Travel & Tourism – 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.

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

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…

Tokyo From 450 Meters Up: Sunset at the Skytree

Susan Spann Blog, Travel & Tourism May 15, 2023May 7, 2023skytree, Skytree center, tallest buildings in the world, Tembo Deck, Tokyo, Tokyo 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.

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

Susan Spann Blog, Travel & Tourism May 5, 2023April 30, 2023Gemstone Museum, Gemstones, Japan, Natural History, travel, Yamanashi

I found an unexpected “jewel” on the shore of Lake Yamanako: the Yamanashi Gem Museum…

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.

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

Discover the Secret Icicles of Narusawa Ice Cave in Yamanashi’s Suicide Forest

Susan Spann Blog, Travel & Tourism April 25, 2022April 23, 2022Fuji Five Lakes, Ice cave, icicles, Japan, Sites of Interest, travel, Yamanashi

A few weeks ago, I took a visit to Narusawa Ice Cave, in Aokigahara (Japan’s famed “suicide forest”), to see the massive natural icicles that form there, underground.