Hikes – Page 2 – Susan Spann, Adventure, Mystery, and Mountains

On Crying-Bug Mountain (Nakimushiyama) [No. 144-146]

Susan Spann 1000 Summits, Blog, Hikes November 8, 2021December 3, 2021autumn, hiking, hiking in Japan, Japan, koyo, mountains, Nikko, Tochigi, travel

On October 24, I headed north to Nikkō, in Tochigi Prefecture, to hike a new-to-me trail that included Nakimushiyama (鳴虫山), an 1,103-meter mountain not far from Nikkō station. The route went up and over three smaller peaks, too, and though much of the trail is surrounded by trees, there were a few spots with beautiful views as well.

Hiking Mt. Tarumae [No. 139]

Susan Spann 1000 Summits, Blog, Hikes November 3, 2021December 3, 2021hiking, hiking in Japan, Hokkaido, Hokkaido Hiking, Hokkaido Nature Tours, Japan, mountains, Mt. Tarumae, Tarumaesan

My friend Ido* and I kicked off my recent (Autumn 2021) hiking trip to Hokkaido with an ascent of Mt. Tarumae–a 1,041-meter active stratovolcano not far from Tomakomai in southern Hokkaido.

Hiking Mt. Yotei

Susan Spann 1000 Summits, Hikes August 30, 2021December 3, 2021hikes in Japan, hiking, hiking in Japan, Hokkaido, hyakumeizan, Japanese mountains, Mt. Yotei, Yotei, Yoteizan

Mt. Yotei, also known as Ezo-Fuji for its resemblance to Japan’s most famous peak, is a stratovolcano located in Hokkaido’s Shikotsu-Koya National Park.

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

Susan Spann Blog, Hikes August 2, 2021August 2, 2021Amazake Chaya, Hakone, Hakone Old Road, hiking Hakone, Hiking Japan, Japan, Tokaido

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

Susan Spann Blog, Hikes July 30, 2021August 2, 2021Hakone, Hakone hikes, Hakone Old Road, Hiking Japan, Otamagaike, Tokaido

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

Susan Spann Blog, Hikes July 28, 2021July 25, 2021Bakery & Table, Hakone, Hakone Jinja, hiking

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

Hiking the Jogasaki Coast: Nature Study Course (Part 1 of 2)

Susan Spann Hikes June 14, 2021June 14, 2021hiking in Japan, Izu Geopark, Izu Peninsula, Jogasaki, Jogasaki Coast, Jogasaki Kaigan, Shizuoka Prefecture

South of Cape Kadowaki, the Jogasaki Picnical Hiking Course becomes the Jogasaki Nature Study Course. There’s no significant difference in the nature of the trail itself–the Nature Study Course is longer, and has a few more posted signs describing the natural features of the Jogasaki Coast, but aside from the extra length, the Nature Study Course isn’t really any more difficult than the Picnical. The first time I hiked Jogasaki, hiked both courses in a single afternoon–and I did the same this May, so this virtual hike picks up where the Picnical left off–just south of Cape Kadowaki. I’m splitting