Susan Spann's Blog, page 10

Hiking–and Riding–on Daishiyama at Kinosaki Onsen

To celebrate my 50th birthday in July (2021), I headed five hours southwest to Kinosaki Onsen, a famous onsen (volcanic hot spring) town in Hyogo Prefecture. In addition to some of the best hot spring baths in Japan, Kinosaki is famous for the Japanese white storks that live and nest in the area (there’s a preserve within bicycling or walking distance of the onsen town)–and the large white birds also lend their name to the Stork Express, the train that runs between Osaka and Kinosaki Onsen Station. Although the “nature” portion of the hike wouldn’t start until I reached the

Macaque Some Friends at Arashiyama Monkey Park!

monkeys roam free and the human visitors (can, but don't have to) go in the cage...

Seikanji – a Hidden Mountain Temple in Kyoto’s Higashiyama Ward

While visiting Kyoto's Kiyomizu-dera on July 6 (2021), I made a side trip to visit Seikanji--a mountain temple with beautiful views that most visitors don't even realize is there.

Kiyomizu-dera: A Mountainside Kyoto Temple With a Sacred Waterfall

On July 6, 2021, I celebrated my 50th birthday with a trip to Kyoto's Kiyomizudera--one of my favorite temples in the ancient capital (partially because it combines two of my other favorite things: mountains and waterfalls).

Hiking the Hakone Old Road, Part 2: Otama-ga-ike to Hatajuku

A virtual hike along Hakone's "Old Road" from the beautiful pond called Otama-ga-Ike to one of Japan's oldest continuously operating teahouses.

Hiking the Hakone Old Road, Part 1: Lake Ashi to Otamaga-ike

In June (2021), I used one of the last pleasant days before the rainy season set in to hike a section of the Hakone Old Road between Ashinoko (Lake Ashi) and Harajuku, with a short detour to a lesser known pond called Otamaga-ike along the way.

A Morning Walk at Lake Ashi: Hakone, Japan

Later this week, I'll share a recent hike I took along a preserved section of the Tokaidō--one of the major travel roads of 17th century Japan--but the day began with a walk along a different, and more modern, path along the shore of Ashinoko (Lake Ashi), which I'm sharing here today

Kakigori – a Japanese Summer Treat

One of the things I love most about living in Japan is the seasonal nature of Japanese food. While it’s sad to have some of your favorite treats fall off the menu when the calendar changes, it’s also exciting to look forward to seeing your favorites return the following year (and having the chance to find new favorites, too). Last summer, my son and I discovered a delicious spot to get kakigori–the fluffy shaved ice that’s a favorite summertime treat across Japan. Kurashiki Coffee at Toritsu-Daigaku station offers three different flavors: strawberry, matcha (powdered green tea), and tiramisu–each with a

The Tō-ji Cherry Blossom Illumination in Kyoto (Tō-ji, Part 3 of 3)

n April 2019, while finishing the 100 mountain climbs that became the basis for CLIMB, I visited Kyoto with my friend (and fellow author) Laura VanArendonk Baugh. By chance, our day in the ancient capital coincided with the final nights of the annual sakura (cherry blossom) illumination at Tō-ji, the UNESCO World Heritage temple that also happens to be one of Kyoto's oldest sacred sites.

The Gardens of Tō-ji (Part 2 of 3)

Tō-ji sits a few blocks south of Kyoto Station, near the former entrance to the ancient capital. In addition to its remarkable history and architecture, this 8th century temple is home to a lovely garden, with graveled walking trails that lead across the grounds and around an expansive pond.