Traveling with purpose. Writing from the heart. Marie Journals is a personal travel blog about slow travel, hiking, and intentional journeys—mostly around Japan. Here, I share honest travel stories, detailed guides, reflections from the trail, and practical tips from my own experiences hiking and walking pilgrimages like the Camino de Santiago.
Nikko / 日光 / ニッコウ is known for its natural beauty, World Heritage Sites, and relaxing atmosphere. While most people would go to Lake Chuzenji, Toshogu Shrine, Rinnoji Temple, and the Shinkyo Bridge or Kegon Falls.. my crazy friends and I decided to climb Mt. Nikko-Shirane / 日光白根山 / ニッコウシラネ which is located on the border…
Beginner-friendly route option HERE. Back on Aug 22, 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, I decided to get back into outdoor activities and attempted to hike Mt. Karamatsu. I hadn’t been working out during that time and had gained about 10 kg since hiking Mt. Fuji two years prior. The climb was extremely difficult…
I love hiking. I also love onsen. If you ask me which one I love more, I don’t think I’d have an answer. So if you’re like me and want the best of both worlds, you should definitely check out the Mt. Mitake – Mt. Hinode – TsuruTsuru Onsen route. TIMELINE Sep. 22, 2024 /…
After our Nabewari-Tonodake fiasco, I needed a pick-me up (easy) hike where I can feel good about myself again. Some friends are going to Mt. Takao- Mt. Jinba and I decided to tag along. TIMELINE SEP. 14, 2024 , 9:00 – Our meet-up place was Takaosanguchi Station. We took the Inariyama course / 稲荷山コース /…