My hiking journey along the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail in Japan started by passing through a torii gate, a Shinto symbol marking the transition into sacredness. This, I thought, is how you make an ...

The Hitachi-no-kuni Long Trail in Japan's Ibaraki Prefecture offers visitors the opportunity to experience the region's rich history and traditional rural landscapes, including Mount Oiwa. Photograph ...

Mount Asama is one of Japan’s most active volcanoes and its murderous 18th century eruption is a tragic page in the nation’s history. The 8,425-foot mountain killed more than 1,500 people on Aug. 5, ...

Departing our guest room at the Akizuno Garten before sunrise, my friend Diana and I arrived for our morning appointment at the Senko-Ji temple, a sanctuary located on the outskirts of Tanabe City in ...

Japan’s stunning mountain scenery becomes even more breathtaking in autumn, making it many people’s favorite season in Japan. Bright golden gingko leaves and crimson momiji (maple trees) are part of ...

Today we are hiking one of the most beautiful sections of Japan's most legendary hiking trail... the Nakasendo. A trail that was once one of the main roads connecting the cities of Kyoto and Tokyo.

In southern Japan there exists a 1,000-year-old trail that is stop-in-your-tracks stunning but almost completely devoid of crowds. It stars towering trees, fragrant forests, ancient stepping stones, ...