The Thousand Cherry Blossoms Festival at Ueda Castle Ruins Park is truly a sight to behold! With approximately a thousand cherry trees now in full bloom, it’s an experience that takes your breath away. Walking through the park amidst the beauty of the cherry blossoms, both during the day and at night, is simply enchanting.
In Japan, spring holds a special significance, beginning around April. People nationwide eagerly anticipate the blooming of Sakura, or cherry blossoms, following the cold winter months.
Cherry blossoms, with their delicate pink petals, carry profound meaning in Japanese culture. They symbolize the beauty and fragility of life, deeply ingrained in the hearts of the Japanese people for centuries.
These blossoms serve as a metaphor for life’s transient nature, reminding us to treasure every fleeting moment. Their brief yet stunning appearance during Sakura season is a poignant reminder of this fleeting beauty.
Food stalls line up in the park during the festival.
Sachi and I set off at 5:30 am, driving to the Shinhotaka Ropeway in Takayama, Gifu. After taking two ropeways, we reached the upper station at around 9:30 am. From there, a trailhead led us to the Nishiho Mountain Hut and Mount Nishihotaka-dake in the Northern Alps.
At 10 am, we were geared up with crampons and ready to make our way to the Nishiho Mountain Hut. The upper station, sitting at an altitude of 2000 meters, offered mild weather conditions that day. The snow-covered trails, well-trodden by many hikers, made the ascent quite manageable. It took us about an hour to reach the Hut at 2385 meters.
After a brief break, around 11:30 am, we left a backpack at the Hut and continued our adventure towards our mission for the day, Nishiho Maruyama. Ascending the steeper, well-trodden snowy trail for about 10 to 15 minutes, we then followed along a moderate ridgeline for another 15 minutes to reach our destination, all the while being captivated by the stunning scenery surrounding us. We got back to the Hut and enjoyed lunch and dinner that day.
Nishiho Maruyama, 2462 m
Nishiho Ramen noodle is the most favorite food among hikers. We enjoyed it with a beer!
For dinner, we had a set meal : fried fish, hamburger steak, pasta, and veggies, accompanied by miso soup. We also enjoyed some sake that I had brought along in a small bottle.
Day 2:Monday, 3/25 – 2nd day of Aventure
At 6:00 am, it was a slightly rainy morning as we departed from the Hut to ascend to the summit of Mt. Nishihotaka, which stands at 2909 meters. We reached Hodaka Maruyama in about 30 minutes, encountering only a few gusts of wind along the mountain ridgeline. From there, our plan was to ascend to the summit of Mt. Nishihodaka via Doppyo.
We spent the next hour climbing a steep, snowy, and rugged ridgeline, eventually arriving at Doppyo. Doppyo is a rock wall covered with snow and ice, presenting the most hazardous, tricky section of the route. We barely made it to the top of Doppyo, facing obstacles such as rock, ice, and snow walls. We carefully navigated this treacherous terrain, using crampons and ice axes to find secure footholds and progress step by step.
Upon reaching Doppyo, we deliberated whether to continue our mountaineering expedition. The challenge tested both our physical and mental endurance, as well as our technical skills, especially considering the worsening weather conditions.
Ultimately, I made the decision to descend.
Heals with Onsen Spa
Another pleasure of mountaineering is indulging in onsen spas and enjoying delicious local dishes. In the Northern Alps area of Chubu Sangaku National Park, Japan, there are numerous onsen spas to choose from.
The second time, Sachi, my meetup co-organizer and I attempted to hike for Mount Karamats-dake on the day, but the weather had not permitted us, and we were hampered by the strong winds again.
7:30 am ticket Call was open at the Happo Gondola Station but there was an announcement for hikers, “It is hesitant about servicing the two lifts uphill of Happo- Ike due to strong winds.”
Given the weather forecast for the day, we couldn’t hope for the weather to recover based on the weather forecast, so we moved to plan B, which is Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort.
I enjoy playing tennis and socializing with the H Juku Team members on weekends.
Congrats on starting college life!
We had a celebratory party last weekend for one of our team members who graduated from high school and is now moving on to college in the Kansai region, Japan.
Spring is a time of goodbyes as well as a time to make new acquaintances, which graduation ceremony is held in March and the entrance ceremony is held in April across Japan.
I would like to put my insight into the Japanese public education system based on my firsthand experience as a public elementary school teacher in Japan since July 2022.
In many schools today in Japan, there’s a noticeable shift towards praising schoolchildren to facilitate their growth, rather than scolding them. This approach, often dubbed “praising education,” isn’t inherently flawed. Praising Education involves positively reinforcing kids, which can nurture and uplift them.
When schoolchildren show good behavior in their schoolwork and activities, they’re rewarded with praise, which seems to bolster positive actions. However, on the flip side, negative behavior tends to be overlooked, almost as if it never occurred. This poses an issue where misconduct goes unaddressed, missing valuable opportunities for timely correction and education. Consequently, schoolchildren may not learn the crucial skills of problem-solving and conflict resolution. These are responsibilities that educators, parents, and educational institutions should address with sharing information. Essentially, educators should teach students what they can and cannot do.
As a result, schools overlook significant opportunities to teach their students vital skills such as navigating challenges, problem-solving, and developing resilience. This encompasses what is commonly referred to as “critical thinking,” which I personally translate to Japanese as “生きる力.”
Karamatsu-dake is nestled on the boundary between Toyama and Nagano, Japan. Climbing along Happo Ridge to Karamatsu-dake offers stunning views of the majestic Mount Hakuba range. It’s an undeniably breathtaking landscape that draws hikers and nature enthusiasts from all over Japan.
Hakuba Village
Hakuba Village is home to the largest alpine resort area at the foot of the northern Japan Alps. It is nestled in three municipalities of Nagano Prefecture in Japan: Omachi City, Hakuba Village, and Otari Village.
Getting there
Taking the Happo Gondola ‘Adam’, along with the two lifts, Alpen Quad and Grat Quad, it’ll take you about 20 minutes to reach the trailhead of Happo One with ease. Once you hop off the second lift, you’ll spot the Happo Ike Hut right in front of you. It’s also where you can stay or register your climbing itinerary.
Climbing along Happo Ridge to Karamatsu-dake offers stunning views of the majestic Mount Hakuba range. It’s an undeniably breathtaking landscape that draws hikers and nature enthusiasts from all over Japan.
Happo O’ne Route Happo Sation, Gondola “Adam” ➡ Alpen Quad ➡ Grat Quad ➡ Happo Ike Hut ➡ Karamats Sanso Hut ➡ Mt.Karamatsu-Dake ➡ Happo Ike Hut ➡ Happo Station （Dismissed), 6 hours.
On January 5th, 2024
On January 5th, 2024, I attempted to hike up Mt. Karamatsu-dake, but the strong gust winds threw a wrench in my plans. I really didn’t want to give up, but with the winds being so relentless, I had no choice but to call it quits. So, here I am, giving it another shot on my second attempt, on March 17th,2024. Wish me luck!
Mount Cook National Park is undeniably captivating, offering a spectacular landscape that attracts adventurers and nature enthusiasts from around the world. New Zealand was one of the countries I had always wanted to visit. Finally, my dream of visiting the park became a reality this time. So, I would like to share the highlights of my journey in Mount Cook National Park, including a memorable mountain climbing experience.
Day 1 Monday, Feb.12th, Sunny day
After renting a car at the Christchurch Airpot, I headed up to Mount Cook National Park, after driving for a good 3 hours, a turquoise-blue lake spread in front of me. It was such a beautiful color with the backdrop of snow-capped mountain ranges in the park. It took about 5 hours to arrive at Mount Cook Village in the park, a base camp for mountain climbing.
Day 2: Hooker Lake, Mt.Footstool 2764 m, Stay Hooker Hut, Sunny day
Headed to Hooker Lake with Hooker Valley Track. Crossing three swingbridges, walking along with Hooker River. It took just one hour and a half to Hooker Lake, the glacier lake.
Challenging at Mt.Footstool and Staying at the hut
After resting at Hooker Lake, I headed to Hooker Hut, but I struggled to find it for quite a long time because there were no signs.
I had planned to reach Selton Biv Hut and trek up the glacier terrain in the afternoon. Unfortunately, I had to halt my journey on the way to the hut as I wasn’t feeling well.
Day 3: Stay and relax at Haka Aoraki Mt.Cook, Sunny day
Tough hike, but totally worth it. This overnight mountain climb ranks up there as one of the best I’ve ever done. It was seriously challenging, battling rain and strong winds all day with heavy packs, but I managed to push through and conquer the obstacles.
The first couple of hours were a bit tough – non-stop stairs, steep and slippery. It was even tougher than I had anticipated. Plus, with the rainy weather, there wasn’t much to see scenery along the trail. I was kind of bummed out, but also a bit concerned about the weather’s turn.
After navigating those steep stairs, I hit a fork where the left path led to a hut. The scenery shifted dramatically from green forest to rocky terrain, almost like hitting a tree line. Everywhere I looked, there were these huge jagged mountains, and the weather was only getting worse.
Rain was pelting down, and the wind was howling, turning the rocky ground into a makeshift stream. Making progress became a real challenge, especially with those fierce gusts knocking me around. At one point, I was nearly blown off my feet by a sudden gust – definitely gave me a scare!
After about five hours of tackling and struggling with the severe weather, I finally reached the top of this steep, rugged trail, and when I saw the Muller Hut in the distance, I was very happy.
Day 5: Impressive Scenery Morning
The sky was clear, and a gentle breeze swept through, turning everything into perfection. It was a challenging hike, but definitely worth it.
Day 6: Last day in Mount Cook Village
I enjoyed chatting and cooking with other guests at Haka Aoraki Youth Hostel, it was quite relaxing.
I had a meaningful experience on Day 4. Despite the challenging hike, it was entirely worth it. As they say, the greater the difficulty, the sweeter the reward. My next mountaineering challenge will be in Chamonix, Mont Blanc, Switzerland.
This is how Japan welcomed New Year’s Day, what a terrible way to start this year, 2024. A powerful earthquake struck the Noto peninsula, central Japan around 4:10 pm on New Year’s Day, and it triggered a Tsunami on the coastline. Official says over 250 people have been confirmed dead, with 26 individuals still unaccounted for as of Tuesday. Additionally, about 16,000 people are currently residing in emergency shelters.
Severe winter weather has struck the Kanto region and central Japan this week, including the Noto Peninsula, which was among the areas most affected by the earthquake and tsunami. In the Kanto area, unprecedented snow accumulation of 20 centimeters has disrupted all transportation systems.
Meanwhile, the Noto Peninsula, one of the areas most devastated by the earthquake and tsunami, remains a major concern. Many elderly individuals in the evacuee centers have suffered from hypothermia.
Furthermore, the extent of the damage in this region remains unknown due to cut-off roads caused by landslides or infrastructure damage, compounded by heavy snowfall. This situation makes it challenging to provide essential aid, including water, food, medicines, and other daily necessities. Another significant concern is the potential deterioration of hygiene in shelters due to the lack of running water for toilets.
As of Today, over 37,000 households are still without water after the Noto Penisula quake. Over 100 workers from across the country are scrambling to fix it. But officials say complete recovery won’t happen until April at the earliest.
I believe in hoping for a speedy recovery for the resilient people who are facing these challenges.
Yesterday, on January 14th, I visited the Monji-no-Yu, Kakeyu Onsen in the small Onsen village. The overnight snowfall turned the area into a picturesque winter wonderland. Kakeyu Onsen is renowned for its therapeutic benefits, particularly for alleviating back pain, soothing joints, and treating rheumatism.
Nagano Prefecture is located in the center of mainland Honshu, Japan, the capital city is Nagano City, which was the Winter Olympics venue in 1998.
Nagano’s charm is magnificent nature!
You can delight in the breathtaking beauty of various natural landscapes created by Mother Nature throughout all seasons: cherry blossoms in spring, lush greens in summer, autumn leaves in fall, icy trees in winter, and so on.
There are many things to do in outdoor activities: Mountain Climbing, hiking in National parks, skiing, and Hot spring, visiting historical sites.
A History-Packed Castle Town Ueda
Ueda City, the third-largest city in Nagano, is renowned as a historical Castle City. Nestled in the picturesque Chikuma River Valley, it is surrounded by breathtaking mountains.
Ueda Castle, constructed by the Sanada Clan during the Sengoku period, continues to showcase its historical ruins, inviting exploration today. The castle site has transformed into a city park, providing a space where people can enjoy quality time, take leisurely walks, and participate in various seasonal, historical, and cultural events. Examples include the Cherry Blossom Festival in spring, the Fireworks Festival in summer, and many others.
Offering Onsen Spas
There are many characteristic Onsen spots around, public Onsen facilities, and private Onsen Ryokans. Onsen Ryokan means Japanese-style Inn with an Onsen bath, offering health benefits.
