Susan Spann – Susan Spann, Adventure, Mystery, and Mountains

Chimes and Lotus: Summer in Ueno Park

Susan Spann Blog, Flowers in Japan, Travel & Tourism August 12, 2024August 2, 2024festivals, lotus, summer, ueno park, wind chimes

In mid-July, author friend Jonelle Patrick and I headed over to Ueno Park to see the lotus in bloom on Shinobazu Pond, just before the start of the Ueno Natsu Matsuri (Summer festival). Lotus blossoms open early in the morning, and close before noon, so you need to get up early to catch them at their peak. We arrived at the pond before 9 a.m., and walked around to the place where the festival setup was going on. The stands were still under construction, but the hundreds of furin (風鈴)–Japanese wind bells–were already hung and chiming away in the breeze.

Foodie Friday: Yuzu Jure

Susan Spann Blog, Food August 9, 2024August 2, 2024alcohol, Japanese food, nihonshu, sake, yuzu, yuzu jure

On a recent trip to visit friends in Tochigi Prefecture, I saw a bottle of “Yuzu Jure” in the saké section of a farmer’s market. I like saké, and I love yuzu, so although I had no idea what it was, I bought the bottle and brought it home. Before opening it, I consulted the Internet, and although a search for “yuzu jure” didn’t bring up anything in English, I was able to find the website of a saké merchant that sells alcoholic beverages produced in Tochigi prefecture–and, lo and behold, the exact Yuzu Jure I bought was also on

Sea of Clouds

Susan Spann Blog, Nature in Japan, Travel & Tourism August 7, 2024August 2, 2024hiking, hiking in Japan, Mt. Fuji, unkai

One of my favorite natural phenomena–in Japan or otherwise–is the “sea of clouds” (unkai) that you sometimes see while climbing (or traveling in airplanes). It’s neat to see from a plane, but–to me at least–truly special and magical when you see it standing outside, on a trail. The clouds look so soft and puffy, and have so much character. I shot these pictures during my recent (second) climb of Mt. Fuji–always a great place to see the sea of clouds, when the weather cooperates! I climb for many reasons, but this one definitely ranks high among them. Have you seen

Mt. Fuji, Take Two: Only a Fool

Susan Spann 1000 Summits, 1000 Summits Hikes, Hikes August 5, 2024August 2, 20241000 summits, climbing Mt fuji, Fujinomiya, Fujinomiya Trail, Fujisan, hiking, hyakumeizan, Japan

In May, I got a phone call from my friends Erica Berglund and (fellow author) Laura VanArendonk Baugh, who had a spur of the moment idea about climbing Mt. Fuji this year. I hadn’t officially planned to climb Mt. Fuji a second time. In fact, a Japanese proverb about the mountain says “every wise man climbs [Mt. Fuji], [but] only a fool climbs [Fuji] twice.” However, I’m always up for an adventure, so the three of us decided to risk the mercurial summer weather and head for the summit on July 15. We spent the night before the climb in

An Update on Hiro and Father Mateo!

Susan Spann Blog, Hiro & Father Mateo Mysteries March 23, 2024March 23, 2024Father Mateo, Hiro Hattori, inuyama, Inuyama Castle, mysteries, novels, Susan Spann books

I’ve received quite a bit of (much appreciated!) email lately, asking about the next book in the Hiro Hattori/Father Mateo mystery series.

I’m delighted to announce that yes, there will be more books! I’m working hard on Book 9, which does not yet have a formal title or release date, but is definitely one of my favorites in the series to date.

The Koubai (Red Plum Blossom) Festival at Ushi-Tenjin Kitano Shrine in Tokyo

Susan Spann Blog, Flowers in Japan, Holidays & Observances, Shrines and Temples February 11, 2024February 11, 2024Shinto, shrine, spring, sugiwara no michizane, Tokyo, ume, ume matsuri, Ushi-Tenjin Kitano

Every February, Ushi-Tenjin Kitano Jinja (shrine) holds a koubai (red plum blossom) festival to celebrate the blooming ume (Japanese plum) trees that grow around the shrine. Last weekend, a friend and I hopped a train to Bunkyo to check out the festival, and the early blooms.

Ringing in the New Year With Tokyo’s “Knotted Jizo”

Susan Spann Blog, Holidays & Observances, Shrines and Temples January 29, 2024January 27, 2024bells, Buddhist temples, Japan, Japanese holidays, Japanese traditions, joya no kane, Nanzoin, New Year, New Year's Eve, Shibarare Jizo, temple bells

The New Year holidays are a particularly important time in Japan. We observe a three-day New Year celebration, which officially starts on January 1.

Preparation for the holidays often starts well in advance; we give the house a thorough, deep cleaning, to ensure everything starts the new year fresh and clean. For me, that starts about a week before December 31. When I finish cleaning, I hang the New Year decorations.

Food Friday: Vending Machines (with Beer)

Susan Spann Blog, Food December 1, 2023November 25, 2023beer, Japan, Kyoto, vending machines

It’s no secret that I love Japanese vending machines–or that they stock an unusually wide variety of foods, beverages, and other items.

Merry Christmas Tree

Susan Spann Blog, Holidays & Observances November 29, 2023November 25, 2023Christmas, Christmas tree

Christmas is a popular holiday in Japan, even though less than 1% of the population identifies as Christian. People here love holidays, lights, giving (and receiving) gifts, and special food, so Christmas is pretty much a lock on every level. Lots of the major buildings have Christmas trees (many of which are enormous, natural trees rather than artificial ones), but “at-home” trees–to the extent they exist–are usually very small (think table-top size) and artificial. While down in Meguro having my hair cut and having lunch with my friend Kaitlyn last month, I saw some living Christmas trees for sale at

Kumano Kodo 2023: Kyoto Pre-Hike Adventure

Susan Spann Blog, Food, Travel & Tourism November 27, 2023November 25, 2023food, Kyoto, Kyoto Tower, matcha, Nishiki Market, wagyu

Last week, my friend and I headed south from Tokyo to spend a day in Kyoto before embarking on our week-long hike of the Kumano Kodo Nakahechi…

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Author: Susan Spann