Or at least it seemed like that many steps. When you gain 3,000 vertical feet in just under 3 miles, the trail has to be steep...
Where Are the Electric Cars in Japan?
EV sales in Japan aren't growing. Is it the relatively high cost of electricity, a lack of compelling vehicle choices, or simply resistance to change?
Hiroshima: Never Again
That is the message of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, located less than a mile from the site of the first of what is so far only two instances of nuclear weapons used in combat.
Riding the Shinkansen at 172.7mph — Will the Future be Faster?
Japan's extensive rail network makes traveling there simple. The Shinkansen train makes traveling fast! I clocked it today at 172.7mph. But what will the future bring?
The Last Shogun
Today we visited Nijo Castle, and I found some of the buildings and gardens even more impressive than those we saw at the Imperial Palace yesterday. That may reflect the fact that the Japanese shogunates were extraordinarily powerful.
Evening Doorways
After a 90 degree day, a brief walk around the neighborhood after the sun goes down is refreshing. The many carefully composed doorway scenes pull our eyes away from watching for cars and mopeds and delight our senses...
The Emperor’s Gardens
The former Imperial Palace buildings in Kyoto are spectacular, but I preferred to spend my time admiring the gardens...
Hiking Mt Hiei, in Reverse
The funicular cable car ride up Mt Hiei is a popular Kyoto attraction. It goes up and down the mountain over twenty times a day. And almost everyone takes it up. We only took it down...
Rocks, Sand, and Moss: Ginkaku-ji
The Temple of the Silver Pavilion, Ginkaku-ji, features a remarkable garden, famous for its molded sand representation of Mt Fuji. I was more attracted to the rocks, raked sand, and moss...
Pruning a Pine
A pleasant walking route to our local bus station and railway line is through the Kennin-ji temple complex, which is filled with carefully tended pine trees. Studying their form was a learning experience...
Electric Travels 