Blog – Page 3 – Susan Spann, Adventure, Mystery, and Mountains

What Does it Mean to Live Your Best Life?

Susan Spann Blog May 1, 2023April 29, 2023courage, following dreams, Japan, living 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

Susan Spann Blog, Travel & Tourism March 22, 2023March 22, 2023Japan, Juhyo, Mt. Zao, snow monsters, snow monsters of Mt. Zao, winter, Zao onsen

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

Susan Spann Blog, Travel & Tourism January 23, 2023January 22, 2023dotonbori, Japanese culture, Japanese food, Osaka, travel

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

Susan Spann Blog, Flowers in Japan January 6, 2023January 2, 2023mizumoto koen, plum blossoms, Tokyo, ume

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!

Susan Spann Blog, Travel & Tourism January 2, 2023January 2, 2023Blade Runner, photography, Tokyo, Tokyo Skytree

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

Susan Spann Blog, Travel & Tourism July 17, 2022July 16, 2022Japan, Kegon Falls, Nikko, ropeway, Tochigi

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

Susan Spann 1000 Summits, Blog, Hikes June 13, 2022June 12, 2022Japan, Mujina, Nikko, Nikko Hikes, Tochigi

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.

A Late Spring Hike on Hakone’s Ashinoko West Bank Course

Susan Spann Blog, Hikes May 29, 2022May 28, 2022Hakone, Hiking Japan, Japan Day Hikes, Kanto Hikes, Lake Ashi, West Bank Hiking Course

In late April, I headed south to Hakone for a repeat hike of the Ashinoko (Lake Ashi) West Bank Hiking Course. I hiked this trail last spring, too–and although this year I was too late for the sakura (cherry blossoms), any day you can see Mt. Fuji from the trail is an excellent day to hike.

In the Land of Shmoo…

Susan Spann Blog May 25, 2022May 25, 2022art, Teamlab, Teamlab Planets, Tokyo

I am now officially 1,200 photos “behind” in terms of posting, and at least thirty times that many “behind” on my promise to get on top of the image backlog before the end of 2022. (Important, because of a new project I’ll unveil later in the year.) While I’m down the rabbit hole, please accept this photo of Shmoos in Fog. (Taken at the Teamlab Planets exhibition last weekend.) On the positive side, I’m making progress on the photos and on a new novel I’m quite excited about. I hope to be able to share more about that in the

A Traditional Kaiseki Meal in the Heart of Kyoto’s “Floating World”

Susan Spann Blog, Food May 16, 2022May 15, 2022food, Golden Week, Japan, kaiseki, Kyoto, Tousuiro

During the Golden Week holidays, I took a three-day trip to Kyoto, during which I booked a meal at Tousuiro, reputed to be one of the best restaurants in Kyoto. The experience proved to be every bit as spectacular as promised.