Travel Highlights 2024
This year has been busy with lots of opportunities for travel and plenty of time for videography. It has also been a rewarding year, continuing my life in Takasaki, Gunma, getting to know more of Japan while slowly integrating into various local communities. It's not easy to sum up a year full of unforgettable experiences in just a few key trips, but here are five that taught me something new or challenged me in a positive way.
#5: Shimagawa dam
Having a big interest in photography and video always makes me want to go out and see new places. So, whether it's exploring the streets and corners around Takasaki, or traversing Japan discovering new spots, Ifm always excited to capture something new. Sometimes, I get a bit too excited and forget to bring the camera-Luckily, mobiles exist!
On this particular day, I went for a drive to the Shimagawa Dam in the northern part of Gunma prefecture. Big structures like this always seem to intrigue me with their size and power and the dams vibrant blue water (said to be the third most blue in Japan) did not disappoint either. Close nearby the dam is Shima Onsen, which I plan to check out during 2025.
#4: Takasaki Summer Firework - and Festival
Even though I spent many summers in Japan, I always seemed to miss out on the excitement of summer festivals. However, this year I managed to attend two of them, starting with a small festival in a nearby city in Gunma, followed by the largest and most spectacular Takasaki Summer Fireworks and Festival. This vibrant celebration, held annually, features stunning fireworks that light up the sky in colorful bursts.
Having relocated to a new house earlier this year, I was able to enjoy the spectacle from my balcony, which was both convenient and offered a great view. The day after, my family and I went to the festival, where we watched the many shrines being carried around while enjoying various Taiko drum performances
#3: Shimokita Peninsula
My third-best trip of the year was an overnight adventure with Schauwecker and Evans to the Shimokita Peninsula, located at the northernmost point of Aomori Prefecture, where we visited two incredible sites. First, we explored Ozoresan, one of Japan's three most sacred mountains, which offers a serene landscape that encapsulates a range of emotions in a small geographical area. The rough, raw terrain with streaming volcanic vents, small Jizo statues scattered about, and the Bodaiji Temple on one side, while lush mountains and a white beach stretch along a cyan-colored lake on the other. It was a beautiful experience walking around, trying to capture its essence.
The second part of the trip took us to the Hotoke-ga-ura Rock Formations, where we explored some naturally wave-eroded stone structures made of green volcanic tuff. Towering at approximately 90 meters in height, the rock formations reminded me of another favorite spot, Kitayamazaki in Iwate Prefecture.
#2: Tomonoura
Located near Fukuyama City in Hiroshima Prefecture, Tomonoura is a charming fishing village known for its traditional beauty and stunning views of the Seto Inland Sea. I had the chance to film there, and the scenery was absolutely stunning-perfect for drone footage. To top it off, my stay at Shiomachi Hotel made the experience even more unforgettable-definitely my top two of places visited this year.
#1: Okinawa
During the scorching Japanese summer vacation (Obon), I had the perfect opportunity to unwind in Okinawa, soaking in life's simple joys-snorkeling with family, eating ice cream, and celebrating my son's 6th birthday. We explored everything from the island's many beaches and a mysterious limestone cave, to one of Japan's largest aquariums, the Churaumi Aquarium. Between adventures, we found moments of peace, relaxing by the hotel pool and reading books in the sun. It was the highlight of this year, and I will definitely be back to Okinawa again soon!
