Hiking has always been one of my favorite ways to access Mother Nature and her sacred landscapes. I’m more of a leisurely stroller than serious mountain climber. Below you’ll find articles that are based on or include some form of hiking.
So you’re heading on a Mt. Fuji day trip from Tokyo? With only one day, you may need a bit of luck to get a clear view of the elusive mountain. But not all hope is lost, as there are many other great things to do in Mt. Fuji area, whether you get clear views …
Lion’s Head Mountain (also known as Shitoushan or 獅頭山) is one of the most underrated attractions in Taiwan. Whether you enjoy hiking, are interested in Taiwan’s Buddhist and folk religious culture, want to spend a night in a temple, or simply want to get off the beaten track in Taiwan, Lion’s Head Mountain should be …
Read moreVisiting Lion’s Head Mountain and Nanzhuang, Taiwan
Miaoli is a mountainous county in northern central Taiwan. Foreign tourists seldom visit it because none of the things to do in Miaoli ever make it onto “must-do in Taiwan” lists (although I put three Miaoli attractions on my list of best things to do in Taiwan). The Taiwanese are certainly aware of Miaoli’s rural …
Read moreMiaoli Taiwan: Hakka Culture & Off-the-Beaten-Track Travels
Taiwan’s oolong teas are so good that they have been described as the “champagne of tea.” In recent decades, Alishan High Mountain tea has stood out from the crowd as the most sought after Taiwanese tea. In fact, my (Taiwanese) father-in-law, an avid tea drinker, turns his nose up at anything that isn’t Alishan tea. …
Alishan (Mt. Ali) is one of Taiwan’s top scenic attractions, along with Sun Moon Lake and Taroko Gorge. The Alishan National Scenic Area is renowned for its famed Alishan sunrises over seas of clouds, small gauge Alishan Forest Railway, and Taiwan’s most sought after teas (here’s my full post on Alishan High Mountain Tea). This …
Read moreAlishan, Taiwan: Best Sunrise Spots, Hiking Trails and Tea Farms
Pilgrimage is act of devotion. In many religions, these sacred walks are prescribed, even considered a must in one’s lifetime, and followers from all of world’s major faiths make holy pilgrimages. For most, non-believers are accepted or even welcome. Pilgrimage travel can be a meaningful, moving experience in which travelers can enrich their understanding of …
Read morePilgrimage Travel: Inspiring Sacred Walks around the World
There are already as many “best views of Mount Fuji” LISTS as there are claimed best places to see Mt. Fuji. Personally, I don’t think any single one is best, but for this list, I have focused on the best places to see Mount Fuji if you want a good chance to ACTUALLY SEE Mt. …
Read more10 Close-Up Spots to Seek the Best View of Mt. Fuji (and how to get to them)
Taroko Gorge, Taiwan, sometimes called the Taiwanese Grand Canyon, is the country’s premier scenic attraction, along with Alishan and Sun Moon Lake, tops my list of best places to visit in Taiwan to experience some dramatic nature on a short, easy-to-plan trip from the capital. For many visitors, if they only visit one destination outside …
The Kumano Kodo is a network of pilgrimage trails that connect various Shinto-Buddhist sites in the mountainous Kii Peninsula south of Osaka and Nagoya, and is considered one of the world’s great pilgrimages that travelers can easily join. These expansive tracts of wilderness are replete with spiritual sights that have attracted pilgrims for 1000+ years, …
In 2018 I visited Wakayam, a remote and wild region of Japan south of Osaka and Nagoya, to walk parts of the Kumano Kodo, a network of ancient pilgrimage trails. These trails are easily accessible, making them one of the best pilgrimages in the world for travelers. Besides these amazing hot springs at the eastern …
Read moreKumano Sanzan and Ise Grand Shrine: 4 Gorgeous Temples on the Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage
