Hi, I’m Haru.

I’ve always liked travelling, and in the past I mostly thought about going abroad. I’ve visited nearly 30 countries so far. Over the last few years, though, I’ve also come to enjoy travelling around Japan much more.

Partly that was because the pandemic made me look more closely at places nearer to home. Another reason is simply practical: my work does not always make long holidays easy. Instead of waiting for a big trip, I’ve learned to appreciate what can fit into two or three days — a weekend in the mountains, a night at an onsen, or a few quiet days somewhere rural.

I’m especially interested in onsen, mountain scenery, local food, trains, and the atmosphere of regional Japan. Onsen are a particular favourite. The bath is part of it, but I also like the whole experience around it: staying at a ryokan, eating local food, walking around a small town, and noticing how the place changes with the season.

This site is a place to keep a record of those trips. I try to write about places as I actually experienced them — what I enjoyed, what surprised me, what was useful to know, and what I might do differently next time.