We rolled straight into the heart of Nikko, down a wide shopping street buzzing with both local and international tourists. For a weekday, it was packed — I can only imagine how overwhelming it must get during…

The ride to Nikko was — in one word — miserable. It’s been raining since this morning, and the rain only ended after we had been to bed. Both of us have quality rain gears but we still got so…

Today we are back on National Road 4 again — this time with less pleasant memory.

Baby feeding room at a roadside station is usually rarely used, whence our feeling of ease at occupying half of it (we did leave another nursing room vacant just in case someone needs it in the middle of the…

Last night, we secretly pitched our tent in a seaside park that closed at night and left this morning before the opening hour. We have been doing this kind of camping without clearly stated permission for…

Little less than an hour before the opening hour, two park personnels came to our tent as part of their inspection ritual. They asked me to follow them to the office to fill out again the same form the…

The roadside station was closed by the time we arrived last night. We found a discreet space in the back of the building to put our tent. Since the walls helped to block the wind, we slept well despite…

Last night, instead of camping, we slept on the couch inside the roadside station which offers heating. The disadvantages though, include that the light was always on, and that people — mostly truck drivers —…

We woke up to the glorious morning sun of Morioka at good time. Many locals had already come to the park as part of their daily routine starting 5 am. My friend’s mood suffered from a terrible sleep because…

One of our hosts is Pauline, an American of full Japanese descent who used to work in San Francisco. Even though she got to Japan only in recent month, she has had past working experience in this country a few…