Golden Week is a typical peak holiday season in Japan. Our company doesn't have a week off as some do, but as work would be fairly quiet this week, we decided to take a few days off ourselves and head into the mountains for some rough-style camping. Strangely enough, we ended up camping in Tokyo.
Before you wonder too hard,we camped in the mountains of Tokyo-to, which is sort of like "Tokyo State" rather than Tokyo, the city. The outer reaches, which border Saitama and Yamanashi prefectures are quite wild, beautiful and rustic.
Here is a (possibly less-than-helpful) map of the general area in which we camped:
View Larger Map
We camped out for four nights, in two different areas. The second area afforded more hiking opportunities, but was somewhat less scenic.
However, both areas were devoid of: 7-Elevens, shops, vending machines, cars, paved roads, cell-phone reception and people.
Being so "out of touch" was refreshing; I couldn't receive phone calls or even check messages. I didn't wear a watch, and was unconcerned about even what day it was. This sense of timelessness, though artificially constructed by existing in the absence of artificial time, provided a wonderful respite.
However, it is also good to be back. We have a day of work, then a few days off again due to national holidays. We luckily got a few photos, including a couple of a kamoshika (a Japanese deer), which we'll be posting in a day or two...
(NOTE:somehow, this post didn't get published when I thought it had...anyway, more pics etc...coming soon)
3 comments:
better late than than never...
Sounds like it was a good way to spend some time off. I am curious now though about what exactly you do for a living these days.
Always good to get out and about roughing it in the back country. Problem is you normally need a holiday for the holiday.
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