Japan

Running while on vacation always makes me feel more at home.  It also gives me the opportunity to see more of my surroundings, and to see them in a different way.  The same town looks different if you drive through, walk through, cycle through or run through.  

I just returned from an 18 day trip to Japan, during which time I ran almost every morning.  My runs were quite slow, but that allowed me to see more, to take pictures and to breath the cold morning air.

The highlight of my trip was a visit to Nanban Rengo, a Tokyo-based running club.  I joined them for their weekly workout, dinner and drinks.  They were very kind, and made me feel even more at home.  

Here are some photos from the trip.   They appear in chronological order.  Other than the last one, of Mt. Fuji, they were all taken on my morning runs.  John took the shot of Mt. Fuji at the end of a long hike.

Kanazawa

Kanazawa

Shrine to Jizo -- near Ogimatchi

Hida Furakawa

Above Bessho Onsen

Above Bessho Onsen

Hotaka -- one of my favorite places on earth

Hotaka -- one of about 20 monkeys in the troop

Obligatory Picture of Mt. Fuji