WanderLyn Get Your 10K and then some in ... Tokyo Summer, Part 2

 

Tokyo has a funny way of giving you complete sensory whiplash. One minute you’re walking beneath a tunnel of vermilion torii gates surrounded by little fox statues, a few hours later you’re standing hundreds of meters above one of the biggest cities in the world, and by late afternoon you’re watching samurai dancers, over the top lights, music, and general Tokyo-style craziness explode around you. Then, just when you think your brain has had quite enough stimulation for one day, Tokyo says, “How about an ancient Buddhist temple glowing beneath lanterns at night?”

Obviously, the answer is yes.

Welcome to Tokyo Summer Part 2, a day that took us from the peaceful grounds of Nezu Shrine and the old-fashioned streets of Yanaka to sushi beneath Tokyo Skytree, a trip waaaaay up above the city, the glorious insanity of the Samurai Restaurant, and finally the beautiful calm of Senso-ji after dark.

WanderLyn: Get your 10k and then some in ... Tokyo in summer - part 1

 

Godzilla, Sumo & Shabu-Shabu

After eight wonderful days exploring Hokkaido, it was time to trade mountains, lakes, flower fields, volcanoes and long stretches of nearly empty highway for something just a tiny bit different: Tokyo! One minute we were in peaceful Hakodate looking out over the harbor, and a few hours later we were standing underneath flashing billboards in Shinjuku while Godzilla peered down at us from the top of a skyscraper. Welcome back to Tokyo, WanderLyn. Apparently, we were done relaxing.

WanderLyn Get your 10K and then some in ... Hokkaido, Part 4 - Hakodate

 

After several days of mountains, waterfalls, flower fields, volcanoes, beautiful lakes, questionable amounts of soft-serve ice cream, and a whole lot of driving, it was time to point the car south toward our final stop in Hokkaido: Hakodate. Of course, we weren't simply driving straight there. That would be far too easy. Instead, we decided to start the day by going directly to Hell. Literally.

WanderLyn: Get Your 10K — and Then Some — in Hokkaido, Part 3 - Furano and Biei

 

Part 3: Over the Mountains to Furano & Biei 🌸

Our Hokkaido road trip was about to change personalities again. We had explored the rugged coastline of Shiretoko, walked among steaming volcanoes and brilliant crater lakes, learned about Ainu culture and paddled around Lake Akan. Now it was time to head west, cross the mountains and enter an entirely different Hokkaido—one filled with dramatic gorges, waterfalls, impossibly blue water, rolling farmland and fields bursting with summer flowers. Our destination was Furano and Biei, but as we were quickly learning in Hokkaido, getting there was going to be half the adventure.

WanderLyn Get your 10K and then some in ... Hokkaido Part 2, Lake Akan

 

Hokkaido Part 2: Volcanoes, Lake Akan & a Little Ainu Magic

If Part 1 of our Hokkaido adventure was all about the wild coastline of Shiretoko, Part 2 took us inland—and Hokkaido apparently decided to change the scenery completely.

Goodbye rugged coastline. Hello steaming volcanoes, impossibly blue crater lakes, hot sand beaches, peaceful canoe rides, incredible Ainu culture, magical nighttime forests and, of course, lots and lots of food. Because this is WanderLyn Travel. We walk our 10K steps…and then reward ourselves appropriately. 

🗾WanderLyn Get your 10K and then some in Hokkaido Part 1 - Shiretoko

 

Part 1: Shiretoko National Park

When most people think of Japan, they picture Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka. They're wonderful... but if you're looking for untouched wilderness, dramatic coastlines, volcanoes, wildlife, and some of the freshest seafood you'll ever eat, it's time to head north to Hokkaido.

For my birthday adventure, my travel buddies Chris, Mario, and I spent the first few days exploring Shiretoko National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Hokkaido's northeastern peninsula. If you love hiking, nature, incredible food, and ending every day in a relaxing onsen, this itinerary is for you.

Fair warning: if you're counting steps, your fitness tracker is going to be very, very happy.