With beautiful weather this past weekend, I decided to visit a nature spot called Nekobari Rock, which my friend recommended to me. What a spiritual place! There is a true sense of wonder and energy that resonates from the rock. The accompanying sound of the river only completes the tranquility of the area. Nearby are … Continue reading Nekobari Rock

Hello everyone! I hope all of you are doing well, along with your families. I apologize for my long absence from posting to my blog. With everything going on due to the coronavirus and the lock-down measures put in place, I haven’t been able to travel around and enjoy adventures in Akita. But now, with … Continue reading Hiking in Odate

It feels like you’ve entered a fairy tale when you stumble upon an unexpectedly beautiful place. With perfect weather on Tuesday, I ventured back to Taihei and discovered Kanayama Falls. What a gorgeous area with an interesting small shrine nestled in the side of the mountain along the river. There is also a hiking trail … Continue reading Kanayama Falls

The BES Adventurer is back in action! This past weekend, I finally purchased my new bike. Now that I have a quality bicycle with gears and suspension, I will be pushing the limits on how far I can explore. Having already clocked over 100 kilometers, the hot springs today is a necessity, not a luxury. … Continue reading Back in Action!

I apologize for my long absence from posting on my blog! Recently, with the weather and my broken bicycle, I haven’t been able to explore quite as much as I did during the summer and fall of last year. But, I plan on buying a new bicycle soon, so the adventures will kick into overdrive … Continue reading Omono River

Wow, time flies! Recently, I have not been on any adventures (other than my first visit to a dentist in Japan). But, for some reason, today, with the snow and dreary sky, I felt compelled to write a poem. My reference to a wolf has many meanings in this waka, so I thought I would … Continue reading My Passion for History and Culture

I finally made it to the mountains this winter to go snowboarding! While we have not had the best winter for snow, the conditions were decent, and I had a lot of fun! Unfortunately, there were no snow monsters, but it was great to get back out on the slopes in search of fresh powder. … Continue reading Ani Ski Resort

With mountain roads becoming more inaccessible by bike, I have to keep my travels a bit closer to home. On Monday, I went to Gokoku Shrine and the Akita Castle Ruins. It is a grand shrine on beautifully maintained grounds and is adjacent to the ruins. The area was fairly busy for a Monday, with … Continue reading Gokoku Shrine & Akita Castle

Hot springs and ramen, aaahhhh, it’s good to be back home! As we enter the second year of Reiwa and the new decade of 2020, I wish all of you happiness and success! Keeping with the Japanese New Year tradition, I visited my local shrine and asked for a good year and guidance on my … Continue reading Happy New Year!