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

Three Days in Nikko

Susan Spann Blog July 4, 2019July 4, 2019Climb, Japan, matcha, mountains, Nikko, travel

I recently spent three days in Nikkō, one of Japan’s most important historical and religious sites. The area is not only a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, but an excellent place for hikers and mountain climbers.

Heaven, Hell, and Off the Beaten Path in Japan

Susan Spann Blog March 17, 2019March 17, 2019Beppu, Japan, Japanese travel, matcha, off the beaten path, travel

I love traveling to new and unexpected places here in Japan, and sharing the experiences I encounter. My trip to Kyushu (Japan’s southernmost major island) last January was both exciting and unexpected, and I’m thrilled to be able to share my experiences in “heaven and hell” at Matcha–which is also, hands-down, the best English-language website for travel ideas and travel advice about Japan. Here’s the link to the first installment of my “Japan, Off the Beaten Path” series: “To Heaven and Hell in Beppu” (with plenty of photos of the adventure, too!)

By Ferry Across the Seto Inland Sea

Susan Spann Blog February 6, 2019February 6, 2019ferries, seto inland sea, travel

After finishing last week’s climbs in Kyushu, I decided to travel home by a slower, and often (wrongfully) underrated means of transportation: an overnight ferry across the Inland Sea. The shinkansen (bullet train) is faster, and the overnight bus much cheaper, but overnight ferries have a surprising amount to offer . . . especially when you splurge on a private room. Like most Japanese ferries, the Meimon Taiyo ferry that sails between Kitakyushu and Osaka (the black line on the map below shows the route) offers several classes of accommodation. Tourist and economy classes basically consist of dormitory-style rooms with futon on the floor for sleeping and shared bathroom and shower

New Year Fireworks at Fuji Five Lakes

Susan Spann 1000 Summits, Blog January 27, 2019January 27, 2019fireworks, hiking, Japan, New Year, travel

I tend to plan my travel fairly thoroughly, but always leave enough flexibility in my plans to enjoy the unexpected opportunities that happen frequently here in Japan. Last week, I traveled to the Fuji Five Lakes region, near Mt. Fuji, to continue my climbs for the 100 Summits project. While on the train to Kawaguchiko (Lake Kawaguchi), I saw a flyer advertising New Year fireworks–a common celebratory event here in Japan. To my surprise, the flyer said the final night of fireworks was that very night–and since my ryokan (traditional inn) was located near the lake, I hoped I would be able to

98 Kilometers On The Kumano Kodo Nakahechi

Susan Spann 1000 Summits, Blog November 30, 2018100 Summits, hiking, Japan, Kumano Kodo, Nakahechi, travel

I’ve just returned from a 7-day, 98-km hike along the Kumano Kodo, a group of pilgrimage trails through Japan’s Wakayama Prefecture. Pilgrims of all social classes, from retired emperors and samurai to Buddhist nuns and priests, have traveled these mountainous trails on foot for more than 1,000 years.

Taking a Cat to Japan, Part 2: Customs and Cat-ligraphy

Susan Spann Blog August 13, 2018August 9, 2018animal import, cats, Japan, taking cats to Japan, Tokyo, travel, traveling with cats

Oobie isn’t good in carriers, so I worried about her reaction to the nearly 24-hour journey from Los Angeles to our first short-term apartment in Tokyo. To my relief, she handled it like a champ.

Taking a Cat to Japan – Part 1

Susan Spann Blog August 9, 2018cats, international, Japan, move with pets, Oobie, pets, travel

Our decision to spend a year in Japan for the #100Summits Project depended, in part, on our ability to take our cat, Oobie, along on the journey. My husband and I believe that “pets are for life” and we wouldn’t have dreamed of leaving her behind. However, since Japan is a rabies-free country, entry requirements for pets are strict (see also: “draconian” – but with good reason) and it took us almost a year to ensure that Oobie could enter without undergoing extended quarantine.

Celebrating The Unexpected

Susan Spann Blog July 11, 2018July 10, 2018Buddha, coffee, Japan, kakigori, latte, travel, unexpected

When traveling, I try to remember that closed itineraries–like closed fists–are unable to catch an unexpected blessing. Although I plan my travel in advance in fairly great detail, when I’m actually traveling I try to remain alert to the opportunities for spontaneous experiences, and to take advantage of them when I can. As a result, I get to enjoy the unexpected opportunities and sites that come my way. Here are just a few from the last week’s travels:

The Sutra Repository of Koyasan

Susan Spann Blog May 2, 2018May 2, 2018Buddhism, Japan, Koyasan, repository, travel, tripitaka

The hexagonal sutra repository at Danjo Garan, on Koyasan, was constructed during the 12th century to hold a complete set of the Chinese Tripitaka (the entire set of sacred Buddhist texts). Although the current building only dates to the twentieth century (a fire destroyed the original) it remains a lovely example of Shingon Buddhist architecture.

Ginza, Visas, and the Start of the 100 Summits Quest

Susan Spann 1000 Summits, Blog March 13, 2018March 13, 2018#100Summits2018, 100 Summits, chemo, chemotherapy, Japan, travel

Yesterday afternoon, I arrived in Tokyo to begin the first official step toward the #100Summits Project: filing my visa application. Japanese residence visas can be difficult to obtain, but I’m hopeful my plans to climb the hyakumeizan and my publishing contract for 100 SUMMITS–a nonfiction book about my quest to scale Japan’s most famous peaks in a single year–will be sufficient for me to obtain a one-year visa.