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Outdoor life, usually from Central Japan

Nakasendo – Nihonrain Imawatari to Unuma

It’s the routine that kills you. Knowing what’s coming when you step out of the front door. I know what’s down the road and I don’t want to walk it.
Walking the Nakasendo – Utozaka to Nihonrain-Imawatari

Last year after finishing the Kisoji I extended the walk by continuing on the Nakasendo, eventually stopping at Utozaka in Mitake, Gifu prefecture. I’ve cycled in Mitake countless times but this was the first time walking in the area.
Nakasendō – Walking Takenami to Mitake

The original plan was to walk to Mitake with my daughter, but with the route covering more than 20 kilometres, as well as moderate spring summer heat meant I chose instead to walk solo and meet up with her and my wife at a friend’s house for a wonderful sansai (山菜) lunch.
Nakasendō – Walking Nakatsugawa to Takenami

With the Kiso-ji section of the Nakasendō coming to an end on my last walk I needed to decide on a plan to continue. Either turn around and start again heading northeast back along the Kiso-ji again (but why so soon?) or continue walking west along the Nakasendō.
Nakasendō/Kisoji – Walking Nagiso to Nakatsugawa

It took me a year, but the Kiso-ji section of the Nakasendō from Shiojiri to Nakatsugawa is now complete. Pre-baby-toddler daughter and I would have finished it much sooner, but I quite enjoyed stretching it out over a year – it meant I got to see the Kiso Valley in all seasons.
Nakasendō/Kisoji – Walking Suhara to Nagiso

Getting back on the Nakasendō felt good. A few months ago I ended a hot and humid day of walking at Suhara station in Nagano and promised myself I’d take a break from the walk as the heat and humidity of the Japanese summer set in.
Nakasendō/Kisoji – Walking Agematsu to Suhara

This stretch was a mixed bag of wonderful Nakasendō/Kiso-ji (中山道・木曽路) backroads and the monstrous national R19, with truck after truck whizzing past.
Nakasendō/Kisoji – Walking Yabuhara to Kiso Fukushima

This was one of the quieter stretches of the Nakasendo/Kiso-ji so far — a ‘get it done’ section. In autumn last year I walked from Kiso Fukushima to Agematsu, and by reaching Kiso Fukushima this time have now walked from Shiojiri to Agematsu.