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.
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….
Mt. Oyama (1,252m) is very popular among locals, mainly because of Oyama Afuri Shrine. The shrine’s history is said to date back more than 2,200 years, and it has been a well-known pilgrimage spot since the mid-18th century during the Edo period (1603–1868). There are multiple trailheads to choose from, and you have plenty of…
This is the hardest hike I’ve ever done in my life. We started our ascent at 8:30 and were supposed to be at Sonbutsu Sanso in Tonodake by 16:00, but we didn’t arrive until 18:40. It was already dark, and the last hour of the ascent was just too hard for me. I honestly thought…