• start here
  • about
  • group trips
  • brooke beyond

  • hiking guides
  • outdoor gear
    • hiking boots
    • hiking backpacks
    • cold-weather layers
    • backpacking tent
    • outdoor sleep system
    • backcountry food
    • day-hike packing list
    • hut-to-hut packing list
    • via ferrata packing list
    • backpacking packing list
    • mountaineering packing list

brooke beyond

Aus + NZ / Australia / Tasmania

Hiking the Overland Track (day 2): Cradle Mountain to Windermere

16 January 2019

Last Updated on 9 February 2021

Following a spectacular first day on the Overland Track (complete with surprise mountaintop injuries), day 2 brings even more jagged peaks and reflective tarns as we make the 11.5km journey down into Waterfall Valley and over to Windermere Hut. The walk is undemanding, but punctuated with wonderful views that keep us all entertained and encourage even the most aching feet to keep moving towards our camp. As it happens, Lake Windermere is the perfect spot to round off another day in the Tassie wilderness, and it is in this idyllic setting that we finally become acquainted with the rest of our “15-Jan” family.

Trail stats: Cradle Mountain to Windermere

Distance: 11.5km

Trail hours: 5.5hrs

Highlights: Descent into beautiful Waterfall Valley; views of Barn Bluff throughout; amazing fields of vibrant wildflowers; sparkling mountain lakes, including Lakes Holmes and Will

Lunch spot: Waterfall Valley Hut

Campsite: Windermere Hut (bunks in the hut)

Barn Bluff in the distance

Amazingly, I wake up in my snug sleeping bag this morning to an ankle with very minimal swelling. Despite the worst of my fears, it doesn’t appear to have worsened at all since the sprain yesterday afternoon, and I am ecstatic that this means I can continue onwards, even if it does mean walking a bit slower than usual and skipping the side trip to Barn Bluff this morning. Dad and Eileen are already packing by the time I poke my head out of the tent, our campsite enjoying prolonged morning shade thanks to the surrounding hills, and they set off towards the summit after making plans to rendezvous with us at Waterfall Valley Hut around lunchtime.

Only 30 minutes behind, Cal and I strike off towards the hut around 9am, shocked by how quickly the morning chill has turned into scorching sun. We are anticipating a fairly gradual journey, approximately 4km to the hut that was actually meant to mark the official end of day 1, but what we find is a narrow, uneven, rock-strewn trail that gives my ankle plenty of trouble and forces us to plod along at an almost unbearable pace. The trail levels and boardwalks become much more frequent after we come up and over the hill, but the relief is somewhat short lived— the descent into the valley means awkwardly spaced stairs that slow us down yet again.

Barn Bluff
Barn Bluff and a sea of flowers
Saying goodbye to Cradle Mountain

Callum enjoying a lush green forest
Walking towards Barn Bluff
Walking to Windermere Valley

Day two on the Overland Track

The sign at the most recent fork said just 30 minutes to the hut, but it feels like several hours have passed before we finally see a roof pop up out of the trees. Even this short distance into the track, we’ve already noticed wild inconsistencies in the way sections have been timed. Supposed “30 minute” sections that take 15 minutes even at a slow pace are followed by “30 minute” sections that are well over an hour’s walk. It drives me particularly crazy this morning, as I keep expecting to find the hut just around the next bend and am repetitively disappointed to the point of anger (although Callum astutely notes that this is classic hanger, since we have been saving our breakfast for the hut).

Upon our arrival at Waterfall Valley, after what feels like a lifetime of shuffling along the trail, we are greeted by the hut warden, who expresses concern at not having seen us last night. As a safety measure, all the Overland Track hikers who departed on the 15th have been tagged with numbers 1-34 and apparently each hut warden tries to touch base with groups as they arrive in the evening. My ankle sprain may have been a fair excuse for having wild camped near the base of Cradle Mountain rather than carrying on into the valley last night, but the warden strongly encourages us to continue to the next hut tonight rather than stopping short at Lake Will. In his own words, “if you can make it to the lake, you can make it to the hut”.

Waterfall Valley
Finally arrived at Waterfall Hut
Cal at Waterfall Hut

Callum and I head into Waterfall Valley Hut, which we are lucky to have all to ourselves for lunch, and quickly take our boots off, unpack our food, and stretch out along the benches. It’s been an undemanding morning by any standards, but it still feels great to get my feet up and dig into a big margarita pizza wrap. In a matter of seconds, lunch is over, which leaves us with several hours before dad and Eileen are due to arrive. We spend this time drinking multiple litres of the hut’s delicious rainwater, playing cards, and, in my case, typing this blog post on my iPad.

A little more than 4 hours since we arrived at the hut, we finally see dad and Eileen coming down the trail, exhausted from what has been a much more active day than our own. They both say Barn Bluff was a beautiful hike, but that it was just as steep and scrambly as yesterday’s summit of Cradle Mountain, which means I’ve definitely made the right call for my ankle by giving it a miss.

After a short rest, we all put our packs back on and hit the trail with intentions of getting back on track for our 6-day hike, which means cramming the entirety of what was meant to be day 2 into this afternoon. It’s only a short day, estimated to take around 3.5 hours, but everyone is a little worse for wear after this morning and the forecast of afternoon rain only adds to the challenge.

From Waterfall Valley, we begin our walk with a short section of downhill steps, immediately crossing paths with a full grown copperhead snake who thankfully, true to the old adage, does appear to be more afraid of us than we are of him and quickly slithers off into the shrubs. Hearts now racing, the hour walk to Lake Holmes flies by, punctuated only by frequent stops to photograph the incredible autumnal flowers in front of Barn Bluff.

Wildflowers and Barn Bluff

Walking through a sea of orange flowers
Cal enjoying a quick rest at the junction
Lake Holmes

Our afternoon views

The next half of our walk, on the other hand, is characterised by frequent arguments about whether we are better to stop and set up camp now or better to continue towards the hut. We sit down and start to unpack, argue more, pack up and keep walking, only to sit down a few dozen metres down the track and do it all over again. We’ve done all the climbing already. Unfortunately, the final stretch is downhill on mostly uneven bits of rock, which is also now wet from the thunderstorm that came through before any of us could get our jackets on. Conditions are far from ideal, everyone is tired, but in the end we power through the last 90 minutes of our walk and roll into the hut cranky and desperate to get out of our boots around 8pm.

Even though I am moments from collapse, our day continues as we parade up and down the boardwalk, searching for an available tent platform that apparently does not exist. Before we even get the opportunity to ask about squeezing in at the group campsite, a guide approaches us with the very generous message “just before you come over here and ask to camp with us, no”. Considering that the next hut is 12km away and clearly not an option, we are starting to feel a little panicky about tonight’s accomodation— on the one hand, I am not taking another step; on the other, there is literally no way to pitch a tent atop this Arctic tundra. Just as we have resolved to sleep on the helipad and hope that no one comes by to observe what I’m sure is an extremely illegal campsite, some kind people from the hut do a bit of reevaluating and realise that we can fit onto a few available bunks inside.

Trudging towards Lake Windermere
Nearly to the hut
Large communal kitchen in Windermere Hut

The final stretch of today’s walk
Descending to Lake Windermere

High off relief, we trudge inside and all but throw our packs to the ground just to be free of the weight. After tossing on some evening attire (puffer jackets), we head to the kitchen and set to work on an enormous meal of skillet bread, margarita pizza, and pasta puttanesca courtesy of Packit Gourmet, all tied together by the litre of red wine we’ve been carting through the mountains for this very moment. The rest of the evening is spent enjoying our amazing meal, mingling with the lovely people already in the hut, and generally feeling elated to be back on schedule after my injury.

Read more about our incredible Overland Track experience

HIKING THE OVERLAND TRACK (DAY 1): RONNY CREEK TO CRADLE MOUNTAIN

HIKING THE OVERLAND TRACK (DAY 3): WINDERMERE TO PELION

HIKING THE OVERLAND TRACK (DAY 4): PELION TO KIA ORA

HIKING THE OVERLAND TRACK (DAYS 5 & 6): KIA ORA TO NARCISSUS & ACROSS LAKE ST CLAIR

THE OVERLAND TRACK: A COMPREHENSIVE DIY GUIDE TO TASMANIA’S MOST ICONIC MULTI-DAY HIKE

0 Comments
Share
brooke beyond

Hey, I'm Brooke and I'm obsessed with getting off the beaten path, exploring backcountry gems & travelling beyond the ordinary! I left Australia 5 years ago after finishing a PhD in Biomechanics & have been travelling the world full-time ever since (joined by my life/climbing partner, James). Whether it’s road-tripping through Mexico, climbing alpine peaks in the Andes, scuba diving in the Red Sea, or tackling epic via ferrata in the Dolomites, I hope this blog will inspire your future adventures & help you find wonder in every corner of the globe. xx bb

Leave a Comment Cancel Comment

You May Also Like

22 March 2018

Spit Bridge to Manly: strolling through Sydney’s Northern Beaches

2 February 2019

Three Capes Track (day 2): Surveyors to Munro via Arthur’s Peak

20 September 2018

Driving the Legendary Pacific Coast (day 5): Burleigh Hill, Fingal Head & Byron Bay

hi, I’m brooke!

I'm obsessed with getting off the beaten path, exploring backcountry gems & travelling beyond the ordinary! I left Australia 5 years ago after finishing a PhD in Biomechanics & have been travelling the world full-time ever since (now joined by my life/climbing partner, James). I hope this blog will inspire your future adventures & help you find wonder in every corner of the globe. xx bb

read my story
currently exploring

currently exploring

mexico

read our gear guides

🥾 hiking boots

🎒 hiking backpacks

🌨️ cold-weather layers

⛺️ backpacking & alpine tents

🛌 sleeping bag & pads

🍪 backcountry food

📸 travel camera gear

✈️ travel clothing

trail guides

summit guides

itineraries

outdoor gear

GPS maps

recent posts

  • Climbing Iztaccíhuatl volcano

    2-week Mexico volcanoes itinerary: climbing Pico de Orizaba, Izta, Malinche & Toluca

    3 June 2025
  • Mexico City: the perfect 5-day itinerary for CDMX

    31 May 2025
  • Climbing Iztaccíhuatl volcano

    Driving in Mexico: essential road trip guide for foreigners

    28 May 2025
  • 10-day Rwanda road trip itinerary: gorillas, volcanoes & Lake Kivu

    25 May 2025
  • 2-week Patagonia itinerary: best of Torres del Paine & Los Glaciares/El Chaltén

    22 May 2025

@brookebeyond_
brooke ✨travel & mountain gal

@brookebeyond_

  • More than 200,000 people climb Mt Fuji every year, but only a few dozen in the winter— it’s a notoriously dangerous ascent on steep snow and ice with insane winds, music to my ears. 

It was a gorgeous day, blue skies, not another climber on the mountain (except for me and my partner), and by all accounts it was PERFECT conditions for a Fuji summit. But then those infamous winds picked up… 🌬️

By the time we were 100m below the summit, gusts were up to 60km/hr and we dropped onto the snow every few minutes, axes dug in to brace against wild wind that threatened to rip us right off the mountain. Fuji is just a big sheet of ice at the top and the final part of the climb is a very exposed ridgeline where a slip would be fatal. We put up a good fight, but in the end, there was absolutely no way to continue safely. So we made the call to turn around.

And although this is far from the first mountain I’ve failed to summit, it was probably the most painful. 

Knowing when to turn back is one of the most important skills in climbing, but it’s still one I struggle with— the feeling of being SO close, of “failing” because you didn’t stand on the summit, is such a challenge for me because I’ve tied so much of my self-worth, particularly as a young female climber, to being strong enough/tough enough to *keep pushing*

But pushing through dangerous conditions isn’t really admirable, it’s just stupid…

And when you’re so fixated on the end goal, it’s easy to feel like the effort & accomplishment of the other 2,500m don’t mean anything without the final 100m. 

But a climb is so much more than the summit. And our worth as climbers (or hikers or PEOPLE) cannot come only from the successes. It has to come from the genuine pursuit, too. From the moments we try our best and don’t quite make it. And certainly from the moments we are strong enough to accept “not this time, but hopefully sometime in the future”.

This was a lesson I didn’t really want but certainly needed in celebrating every metre— NOT just the final ones— and climbing like I care about (staying alive for) the next summit.

So cheers from climbing & not summiting Fuji, because that’s ok to celebrate too 🍻
  • NARA, JAPAN 🦌🌸

The first permanent capital of Japan in the 8th century, Nara is packed with ancient temples, mossy lanterns, and wide-open parks full of sacred deer, who are believed to be messengers of the gods!

Of course we’d seen seen videos of bowing deer on Instagram before visiting, but we spent 2 days in Nara and fell in love with so many parts of this charming little city (and yes, ALSO fell in love with the deer, who were even CUTER in person!!)

DIY walking tour highlights:
- Kofuku-ji Temple: 5-story pagoda & Buddhist temple from 730AD (rebuilt in 1426)
- Nara Park: the main deer zone 🦌 (look for shikadamari, deer clusters relaxing in the grass + buy bags of deer feed for a few hundred ¥!)
- Kasuga Taisha: 8th century Shinto shrine draped in wisteria & stone lanterns
- Todai-ji: home to the Great Buddha (16m tall, 437 tonnes of bronze!)
- Daibutsu-den Hall: built without nails, once the largest wooden structure on Earth
- Nandaimon Gate: Japan’s largest temple gate
- Yoshiki-en Garden: peaceful, perfect for shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)
- Nakatanidou: famous red-bean mochi, must try!
  • Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
  • FUJI FIVE LAKES 🌋🌸🎌

Just north of Mt Fuji & a few hours from Tokyo, this scenic region is made up of five volcanic lakes formed by ancient eruptions— Kawaguchi, Saiko, Yamanaka, Shoji & Motosu— all offering incredible vantage points of Japan’s most iconic mountain. Here’s how to explore ↯

GETTING HERE
Train 2hrs from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko (direct train every 30min; 2200¥ = $15)

GETTING AROUND
The Kawaguchiko Sightseeing Bus is a super easy hop-on-hop-off service that loops around Mt Fuji’s northern lakes and major sights (departing Kawaguchiko Station). Start with the Red Line and if you’ve got more time, transfer to the Green or Blue Lines for Lake Saiko and Lake Shoji (¥1,800 for 1-day pass = $12)

WHAT TO SEE
- Mt. Fuji Panorama Ropeway (900¥)
- Tenjosan Komitake Shrine
- Lake Shoji (quiet views along the lake shore)
- Lake Kawaguchi Excursion Boat (1000¥)
- Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan (traditional village & open-air museum)
- Kawaguchiko Train Station & Lawson (excellent views)
- hike/climb Mt Fuji, depending on the season!!

HOW MANY DAYS?
I spent 5 days in Fuji Five Lakes region (including a winter ascent of Mt Fuji ❄️), but most people will find 2–3 days plenty for sightseeing.

WHERE TO STAY
Kagelow Mt. Fuji Hostel was one of my favourite stays in Japan, with budget-friendly private pods or rooms, plus an awesome on-site restaurant, all an easy walk to the train station
  • QUICK GUIDE TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN TOKYO 🚆 

📲 the easiest way to tap on & off the metro in Tokyo is with a virtual SUICA transit card on Apple/Google Pay
—> go to the Wallet app
—> tap the + icon and select Transit Card
—> search for SUICA
—> add 1,000¥ to start (foreign VISA doesn’t work for some people, so use MasterCard or AMEX to add value to card)

💴 most inner-city trips cost 150-250¥ ($1-2)
—> with Suica loaded on Apple Pay, you’ll see the exact cost of your journey as soon as you tap off

🗺️ Google Maps is the absolute easiest way to navigate public transport in Tokyo. Some of the handy information provided:
—> entrance & exit directions— some of these stations are like small cities! Google Maps will tell you “enter at B15” or “exit 8” & these are always well signed around the station. 
—> which line you’re taking (ex. Maranuchi Line)— look for corresponding signs in the station
—> platform 
—> which train car to board for fastest exit
—> cost
  • tokyo on film ✌🏼

I almost always shoot mountain landscapes, so it was super fun taking my camera around the city (and editing with a film sim) to capture what it FEELS like to be in Tokyo.

📸 which is your favourite?? mine might be the 4th… but so hard to choose!
  • I don’t think I’ve ever arrived anywhere with higher expectations than I did Japan. 

For years, people have been appalled that I hadn’t been to Japan— a favourite country for just about everyone and therefore a glaring hole in my travel resume.

I’ve found myself gravitating more and more towards Latin America over the years, pulled to Europe for the climbing and occasionally to Africa for a bit of variety, but it’d been nearly a decade since I spent time in Asia. 

Even so, I’m not sure Japan can really be compared to these other places— the chaos of motorbiking through southern Vietnam, the wild jungle of barely inhabited Thai islands, the smoky shores of the Mekong River as it winds through Laos, the experience of train travel through China that I still don’t have an appropriate adjective for… Japan is a place entirely its own. 

And I finally understand why it has captivated the hearts of so many travellers.

Ok ok, I get it. Japan is mind-blowing, magical, incomparable, INCREDIBLE 🌸🇯🇵
  • I’ve been travelling the world full-time for nearly 5 years (with my fiancé for the last 2), and we explore 10-20 countries per year on an average budget of $80/day 💃🏻👏🏻✨

One of the ways we’ve found to maximise bucketlist travel on a budget is BALANCE— we can afford to stay in $3000/week Norwegian cabins because we also spend part of our year in AirBnbs that cost just $17 per night ($8.50 each)!!

** if you want to see a super-detailed breakdown of our spending as full-time travellers, check out the BUDGET highlight on my profile 💸
  • Your daily reminder to not always do what you’re told 🖕🏼

So many of the best experiences & adventures exist in the opportunities others can’t see yet or the freedom of blazing your own path 🔥
follow @brookebeyond_

travel beyond the ordinary

Explore my travel guides, custom itineraries & blog posts with an interactive world map ✨

all destinations

  • More than 200,000 people climb Mt Fuji every year, but only a few dozen in the winter— it’s a notoriously dangerous ascent on steep snow and ice with insane winds, music to my ears. 

It was a gorgeous day, blue skies, not another climber on the mountain (except for me and my partner), and by all accounts it was PERFECT conditions for a Fuji summit. But then those infamous winds picked up… 🌬️

By the time we were 100m below the summit, gusts were up to 60km/hr and we dropped onto the snow every few minutes, axes dug in to brace against wild wind that threatened to rip us right off the mountain. Fuji is just a big sheet of ice at the top and the final part of the climb is a very exposed ridgeline where a slip would be fatal. We put up a good fight, but in the end, there was absolutely no way to continue safely. So we made the call to turn around.

And although this is far from the first mountain I’ve failed to summit, it was probably the most painful. 

Knowing when to turn back is one of the most important skills in climbing, but it’s still one I struggle with— the feeling of being SO close, of “failing” because you didn’t stand on the summit, is such a challenge for me because I’ve tied so much of my self-worth, particularly as a young female climber, to being strong enough/tough enough to *keep pushing*

But pushing through dangerous conditions isn’t really admirable, it’s just stupid…

And when you’re so fixated on the end goal, it’s easy to feel like the effort & accomplishment of the other 2,500m don’t mean anything without the final 100m. 

But a climb is so much more than the summit. And our worth as climbers (or hikers or PEOPLE) cannot come only from the successes. It has to come from the genuine pursuit, too. From the moments we try our best and don’t quite make it. And certainly from the moments we are strong enough to accept “not this time, but hopefully sometime in the future”.

This was a lesson I didn’t really want but certainly needed in celebrating every metre— NOT just the final ones— and climbing like I care about (staying alive for) the next summit.

So cheers from climbing & not summiting Fuji, because that’s ok to celebrate too 🍻
  • NARA, JAPAN 🦌🌸

The first permanent capital of Japan in the 8th century, Nara is packed with ancient temples, mossy lanterns, and wide-open parks full of sacred deer, who are believed to be messengers of the gods!

Of course we’d seen seen videos of bowing deer on Instagram before visiting, but we spent 2 days in Nara and fell in love with so many parts of this charming little city (and yes, ALSO fell in love with the deer, who were even CUTER in person!!)

DIY walking tour highlights:
- Kofuku-ji Temple: 5-story pagoda & Buddhist temple from 730AD (rebuilt in 1426)
- Nara Park: the main deer zone 🦌 (look for shikadamari, deer clusters relaxing in the grass + buy bags of deer feed for a few hundred ¥!)
- Kasuga Taisha: 8th century Shinto shrine draped in wisteria & stone lanterns
- Todai-ji: home to the Great Buddha (16m tall, 437 tonnes of bronze!)
- Daibutsu-den Hall: built without nails, once the largest wooden structure on Earth
- Nandaimon Gate: Japan’s largest temple gate
- Yoshiki-en Garden: peaceful, perfect for shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)
- Nakatanidou: famous red-bean mochi, must try!
  • Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
  • FUJI FIVE LAKES 🌋🌸🎌

Just north of Mt Fuji & a few hours from Tokyo, this scenic region is made up of five volcanic lakes formed by ancient eruptions— Kawaguchi, Saiko, Yamanaka, Shoji & Motosu— all offering incredible vantage points of Japan’s most iconic mountain. Here’s how to explore ↯

GETTING HERE
Train 2hrs from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko (direct train every 30min; 2200¥ = $15)

GETTING AROUND
The Kawaguchiko Sightseeing Bus is a super easy hop-on-hop-off service that loops around Mt Fuji’s northern lakes and major sights (departing Kawaguchiko Station). Start with the Red Line and if you’ve got more time, transfer to the Green or Blue Lines for Lake Saiko and Lake Shoji (¥1,800 for 1-day pass = $12)

WHAT TO SEE
- Mt. Fuji Panorama Ropeway (900¥)
- Tenjosan Komitake Shrine
- Lake Shoji (quiet views along the lake shore)
- Lake Kawaguchi Excursion Boat (1000¥)
- Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan (traditional village & open-air museum)
- Kawaguchiko Train Station & Lawson (excellent views)
- hike/climb Mt Fuji, depending on the season!!

HOW MANY DAYS?
I spent 5 days in Fuji Five Lakes region (including a winter ascent of Mt Fuji ❄️), but most people will find 2–3 days plenty for sightseeing.

WHERE TO STAY
Kagelow Mt. Fuji Hostel was one of my favourite stays in Japan, with budget-friendly private pods or rooms, plus an awesome on-site restaurant, all an easy walk to the train station
  • QUICK GUIDE TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN TOKYO 🚆 

📲 the easiest way to tap on & off the metro in Tokyo is with a virtual SUICA transit card on Apple/Google Pay
—> go to the Wallet app
—> tap the + icon and select Transit Card
—> search for SUICA
—> add 1,000¥ to start (foreign VISA doesn’t work for some people, so use MasterCard or AMEX to add value to card)

💴 most inner-city trips cost 150-250¥ ($1-2)
—> with Suica loaded on Apple Pay, you’ll see the exact cost of your journey as soon as you tap off

🗺️ Google Maps is the absolute easiest way to navigate public transport in Tokyo. Some of the handy information provided:
—> entrance & exit directions— some of these stations are like small cities! Google Maps will tell you “enter at B15” or “exit 8” & these are always well signed around the station. 
—> which line you’re taking (ex. Maranuchi Line)— look for corresponding signs in the station
—> platform 
—> which train car to board for fastest exit
—> cost
@brookebeyond_
@brookebeyond_
•
Follow
More than 200,000 people climb Mt Fuji every year, but only a few dozen in the winter— it’s a notoriously dangerous ascent on steep snow and ice with insane winds, music to my ears. It was a gorgeous day, blue skies, not another climber on the mountain (except for me and my partner), and by all accounts it was PERFECT conditions for a Fuji summit. But then those infamous winds picked up… 🌬️ By the time we were 100m below the summit, gusts were up to 60km/hr and we dropped onto the snow every few minutes, axes dug in to brace against wild wind that threatened to rip us right off the mountain. Fuji is just a big sheet of ice at the top and the final part of the climb is a very exposed ridgeline where a slip would be fatal. We put up a good fight, but in the end, there was absolutely no way to continue safely. So we made the call to turn around. And although this is far from the first mountain I’ve failed to summit, it was probably the most painful. Knowing when to turn back is one of the most important skills in climbing, but it’s still one I struggle with— the feeling of being SO close, of “failing” because you didn’t stand on the summit, is such a challenge for me because I’ve tied so much of my self-worth, particularly as a young female climber, to being strong enough/tough enough to *keep pushing* But pushing through dangerous conditions isn’t really admirable, it’s just stupid… And when you’re so fixated on the end goal, it’s easy to feel like the effort & accomplishment of the other 2,500m don’t mean anything without the final 100m. But a climb is so much more than the summit. And our worth as climbers (or hikers or PEOPLE) cannot come only from the successes. It has to come from the genuine pursuit, too. From the moments we try our best and don’t quite make it. And certainly from the moments we are strong enough to accept “not this time, but hopefully sometime in the future”. This was a lesson I didn’t really want but certainly needed in celebrating every metre— NOT just the final ones— and climbing like I care about (staying alive for) the next summit. So cheers from climbing & not summiting Fuji, because that’s ok to celebrate too 🍻
12 hours ago
View on Instagram |
1/5
NARA, JAPAN 🦌🌸

The first permanent capital of Japan in the 8th century, Nara is packed with ancient temples, mossy lanterns, and wide-open parks full of sacred deer, who are believed to be messengers of the gods!

Of course we’d seen seen videos of bowing deer on Instagram before visiting, but we spent 2 days in Nara and fell in love with so many parts of this charming little city (and yes, ALSO fell in love with the deer, who were even CUTER in person!!)

DIY walking tour highlights:
- Kofuku-ji Temple: 5-story pagoda & Buddhist temple from 730AD (rebuilt in 1426)
- Nara Park: the main deer zone 🦌 (look for shikadamari, deer clusters relaxing in the grass + buy bags of deer feed for a few hundred ¥!)
- Kasuga Taisha: 8th century Shinto shrine draped in wisteria & stone lanterns
- Todai-ji: home to the Great Buddha (16m tall, 437 tonnes of bronze!)
- Daibutsu-den Hall: built without nails, once the largest wooden structure on Earth
- Nandaimon Gate: Japan’s largest temple gate
- Yoshiki-en Garden: peaceful, perfect for shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)
- Nakatanidou: famous red-bean mochi, must try!
NARA, JAPAN 🦌🌸

The first permanent capital of Japan in the 8th century, Nara is packed with ancient temples, mossy lanterns, and wide-open parks full of sacred deer, who are believed to be messengers of the gods!

Of course we’d seen seen videos of bowing deer on Instagram before visiting, but we spent 2 days in Nara and fell in love with so many parts of this charming little city (and yes, ALSO fell in love with the deer, who were even CUTER in person!!)

DIY walking tour highlights:
- Kofuku-ji Temple: 5-story pagoda & Buddhist temple from 730AD (rebuilt in 1426)
- Nara Park: the main deer zone 🦌 (look for shikadamari, deer clusters relaxing in the grass + buy bags of deer feed for a few hundred ¥!)
- Kasuga Taisha: 8th century Shinto shrine draped in wisteria & stone lanterns
- Todai-ji: home to the Great Buddha (16m tall, 437 tonnes of bronze!)
- Daibutsu-den Hall: built without nails, once the largest wooden structure on Earth
- Nandaimon Gate: Japan’s largest temple gate
- Yoshiki-en Garden: peaceful, perfect for shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)
- Nakatanidou: famous red-bean mochi, must try!
NARA, JAPAN 🦌🌸

The first permanent capital of Japan in the 8th century, Nara is packed with ancient temples, mossy lanterns, and wide-open parks full of sacred deer, who are believed to be messengers of the gods!

Of course we’d seen seen videos of bowing deer on Instagram before visiting, but we spent 2 days in Nara and fell in love with so many parts of this charming little city (and yes, ALSO fell in love with the deer, who were even CUTER in person!!)

DIY walking tour highlights:
- Kofuku-ji Temple: 5-story pagoda & Buddhist temple from 730AD (rebuilt in 1426)
- Nara Park: the main deer zone 🦌 (look for shikadamari, deer clusters relaxing in the grass + buy bags of deer feed for a few hundred ¥!)
- Kasuga Taisha: 8th century Shinto shrine draped in wisteria & stone lanterns
- Todai-ji: home to the Great Buddha (16m tall, 437 tonnes of bronze!)
- Daibutsu-den Hall: built without nails, once the largest wooden structure on Earth
- Nandaimon Gate: Japan’s largest temple gate
- Yoshiki-en Garden: peaceful, perfect for shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)
- Nakatanidou: famous red-bean mochi, must try!
NARA, JAPAN 🦌🌸

The first permanent capital of Japan in the 8th century, Nara is packed with ancient temples, mossy lanterns, and wide-open parks full of sacred deer, who are believed to be messengers of the gods!

Of course we’d seen seen videos of bowing deer on Instagram before visiting, but we spent 2 days in Nara and fell in love with so many parts of this charming little city (and yes, ALSO fell in love with the deer, who were even CUTER in person!!)

DIY walking tour highlights:
- Kofuku-ji Temple: 5-story pagoda & Buddhist temple from 730AD (rebuilt in 1426)
- Nara Park: the main deer zone 🦌 (look for shikadamari, deer clusters relaxing in the grass + buy bags of deer feed for a few hundred ¥!)
- Kasuga Taisha: 8th century Shinto shrine draped in wisteria & stone lanterns
- Todai-ji: home to the Great Buddha (16m tall, 437 tonnes of bronze!)
- Daibutsu-den Hall: built without nails, once the largest wooden structure on Earth
- Nandaimon Gate: Japan’s largest temple gate
- Yoshiki-en Garden: peaceful, perfect for shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)
- Nakatanidou: famous red-bean mochi, must try!
NARA, JAPAN 🦌🌸

The first permanent capital of Japan in the 8th century, Nara is packed with ancient temples, mossy lanterns, and wide-open parks full of sacred deer, who are believed to be messengers of the gods!

Of course we’d seen seen videos of bowing deer on Instagram before visiting, but we spent 2 days in Nara and fell in love with so many parts of this charming little city (and yes, ALSO fell in love with the deer, who were even CUTER in person!!)

DIY walking tour highlights:
- Kofuku-ji Temple: 5-story pagoda & Buddhist temple from 730AD (rebuilt in 1426)
- Nara Park: the main deer zone 🦌 (look for shikadamari, deer clusters relaxing in the grass + buy bags of deer feed for a few hundred ¥!)
- Kasuga Taisha: 8th century Shinto shrine draped in wisteria & stone lanterns
- Todai-ji: home to the Great Buddha (16m tall, 437 tonnes of bronze!)
- Daibutsu-den Hall: built without nails, once the largest wooden structure on Earth
- Nandaimon Gate: Japan’s largest temple gate
- Yoshiki-en Garden: peaceful, perfect for shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)
- Nakatanidou: famous red-bean mochi, must try!
NARA, JAPAN 🦌🌸

The first permanent capital of Japan in the 8th century, Nara is packed with ancient temples, mossy lanterns, and wide-open parks full of sacred deer, who are believed to be messengers of the gods!

Of course we’d seen seen videos of bowing deer on Instagram before visiting, but we spent 2 days in Nara and fell in love with so many parts of this charming little city (and yes, ALSO fell in love with the deer, who were even CUTER in person!!)

DIY walking tour highlights:
- Kofuku-ji Temple: 5-story pagoda & Buddhist temple from 730AD (rebuilt in 1426)
- Nara Park: the main deer zone 🦌 (look for shikadamari, deer clusters relaxing in the grass + buy bags of deer feed for a few hundred ¥!)
- Kasuga Taisha: 8th century Shinto shrine draped in wisteria & stone lanterns
- Todai-ji: home to the Great Buddha (16m tall, 437 tonnes of bronze!)
- Daibutsu-den Hall: built without nails, once the largest wooden structure on Earth
- Nandaimon Gate: Japan’s largest temple gate
- Yoshiki-en Garden: peaceful, perfect for shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)
- Nakatanidou: famous red-bean mochi, must try!
NARA, JAPAN 🦌🌸

The first permanent capital of Japan in the 8th century, Nara is packed with ancient temples, mossy lanterns, and wide-open parks full of sacred deer, who are believed to be messengers of the gods!

Of course we’d seen seen videos of bowing deer on Instagram before visiting, but we spent 2 days in Nara and fell in love with so many parts of this charming little city (and yes, ALSO fell in love with the deer, who were even CUTER in person!!)

DIY walking tour highlights:
- Kofuku-ji Temple: 5-story pagoda & Buddhist temple from 730AD (rebuilt in 1426)
- Nara Park: the main deer zone 🦌 (look for shikadamari, deer clusters relaxing in the grass + buy bags of deer feed for a few hundred ¥!)
- Kasuga Taisha: 8th century Shinto shrine draped in wisteria & stone lanterns
- Todai-ji: home to the Great Buddha (16m tall, 437 tonnes of bronze!)
- Daibutsu-den Hall: built without nails, once the largest wooden structure on Earth
- Nandaimon Gate: Japan’s largest temple gate
- Yoshiki-en Garden: peaceful, perfect for shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)
- Nakatanidou: famous red-bean mochi, must try!
NARA, JAPAN 🦌🌸

The first permanent capital of Japan in the 8th century, Nara is packed with ancient temples, mossy lanterns, and wide-open parks full of sacred deer, who are believed to be messengers of the gods!

Of course we’d seen seen videos of bowing deer on Instagram before visiting, but we spent 2 days in Nara and fell in love with so many parts of this charming little city (and yes, ALSO fell in love with the deer, who were even CUTER in person!!)

DIY walking tour highlights:
- Kofuku-ji Temple: 5-story pagoda & Buddhist temple from 730AD (rebuilt in 1426)
- Nara Park: the main deer zone 🦌 (look for shikadamari, deer clusters relaxing in the grass + buy bags of deer feed for a few hundred ¥!)
- Kasuga Taisha: 8th century Shinto shrine draped in wisteria & stone lanterns
- Todai-ji: home to the Great Buddha (16m tall, 437 tonnes of bronze!)
- Daibutsu-den Hall: built without nails, once the largest wooden structure on Earth
- Nandaimon Gate: Japan’s largest temple gate
- Yoshiki-en Garden: peaceful, perfect for shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)
- Nakatanidou: famous red-bean mochi, must try!
NARA, JAPAN 🦌🌸

The first permanent capital of Japan in the 8th century, Nara is packed with ancient temples, mossy lanterns, and wide-open parks full of sacred deer, who are believed to be messengers of the gods!

Of course we’d seen seen videos of bowing deer on Instagram before visiting, but we spent 2 days in Nara and fell in love with so many parts of this charming little city (and yes, ALSO fell in love with the deer, who were even CUTER in person!!)

DIY walking tour highlights:
- Kofuku-ji Temple: 5-story pagoda & Buddhist temple from 730AD (rebuilt in 1426)
- Nara Park: the main deer zone 🦌 (look for shikadamari, deer clusters relaxing in the grass + buy bags of deer feed for a few hundred ¥!)
- Kasuga Taisha: 8th century Shinto shrine draped in wisteria & stone lanterns
- Todai-ji: home to the Great Buddha (16m tall, 437 tonnes of bronze!)
- Daibutsu-den Hall: built without nails, once the largest wooden structure on Earth
- Nandaimon Gate: Japan’s largest temple gate
- Yoshiki-en Garden: peaceful, perfect for shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)
- Nakatanidou: famous red-bean mochi, must try!
NARA, JAPAN 🦌🌸

The first permanent capital of Japan in the 8th century, Nara is packed with ancient temples, mossy lanterns, and wide-open parks full of sacred deer, who are believed to be messengers of the gods!

Of course we’d seen seen videos of bowing deer on Instagram before visiting, but we spent 2 days in Nara and fell in love with so many parts of this charming little city (and yes, ALSO fell in love with the deer, who were even CUTER in person!!)

DIY walking tour highlights:
- Kofuku-ji Temple: 5-story pagoda & Buddhist temple from 730AD (rebuilt in 1426)
- Nara Park: the main deer zone 🦌 (look for shikadamari, deer clusters relaxing in the grass + buy bags of deer feed for a few hundred ¥!)
- Kasuga Taisha: 8th century Shinto shrine draped in wisteria & stone lanterns
- Todai-ji: home to the Great Buddha (16m tall, 437 tonnes of bronze!)
- Daibutsu-den Hall: built without nails, once the largest wooden structure on Earth
- Nandaimon Gate: Japan’s largest temple gate
- Yoshiki-en Garden: peaceful, perfect for shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)
- Nakatanidou: famous red-bean mochi, must try!
NARA, JAPAN 🦌🌸

The first permanent capital of Japan in the 8th century, Nara is packed with ancient temples, mossy lanterns, and wide-open parks full of sacred deer, who are believed to be messengers of the gods!

Of course we’d seen seen videos of bowing deer on Instagram before visiting, but we spent 2 days in Nara and fell in love with so many parts of this charming little city (and yes, ALSO fell in love with the deer, who were even CUTER in person!!)

DIY walking tour highlights:
- Kofuku-ji Temple: 5-story pagoda & Buddhist temple from 730AD (rebuilt in 1426)
- Nara Park: the main deer zone 🦌 (look for shikadamari, deer clusters relaxing in the grass + buy bags of deer feed for a few hundred ¥!)
- Kasuga Taisha: 8th century Shinto shrine draped in wisteria & stone lanterns
- Todai-ji: home to the Great Buddha (16m tall, 437 tonnes of bronze!)
- Daibutsu-den Hall: built without nails, once the largest wooden structure on Earth
- Nandaimon Gate: Japan’s largest temple gate
- Yoshiki-en Garden: peaceful, perfect for shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)
- Nakatanidou: famous red-bean mochi, must try!
NARA, JAPAN 🦌🌸

The first permanent capital of Japan in the 8th century, Nara is packed with ancient temples, mossy lanterns, and wide-open parks full of sacred deer, who are believed to be messengers of the gods!

Of course we’d seen seen videos of bowing deer on Instagram before visiting, but we spent 2 days in Nara and fell in love with so many parts of this charming little city (and yes, ALSO fell in love with the deer, who were even CUTER in person!!)

DIY walking tour highlights:
- Kofuku-ji Temple: 5-story pagoda & Buddhist temple from 730AD (rebuilt in 1426)
- Nara Park: the main deer zone 🦌 (look for shikadamari, deer clusters relaxing in the grass + buy bags of deer feed for a few hundred ¥!)
- Kasuga Taisha: 8th century Shinto shrine draped in wisteria & stone lanterns
- Todai-ji: home to the Great Buddha (16m tall, 437 tonnes of bronze!)
- Daibutsu-den Hall: built without nails, once the largest wooden structure on Earth
- Nandaimon Gate: Japan’s largest temple gate
- Yoshiki-en Garden: peaceful, perfect for shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)
- Nakatanidou: famous red-bean mochi, must try!
NARA, JAPAN 🦌🌸

The first permanent capital of Japan in the 8th century, Nara is packed with ancient temples, mossy lanterns, and wide-open parks full of sacred deer, who are believed to be messengers of the gods!

Of course we’d seen seen videos of bowing deer on Instagram before visiting, but we spent 2 days in Nara and fell in love with so many parts of this charming little city (and yes, ALSO fell in love with the deer, who were even CUTER in person!!)

DIY walking tour highlights:
- Kofuku-ji Temple: 5-story pagoda & Buddhist temple from 730AD (rebuilt in 1426)
- Nara Park: the main deer zone 🦌 (look for shikadamari, deer clusters relaxing in the grass + buy bags of deer feed for a few hundred ¥!)
- Kasuga Taisha: 8th century Shinto shrine draped in wisteria & stone lanterns
- Todai-ji: home to the Great Buddha (16m tall, 437 tonnes of bronze!)
- Daibutsu-den Hall: built without nails, once the largest wooden structure on Earth
- Nandaimon Gate: Japan’s largest temple gate
- Yoshiki-en Garden: peaceful, perfect for shinrin-yoku (forest bathing)
- Nakatanidou: famous red-bean mochi, must try!
@brookebeyond_
@brookebeyond_
•
Follow
NARA, JAPAN 🦌🌸 The first permanent capital of Japan in the 8th century, Nara is packed with ancient temples, mossy lanterns, and wide-open parks full of sacred deer, who are believed to be messengers of the gods! Of course we’d seen seen videos of bowing deer on Instagram before visiting, but we spent 2 days in Nara and fell in love with so many parts of this charming little city (and yes, ALSO fell in love with the deer, who were even CUTER in person!!) DIY walking tour highlights: - Kofuku-ji Temple: 5-story pagoda & Buddhist temple from 730AD (rebuilt in 1426) - Nara Park: the main deer zone 🦌 (look for shikadamari, deer clusters relaxing in the grass + buy bags of deer feed for a few hundred ¥!) - Kasuga Taisha: 8th century Shinto shrine draped in wisteria & stone lanterns - Todai-ji: home to the Great Buddha (16m tall, 437 tonnes of bronze!) - Daibutsu-den Hall: built without nails, once the largest wooden structure on Earth - Nandaimon Gate: Japan’s largest temple gate - Yoshiki-en Garden: peaceful, perfect for shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) - Nakatanidou: famous red-bean mochi, must try!
1 day ago
View on Instagram |
2/5
Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos.

2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future!

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
@brookebeyond_
@brookebeyond_
•
Follow
Tokyo is the largest city in the world and it is many, MANY things all at once— steeped in history, dominated by incredible cuisine, bursting with alt-culture… an electric mosaic of tradition, innovation, and chaos. 2 weeks was hardly enough time to scrape the surface of the city (and 20 photos was not even close to enough for this round-up!!!), but we will 100% be back for more Tokyo magic in the future! In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite things to do in Tokyo 😍🌸🍜
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
3/5
FUJI FIVE LAKES 🌋🌸🎌

Just north of Mt Fuji & a few hours from Tokyo, this scenic region is made up of five volcanic lakes formed by ancient eruptions— Kawaguchi, Saiko, Yamanaka, Shoji & Motosu— all offering incredible vantage points of Japan’s most iconic mountain. Here’s how to explore ↯

GETTING HERE
Train 2hrs from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko (direct train every 30min; 2200¥ = $15)

GETTING AROUND
The Kawaguchiko Sightseeing Bus is a super easy hop-on-hop-off service that loops around Mt Fuji’s northern lakes and major sights (departing Kawaguchiko Station). Start with the Red Line and if you’ve got more time, transfer to the Green or Blue Lines for Lake Saiko and Lake Shoji (¥1,800 for 1-day pass = $12)

WHAT TO SEE
- Mt. Fuji Panorama Ropeway (900¥)
- Tenjosan Komitake Shrine
- Lake Shoji (quiet views along the lake shore)
- Lake Kawaguchi Excursion Boat (1000¥)
- Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan (traditional village & open-air museum)
- Kawaguchiko Train Station & Lawson (excellent views)
- hike/climb Mt Fuji, depending on the season!!

HOW MANY DAYS?
I spent 5 days in Fuji Five Lakes region (including a winter ascent of Mt Fuji ❄️), but most people will find 2–3 days plenty for sightseeing.

WHERE TO STAY
Kagelow Mt. Fuji Hostel was one of my favourite stays in Japan, with budget-friendly private pods or rooms, plus an awesome on-site restaurant, all an easy walk to the train station
FUJI FIVE LAKES 🌋🌸🎌

Just north of Mt Fuji & a few hours from Tokyo, this scenic region is made up of five volcanic lakes formed by ancient eruptions— Kawaguchi, Saiko, Yamanaka, Shoji & Motosu— all offering incredible vantage points of Japan’s most iconic mountain. Here’s how to explore ↯

GETTING HERE
Train 2hrs from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko (direct train every 30min; 2200¥ = $15)

GETTING AROUND
The Kawaguchiko Sightseeing Bus is a super easy hop-on-hop-off service that loops around Mt Fuji’s northern lakes and major sights (departing Kawaguchiko Station). Start with the Red Line and if you’ve got more time, transfer to the Green or Blue Lines for Lake Saiko and Lake Shoji (¥1,800 for 1-day pass = $12)

WHAT TO SEE
- Mt. Fuji Panorama Ropeway (900¥)
- Tenjosan Komitake Shrine
- Lake Shoji (quiet views along the lake shore)
- Lake Kawaguchi Excursion Boat (1000¥)
- Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan (traditional village & open-air museum)
- Kawaguchiko Train Station & Lawson (excellent views)
- hike/climb Mt Fuji, depending on the season!!

HOW MANY DAYS?
I spent 5 days in Fuji Five Lakes region (including a winter ascent of Mt Fuji ❄️), but most people will find 2–3 days plenty for sightseeing.

WHERE TO STAY
Kagelow Mt. Fuji Hostel was one of my favourite stays in Japan, with budget-friendly private pods or rooms, plus an awesome on-site restaurant, all an easy walk to the train station
FUJI FIVE LAKES 🌋🌸🎌

Just north of Mt Fuji & a few hours from Tokyo, this scenic region is made up of five volcanic lakes formed by ancient eruptions— Kawaguchi, Saiko, Yamanaka, Shoji & Motosu— all offering incredible vantage points of Japan’s most iconic mountain. Here’s how to explore ↯

GETTING HERE
Train 2hrs from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko (direct train every 30min; 2200¥ = $15)

GETTING AROUND
The Kawaguchiko Sightseeing Bus is a super easy hop-on-hop-off service that loops around Mt Fuji’s northern lakes and major sights (departing Kawaguchiko Station). Start with the Red Line and if you’ve got more time, transfer to the Green or Blue Lines for Lake Saiko and Lake Shoji (¥1,800 for 1-day pass = $12)

WHAT TO SEE
- Mt. Fuji Panorama Ropeway (900¥)
- Tenjosan Komitake Shrine
- Lake Shoji (quiet views along the lake shore)
- Lake Kawaguchi Excursion Boat (1000¥)
- Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan (traditional village & open-air museum)
- Kawaguchiko Train Station & Lawson (excellent views)
- hike/climb Mt Fuji, depending on the season!!

HOW MANY DAYS?
I spent 5 days in Fuji Five Lakes region (including a winter ascent of Mt Fuji ❄️), but most people will find 2–3 days plenty for sightseeing.

WHERE TO STAY
Kagelow Mt. Fuji Hostel was one of my favourite stays in Japan, with budget-friendly private pods or rooms, plus an awesome on-site restaurant, all an easy walk to the train station
FUJI FIVE LAKES 🌋🌸🎌

Just north of Mt Fuji & a few hours from Tokyo, this scenic region is made up of five volcanic lakes formed by ancient eruptions— Kawaguchi, Saiko, Yamanaka, Shoji & Motosu— all offering incredible vantage points of Japan’s most iconic mountain. Here’s how to explore ↯

GETTING HERE
Train 2hrs from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko (direct train every 30min; 2200¥ = $15)

GETTING AROUND
The Kawaguchiko Sightseeing Bus is a super easy hop-on-hop-off service that loops around Mt Fuji’s northern lakes and major sights (departing Kawaguchiko Station). Start with the Red Line and if you’ve got more time, transfer to the Green or Blue Lines for Lake Saiko and Lake Shoji (¥1,800 for 1-day pass = $12)

WHAT TO SEE
- Mt. Fuji Panorama Ropeway (900¥)
- Tenjosan Komitake Shrine
- Lake Shoji (quiet views along the lake shore)
- Lake Kawaguchi Excursion Boat (1000¥)
- Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan (traditional village & open-air museum)
- Kawaguchiko Train Station & Lawson (excellent views)
- hike/climb Mt Fuji, depending on the season!!

HOW MANY DAYS?
I spent 5 days in Fuji Five Lakes region (including a winter ascent of Mt Fuji ❄️), but most people will find 2–3 days plenty for sightseeing.

WHERE TO STAY
Kagelow Mt. Fuji Hostel was one of my favourite stays in Japan, with budget-friendly private pods or rooms, plus an awesome on-site restaurant, all an easy walk to the train station
FUJI FIVE LAKES 🌋🌸🎌

Just north of Mt Fuji & a few hours from Tokyo, this scenic region is made up of five volcanic lakes formed by ancient eruptions— Kawaguchi, Saiko, Yamanaka, Shoji & Motosu— all offering incredible vantage points of Japan’s most iconic mountain. Here’s how to explore ↯

GETTING HERE
Train 2hrs from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko (direct train every 30min; 2200¥ = $15)

GETTING AROUND
The Kawaguchiko Sightseeing Bus is a super easy hop-on-hop-off service that loops around Mt Fuji’s northern lakes and major sights (departing Kawaguchiko Station). Start with the Red Line and if you’ve got more time, transfer to the Green or Blue Lines for Lake Saiko and Lake Shoji (¥1,800 for 1-day pass = $12)

WHAT TO SEE
- Mt. Fuji Panorama Ropeway (900¥)
- Tenjosan Komitake Shrine
- Lake Shoji (quiet views along the lake shore)
- Lake Kawaguchi Excursion Boat (1000¥)
- Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan (traditional village & open-air museum)
- Kawaguchiko Train Station & Lawson (excellent views)
- hike/climb Mt Fuji, depending on the season!!

HOW MANY DAYS?
I spent 5 days in Fuji Five Lakes region (including a winter ascent of Mt Fuji ❄️), but most people will find 2–3 days plenty for sightseeing.

WHERE TO STAY
Kagelow Mt. Fuji Hostel was one of my favourite stays in Japan, with budget-friendly private pods or rooms, plus an awesome on-site restaurant, all an easy walk to the train station
@brookebeyond_
@brookebeyond_
•
Follow
FUJI FIVE LAKES 🌋🌸🎌 Just north of Mt Fuji & a few hours from Tokyo, this scenic region is made up of five volcanic lakes formed by ancient eruptions— Kawaguchi, Saiko, Yamanaka, Shoji & Motosu— all offering incredible vantage points of Japan’s most iconic mountain. Here’s how to explore ↯ GETTING HERE Train 2hrs from Shinjuku to Kawaguchiko (direct train every 30min; 2200¥ = $15) GETTING AROUND The Kawaguchiko Sightseeing Bus is a super easy hop-on-hop-off service that loops around Mt Fuji’s northern lakes and major sights (departing Kawaguchiko Station). Start with the Red Line and if you’ve got more time, transfer to the Green or Blue Lines for Lake Saiko and Lake Shoji (¥1,800 for 1-day pass = $12) WHAT TO SEE - Mt. Fuji Panorama Ropeway (900¥) - Tenjosan Komitake Shrine - Lake Shoji (quiet views along the lake shore) - Lake Kawaguchi Excursion Boat (1000¥) - Hannoki Bayashi Shiryokan (traditional village & open-air museum) - Kawaguchiko Train Station & Lawson (excellent views) - hike/climb Mt Fuji, depending on the season!! HOW MANY DAYS? I spent 5 days in Fuji Five Lakes region (including a winter ascent of Mt Fuji ❄️), but most people will find 2–3 days plenty for sightseeing. WHERE TO STAY Kagelow Mt. Fuji Hostel was one of my favourite stays in Japan, with budget-friendly private pods or rooms, plus an awesome on-site restaurant, all an easy walk to the train station
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
4/5
@brookebeyond_
@brookebeyond_
•
Follow
QUICK GUIDE TO PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN TOKYO 🚆 📲 the easiest way to tap on & off the metro in Tokyo is with a virtual SUICA transit card on Apple/Google Pay —> go to the Wallet app —> tap the + icon and select Transit Card —> search for SUICA —> add 1,000¥ to start (foreign VISA doesn’t work for some people, so use MasterCard or AMEX to add value to card) 💴 most inner-city trips cost 150-250¥ ($1-2) —> with Suica loaded on Apple Pay, you’ll see the exact cost of your journey as soon as you tap off 🗺️ Google Maps is the absolute easiest way to navigate public transport in Tokyo. Some of the handy information provided: —> entrance & exit directions— some of these stations are like small cities! Google Maps will tell you “enter at B15” or “exit 8” & these are always well signed around the station. —> which line you’re taking (ex. Maranuchi Line)— look for corresponding signs in the station —> platform —> which train car to board for fastest exit —> cost
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
5/5

  • start here
  • about
  • group trips
  • destinations
  • hiking guides
  • outdoor gear
  • custom GPS maps
  • privacy
  • contact

COPYRIGHT © 2025 BROOKE BEYOND. TRAVEL BEYOND THE ORDINARY. Site Powered by Pix & Hue.

 

Loading Comments...