“The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You can spend your whole life looking for one, and it would not be a wasted life.” Ken Watanabe – “The Last Samurai” While it may seem corny to recite a line from a movie, I feel that this quote from Ken Watanabe speaks to the essence and … Continue reading Cherry Blossoms in Akita

Happy New Year, everyone! Recently, Akita has been getting a lot of snow, and what better way to enjoy it than to go out and play in it! The past couple of weekends, I have enjoyed the fresh powder blanketing the Deep North. I went to Geto Ski Resort after a heavy snowfall, and all … Continue reading Winter Wonderland

Hello all! Sorry I have not posted anything recently. Thank you for still following me and looking forward to my next post. While I have carved the slopes at Ani Ski Resort, it was my first time hiking Mount Moriyoshi. What a beautiful mountain. I happened to go on a perfect weekend for autumn leaf … Continue reading Autumn Leaf Hunting at Mount Moriyoshi

This past weekend, my friend and I attempted to summit Mount Chokai. After reaching the halfway point, the clouds engulfed us, and an intense rainstorm followed suit. Unfortunately, we had to turn around. I will have to attempt to hike Chokai sometime again soon. As most of you know, I am a haiku lover and … Continue reading The Narrow Road to Mount Chokai

Wind upon my face. Sun on my back. Several challenging hills to climb. While biking the Oga coastline wasn’t easy, it was spectacular. The beautiful rocky shoreline and majestic blue sea made for a gorgeous ride. However, my start to the morning didn’t go so well. First, as I was biking the trail along Detohama … Continue reading Biking the Oga Coast

Asahi anyone? Cheers my friends! On Monday, I rode my bike to Nibetsu Recreation Forest. I am continually amazed at how many abandoned parks and recreation areas there are in Akita. I am assuming that Akita Prefecture built these parks during the economic bubble of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Nevertheless, I love that … Continue reading Asahi River… Not the Beer

It is amazing just how much beauty surrounds Akita! Yesterday, I biked to Central Park in Yuwa, near Akita International University. There are endless biking trails and outdoor activities in the area. The road that runs through the Tsubakidai Golf Course is gorgeous! It is a well-maintained tree-lined road with beautiful nature and immaculate homes. … Continue reading The Countryside of Akita

My day started bright and early last Monday. I woke up and headed to the Taihei area to do volunteer farming. I helped the farmer plant eggplant and leek. While it was an extremely hot day, It was a great experience for me. One day, I hope to have a small farm of my own. … Continue reading Funoshi Waterfall

After a failed attempt to hike Komagatake last week, I felt compelled to try again this past weekend. With it being early in the hiking season, several parts of the trails were still snow-covered. But that did not stop us! The weather was beautiful as we hiked to the top. Unfortunately, clouds eventually rolled in … Continue reading Three Summits, One Babahera

I believe I have mentioned in previous posts, but this past weekend reminded me of just how much I love rivers! After an unsuccessful trip to Komagatake for hiking (the road was closed), I went to Dakigaeri and Kakunodate. The Hinokinai river and Tama river that flow through the Semboku area are truly amazing. The … Continue reading The Essence of a River