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.
There’s something magical about waking up to the sight of Mt. Fuji. If you’re looking for a peaceful retreat, I highly recommend staying here for a night or two. Last weekend, we camped at Koan Motosuko Campsite at their lakeside tent area with a front-view of Fuji-san and I really have no words to describe…
Kamakura is this super chill coastal town just south of Tokyo, kind of like a mini escape from the big city vibe. It’s got a cool mix of old-school Japan and surfer town energy — think ancient temples, hiking trails, and then right around the corner, a beach with people walking dogs and riding waves….
Oopps I did It Again.. Someone told me that Nantai is easier than Shirane so I thought, “oh maybe it’s not gonna be so bad.” I got this. WRONG. Hikemaster rated this hike 3/5 but for me it’s more like 10/5. Haha! I was dying on the trail.. for real. I think it’s the hardest…