t stop at Jingo-ji and head straight for the riverside trail. This time, the sun is out. Leaves in every shade imaginable reflect…
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Kohechi
Kohechi is one of the three Kumano Kodo pilgrimage routes. It’s the most mountainous of the three and links Koyasan to Hongu Taisha…
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Koyasan
After leaving at 6:30, we take a bus to Saiin, then the train to Awaji. We change at Tengachaya, then again at Gokurakubashi. This third train only has four cars but large windows — perfect for enjoying the scenery comfortably seated. We finish the journey with a funicular to Koyasan Station, then a bus that…
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Hakusan
+1350m / -1350m / 14km We’re off work this Friday. We leave Nijo Station at 6:59 and transfer at Kyoto Station to the Thunderbird, a limited express train that runs all the way to Tsuruga, at the northern tip of Lake Biwa. From there we take a local train to Fukui. Once there, we pick…
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Hiking along the water
+230m / -290m / 9km The forecast says cloudy all day. I don’t feel like climbing a summit just to find the view blocked, so I pick a valley-floor hike instead. The trail follows a river between Takao and Hozukyō for 9km, with a 5km option leading to Arashiyama. I buy a picnic at Fresco…
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Of azure and ochre
Day 1 The hardest part is renting the car. I had booked a compact, but there isn’t one available. After a 30-minute wait, an employee shows us a black Jeep. We walk around the vehicle together, and I spot a nasty gash in one of the tires. Goodbye Jeep. Another 30 minutes go by while…
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Paris as a tourist
A trip to France usually means passing through Paris. It’s the perfect chance to visit a few places in the capital. We start at Place de la Bastille, then move on to Place des Vosges and Saint-Paul. Crossing the Seine, we reach Île Saint-Louis and soon find ourselves on the forecourt of Notre-Dame. We were…
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Ayabe
It’s fireworks season. Each city holds its own display on a different date, so it’s possible to see fireworks every weekend throughout July and August. This year we choose Ayabe. We wander around the town in the sweltering heat, then, as the day fades, we climb up to a park on higher ground to watch…
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Experiences in Tokyo
A visa application forces us to go to the French Embassy in Tokyo. We take the opportunity to spend two days there. The first experience, at the embassy, is rather unpleasant. Only those applying for a visa are allowed inside the building. For companions like me, waiting outside is the only option. I thought there…
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Ohara in bloom
Ohara is a rural area about 40 minutes north of Kyoto by bus. It’s not very far, but it’s usually cooler up there. The cherry blossoms bloom a few days later than in the city center. We do a bit of shopping upon arrival, then follow the Takano River south. It’s hot! I’ve got a…
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Hanami in Higashiyama
After yesterday’s walk, we head to Higashiyama and the Philosopher’s Path. There are more people under the trees, but it’s still a pleasant stroll.
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Around Tofukuji
After the plum trees, the cherry trees bloom in turn. We start from Tofukuji Station and head East to visit a few temples. Then we walk along the Kamo River and through Kiyamachi to reach the city center.
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Loose pictures: Winter 2025
Views which did not ended in a post of their own.
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PUNKSPRING 2025
The aptly named PUNKSPRING festival is held every spring and features punk rock bands. This year, the event was initially scheduled to take place at the Osaka Intex (mentioned here), but it was ultimately moved to the Dojima River Forum. Located right in the middle of the city, it’s surrounded by shops and offers several…
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The plum trees of Jounanguu
Spring is here! The cherry blossoms aren’t out yet, but the plum trees are ahead of them. I head to the modest Jounanguu Shrine to explore its garden. There are quite a few people strolling through the narrow paths, but plenty of blossoms for everyone.