Susan Spann's Blog, page 5

Tokyo From 450 Meters Up: Sunset at the Skytree

I've lived in Japan for five years--three months of which, I spent in a rented apartment one block from the famous Tokyo Skytree--a 634-meter tower that was the tallest man-made structure in the world when it first opened in 2012. As of 2023, the Skytree is "only" the third tallest (behind the 828m Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the 678.9m Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur) but it's still an impressive sight.

Jiggly Souffle Pancakes and Sakura Soda at Tokyo’s Micasadeco Cafe

A couple of weeks ago, author friend Jonelle Patrick and I headed out to Tokyo's Harajuku district for a special springtime treat.

The Yamanashi Gem Museum: A Hidden Treasure Near Mt. Fuji

I found an unexpected "jewel" on the shore of Lake Yamanako: the Yamanashi Gem Museum...

What Does it Mean to Live Your Best Life?

I spent much of my life wishing I was somewhere, or someone, else. I felt trapped and suffocated, and unable to break free. Breaking free from that cage took courage--but it also took the willingness to accept that I'd built myself a life that felt like a cage, and the awareness to look around and figure out what tools I had that might set me free.

Visiting the Famous Snow Monsters of Mt. Zao

Last month, I rode the shinkansen three and a half hours north from Tokyo to Yamagata Prefecture, where I hopped a bus to Zao Onsen, a hot spring resort that's home to one of the Nihon Hyakumeizan (100 Famous Mountains of Japan) and a winter wonderland famous for volcanic hot spring baths, excellent skiing, and a unique natural phenomenon called "snow monsters."

Osaka’s Famous Dotonbori Lights Up the Night

A couple of months ago, I spent the night in Osaka. I had to leave the next morning, but made the most of the time I had with an evening trip to Dotonbori - an entertainment district not far from Osaka Namba Station that's famous for good food and over-the-top neon lights.

The First Ume of 2023

Since moving to Katsushika (one of Tokyo’s northern wards) last September, I’ve spent a lot of time walking by the river in Mizumoto Koen (Park), not far from my new home. The park is particularly lovely on sunny days, when flocks of ducks swim in the Edogawa (Edo River), and sometimes kids fly kites — you can see one in the picture below, on the far side of the river – which is technically in neighboring Chiba Prefecture. This afternoon, while walking in the park, I noticed a pair of ume (plum) trees beginning to bloom – a traditional harbinger

Happy New Year from Tokyo!

I’ve been on hiatus for a while, traveling and recharging the batteries, but it’s time to restart the engines for the year to come! I spent the New Year with family members visiting from the USA; at sunset, we rode the elevators to the 31st floor of the Tokyo Solamachi Skytree Center, hoping to catch a glimpse of Mt. Fuji as the sun went down. As you can see, we got lucky: Wishing you and all of your families a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year filled with delightful surprises!

Riding the Akechidaira Ropeway to a Bird’s Eye View of Nikko’s Kegon Falls

I love Japanese ropeways (the Japanese term for gondola lifts), and last month I checked another one off my “to-ride” list: the Akechidaira Ropeway in Nikko (Tochigi Prefecture), north of Tokyo. The ropeway sits in the mountains, not far from Lake Chuzenji in Upper Nikko, and is accessible either by car or by bus from JR Nikkō or Tobu Nikkō Station. Since my ride was actually the start of a day hike through the mountains, I hopped the bus from Tobu Nikkō station for the 30-minute ride. The only thing at the bus stop is the ropeway itself, a parking

“On Badger Mountain”: Hiking Nikko’s Mt. Mujina

Two weeks ago, I headed up to Nikkō, in Tochigi Prefecture, for what I suspect may be my last mountain hike before autumn. While it's possible that the weather might cooperate long enough for me to sneak in another ascent before September, I'm not a fan of climbing in the extreme heat and humidity of Japanese summers (read: I hate it), and since the rainy season is already under way, this hike was probably the swan song for spring 2022.