Mount Fuji

Climbing Mount Fuji is definitely one of the highlights of my trip. Mount Fuji is Japan's highest mountain with 3,776 meters (12,388 feet) and was recently added to UNESCO's World Heritage list of places of outstanding universal value. The nearly perfectly shaped volcano has been worshiped as a sacred mountain throughout Japan's history and is not only very popular in Japan, but also all over the world. The official climbing season is just for two months in the summer (July and August), because of severe cold weather and snow during the rest of the year. Approximately 300,000 people climb Mount Fuji every year (therefore it can get very busy) and most of them climb at night to be at the summit when the sun rises. The morning light is called goraikō, "arrival of light".

I stayed one night at the foot of the mountain in Fujiyoshida, and in the evening I walked around to find a place for dinner. I got into this Japanese restaurant with no English menu and nobody speaking a word in English. Nonetheless, I had a fantastic dinner and a good time with the chef and owner of the restaurant.

The morning before the climb. Mount Fuji is divided into ten stations with the first station at the foot of the mountain and the tenth station being the summit. Paved roads go halfway up the mountain and most people go by bus to the fifth station (2300 meters / 7500 feet) to start the ascent. I did this as well.

At the Kawaguchiko fifth station getting ready for the climb. The station lies at approximately the halfway point of the Yoshida trail (one of several trails to the summit and the most popular one), and provides a few restaurants and shops to stock up on supplies.

It is "just" 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) to the summit, but I have to gain almost 1500 meters (5000 feet) in elevation.

Meeting many other climbers along the way. This is part of the experience of climbing Mount Fuji.

Arriving at the mountain hut "Goraikoukan" at the 8.5th station. There are several mountain huts on the way to the summit providing the opportunity to stay overnight. This makes it easier to see the sunrise, which is at around 4:30am in the morning. We had to get up at 1:30am to make it on time to the top, but I didn't really sleep anyway. The sleeping rooms are packed with people and it is hard to fall asleep.

I met at the mountain hut a great group of people, and we stayed together for the rest of the time climbing the mountain. Harris from Taiwan, Mike from Canada, and Jeff (in the background) and Mike from the US. We are all travelling by ourselves, and it was very inspiring to listen to each one's individual life story. Thanks guys!

Silicon Valley meets Mount Fuji. Google is there as well improving Google Maps (Street View).

The shadow of Mount Fuji during the sunset. It is in general a spectacular view at this altitude.

Climbing at night and reaching finally the gate to the summit.

We were quite early and got therefore prime spots to watch the sunrise. On the photo you can't see, but it was freezing cold and we were shivering. However, we will get soon the reward for all the efforts.

I leave the photos of the sunrise uncommented. It is incredible, and pictures can't really convey the feeling of seeing the sunrise from the summit of Mount Fuji.

We also walked around the crater before starting the descent. Mount Fuji is an active volcano that last erupted in 1707. Earthquakes can have a major impact on a volcano's activity and its potential of eruption. Therefore, there is given much attention to Mount Fuji's reaction to Japan's earthquake in 2011. Mathematical models suggest that the pressure in its magma chamber could be now higher than it was in 1707, and that the probability of an eruption within the next few years is quite high. 

Tokyo

Tokyo is an absolutely amazing city! The combination of an ultramodern urban landscape with the traditional Japanese culture is fascinating. At the beginning, the crowds of people, in particular around train stations, are a little bit overwhelming. However, once you understand some basic rules, it becomes easy to go with the flow. What really helps is that everything is very organized, and people are friendly and patient.

Although Tokyo is a global city, I clearly stick out as a Caucasian (Japan is very homogenous with over 98% Japanese people); something I didn't expect to that extent. Of course, California is the true melting pot of cultures, but even German cities seem more cultural diverse than Tokyo. Moreover, I didn't expect the extreme hot and humid weather. The temperature is above 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit), but feels more like 40 degrees (104), and it barely cools down at night. I like it though!

The energy of Tokyo is inspiring and reinforces my desire to live in a bigger city. I had the same feeling when I was in São Paulo and New York City. The vibe is just so much different in these global hubs compared to where I have lived so far. I guess the next step would be San Francisco; however, I have to admit that SF doesn't even come close to these mega cities; it is rather a beautiful town surrounded by gorgeous nature.


The entrance to the first place I have stayed. A Ryokan is a traditional Japanese-style inn, which provides basic features such as reed floor matting (tatami), low wooden tables and sleeping quilts (futon).

Always take off your shoes before entering a home - only bare feet or socks are allowed to tread upon tatami.

Tokyo is a vast city accommodating approximately 13 million people (35 million in the metropolitan area). I took this picture from Sky Tree, a new broadcasting tower that opened in 2012. It is the tallest tower in the world (and second tallest structure) with a height of 634 meters (2,080 ft).

Tokyo also offers many places of calm. There are countless little temples and parks across the city.

Here I enjoy an iced coffee in one of the many nice little stores. In the morning, I could even buy my croissant at a family owned bakery. The ubiquitous chains in the US just don't offer the same quality and atmosphere.

Tokyo is colorful and different. In Shibuya, one of the 23 wards in Tokyo, there is one of the busiest pedestrian crosswalks in the world. I took pictures from the second floor of one the surrounding buildings and put them in a short animation. It's crazy.

The Tsukiji Fish Market is the world's largest fish market, handling over 2,000 tons of marine products per day. I have never seen so much fresh and different kinds of fish in one place. Amazing.

There are a few Sushi restaurants in the Tsukiji Fish Market area, but you can expect to wait between 1-2 hours to get a seat. Totally worth it, it was the best Sushi I have ever had so far. Furthermore, I met James at the restaurant. He is from Singapore and we exchanged contact information. Since Singapore is another stop on my trip, he offered me to provide first-hand recommendations.

The Robot Restaurant in Shinjuku was definitely an unique experience. I got this tip from a friend, and I am glad that I didn't miss this. Giant robots are fighting on stage with pretty, bikini-clad girls dancing and singing. The video gives a taste of what to expect.

My last night in Tokyo. I met Syuri and Hidemitsu (left) at an ice cream shop and we decided to go out that night. We went to a restaurant / bar and some of their friends also joined us. Although, they didn't speak English well, we could connect by drinking and sharing a meal together. This always works. Fun night!

Day trip to Nikko

My friend Akira asked me if I want to join him and his fiancée Risa on their day trip to Nikko, a town about two hours north of Tokyo. Of course I did!

Nikko is most famous for Toshogu, Japan's most lavishly decorated shrine and the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Tokugawa shogunate. The surrounding Nikko National Park offers amazing landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, hot springs, wild monkeys and hiking trails. This area is absolutely beautiful and a stark contrast to vibrant mega-city Tokyo.

Our last stop was at an Onsen (Japanese natural hot spring). It was great after a long day to relax my body in about 40 degree Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) hot water. Obviously, this was my first time to go there, and therefore it was perfect to have Akira as my Japanese guide. He explained me how to properly take the bath, because it requires a certain procedure (before, during, and after the bath).

The exceptional sense of detail and process is something I really like about the Japanese culture. I just started to increasingly recognize all the little details in, for example, food preparation and presentation, home furnishing and decoration, or how to take a bath at an Onsen. It seems there is a deeper thinking, purpose and meaning in everyday life than I experienced in other cultures so far. This resonates very well with me.

The world is flat

Konichiwa Japan! Finally I made it to the land of the rising sun. I actually wanted to come to Japan two years ago and had already booked my flight. However, one week before departure, the country was hit by a massive Tsunami caused by an earthquake off the Pacific coast. The disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plant didn't allow me to go, and I had to cancel my travel plans. Therefore, going to Japan was the initial idea for this trip, and it just became a bigger idea overtime ending up with a five months backpacking trip across Asia.

I had a great first night in Tokyo with my Japanese friend Akira and my German friend Arne. Our stories and yesterday's get together exemplify how globalized today's world is. In 2007, I met Akira in San Diego during a study abroad semester. After San Diego, he went to Australia to get his MBA and moved back to Japan about two years ago. Arne is a friend from my hometown in Germany. Last year, he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area for work, and is currently in Tokyo for business. In my opinion it is amazing that there are almost no geographical boundaries anymore. Someone's origin becomes increasingly irrelevant and the ability to connect with people all over the world gets more and more important.

Welcome Asia!

Just touched ground in Taipei! My first time to be in Asia. Awesome! However, I won't spend much time here. It is just a layover before going to Tokyo. The first destination of my trip.

I feel that I am finally in travel mode. The last days in California were kind of weird. I was in a transition process, which is often not an easy time. I had already given up stable pillars of my life such as my job or apartment, but haven't started the new endeavor yet.

The adventure has now started, and I will fully embrace this unique time. My goal for the next five months is to really focus on the moment. Not thinking too much about the past or the future. I have done this mistake many times before. It hinders the true experience of the presence and makes life more complicated than it actually is.

I am really excited about what is ahead of me, and the little bit of nervousness I had right before leaving California is completely gone. Feeling good!

How much do I need?

The departure date is almost here, and I have sold most of my personal stuff. The question of how much do I actually need is on my mind for quite a while. I believe there is no definite answer and it lies in the vague sphere of "it depends". Sometimes you need more, and sometimes less.

When I came to the US three years ago, I was really looking forward to get my own apartment with nice furnitures and all the amenities. Before moving to the Bay Area, I have spent two years in various places sleeping mostly on couches (or more or less comfortable beds). Therefore, I had the strong desire to get my own place, so that I can focus on starting the new life chapter in California.

After three years of enjoying the advantages of an apartment, the desire is changing again. It feels good to get rid of almost all my possessions and to fit my belongings in two suitcases and a few boxes. I have to admit though that I am going to keep my car. The 1990 Saab 900 Turbo Convertible is my dream automobile, and it would be hard for me to sell it. I'll put it in storage while I am gone.

So, what do I need for the next five months? Not much actually. Everything fits in a 38 liter backpack, and it's going to be carry-on luggage. It feels great!