Tōhoku roadtrip: summer excursion off the beaten path

We set off on the 112, that graceful route through the mountainous heart of Yamagata prefecture, on a sunny day in August.

Yamagata and Me (2016)

Imagine a place lush and green with nature, where – beyond the big city - small villages and farming communities dot the landscape.

Travel, MemoirLisa Wynne16 March 2017writing, Yamagata, Japan, Ireland, English, EFL, teachingComment

The snow is on the mountains.

With the dependable snows of Yamagata, snowboarding has become the heart of winter for me, the fulcrum about which all other activities turn when the mercury is low.

TravelLisa Wynne17 January 2017snowboarding, snow, mountains, Hakuba, Niseko, Hokkaido, Yamagata, Zao, Zao Onsen, skiing, winter sports, sports, winter, coldComment

Sea & Summit: Yuza and Mount Chōkai

The place I live is called Yamagata. In Japanese, this literally means "mountain-shaped". In a couple of years here, I have fallen under the spell of these most-unchanging facets of nature, and they have certainly changed me.

TravelLisa Wynne28 November 2016Mount Chokai, hiking, mountains, climbing, Yamagata, Yuza, Shonai, Tohoku, summer, walking, adventure, camping, August, 2016Comment

Writing by Lisa Wynne