fbpx
    • Spring
      • video

        Finding the Flow from Kansai to Kochi

        Shikoku’s many mountains, valleys and proximity to the ocean has made it a hidden gem for rafting, kayaking and canyoning enthusiasts willing to take a step or two further from the Golden Route of Kyoto and Osaka.

        Solace and Giant Salamanders in Akiota

        Just beyond Hiroshima City is a tranquil outdoor destination home to some of Japan's last remaining oosanshouo, the elusive giant salamander.
        Kyoto Oni Trail Outdoor Japanvideo

        The Oni Trail: Hiking Coastal Kyoto

        The mystical oni is prevalent in Japanese children’s stories, usually as a way to scare kids straight. Adventure Travel Kyoto is shedding a new light on this folklore and developing a new hiking route in the countryside of Kyoto.
    • Summer
      • the nomad pasche family

        The World is Our Playground

        The Pasche family has been cycling and living out of a tent in remote corners of the planet for the past 13 years on four continents spanning 50 countries.
        adventure travel world summit in hokkaido

        Adventure Travel World Summit in Hokkaido

        The ATTA will host their first Adventure Travel World Summit in Asia in Hokkaido, Japan. We caught up with ATTA Director Shannon Stowell to find out more about the adventure travel industry and how it continues to grow and evolve.
        mead brewing in japan

        The Sweet Secrets of Brewing Mead

        Wander into the world of mead brewing and find yourself immersed in a fascinating journey spanning centuries and continents.
        the knights in white lycra

        The Knights in White Lycra

        Each year a group of cyclists head to the deep north towards Tohoku’s vast rice fields and coastal trails to help transform the lives of neglected children.
        sea to table yamagata

        Sea to Table in Yamagata

        An unforgettable way to intimately explore the Shonai Region in Yamagata is a culinary experience bringing bounty of the sea straight to your table.
    • Autumn
    • Winter
    • Near Tokyo
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Near Kyoto
    • All Regions
    • Article Map
    • Ocean and Beach
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • River and Lake
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Mountain and Land
    • Sky
      • getting dirty in japan

        Getting Dirty in Japan

        “Getting Dirty in Japan” is about getting out of your comfort zone and into some exciting outdoor adventures and destinations in Japan.
    • Snow and Ice
      • climbing mt. fuji off season

        Mt. Fuji: The Path Less Traveled

        Fuji-san is the most climbed mountain in the world. If you are in good shape, there is a way to avoid the traffic for a more peaceful Mt. Fuji experience during the off-season.
    • Travel
      • the nomad pasche family

        The World is Our Playground

        The Pasche family has been cycling and living out of a tent in remote corners of the planet for the past 13 years on four continents spanning 50 countries.
    • Food and Drinks
      • the nomad pasche family

        The World is Our Playground

        The Pasche family has been cycling and living out of a tent in remote corners of the planet for the past 13 years on four continents spanning 50 countries.
    • Races and Events
      • dd4d brewing

        DD4D Brewing

        In nearly e...
        fuji rock japan

        2023 Summer Music Festivals

        Get into the groove this green season while enjoying the great outdoors with family and friends.
        Summer Events Fireworks Festivals in Japan

        2023 Fireworks Festivals in Japan

        Enjoy these fireworks festivals held throughout Japan this summer and autumn.

Natural Mystic or The Naked Truth

A sun-blackened hand reached out and presented a busted up old bowl filled to the brim with small green fruits. As I looked up, I found myself face-to-face with a buck-naked man whose wrinkled face was constricted into a tight pucker indicating the sour taste of the shikuasa  fruit in the bowl. With cheeks full of this tropical lemon, he spouted out, “The bugs come out at 6, so you’d be best to be in your tent then,” and vanished back into his cramped quarters.

This was neither the backwoods of the Amazon nor a scene from the Stone Age. Rather, he’s just a modern-day guy Japanese living naked in Japan.

Miho, my travel companion, and I were sea-kayaking in Okinawa and had just pulled ashore on one of the small, outlying islands. It was then the aforementioned “bloke in the buff” approached us. Were we in the city, he would have been carried off in a heartbeat. Within the beauty of nature, it felt more embarrassing to be blushing at the sight of him.

Just up from the beach, in the first glade of trees, stood his “forest palace,” about the size of three four-person tents. There was a place to catch rain-water, another for storing food, a kitchen area and sleeping quarters – not much space to spare, but quite cozy.

The “road” from his home to the beach was the only tramped down portion of the wood, so he kindly picked out a comfortable section of ground for us, and we pitched our tent.

As the sun dipped into the horizon, Miho and I toasted the slow, yet steadily, changing palette of colors in the sunset with a beer. The man then kindly brought our sea-kayak up to our campsite.

There was none of the usual note-passing or sign language between us. Although some gestures were made, most of our communication felt closer to some sort of instinctual telepathy. There was something spiritual about him, as if he was in touch with the sea, sky and living things around him.

At last the clock struck 6 and from out of nowhere a black cloud of mosquito-like insects as big as your thumb swooped in from across the sea. This swarm of bugs was intimidating enough to buckle your knees, and we were stumped as to what would happen next. Then after some time, the legion was gone as quickly as it had come.

“What the…?”

Miho and I were awestruck at how he could predict such a precise time without the benefit of a watch.

We again raised our slightly warm beers to the beauty of the moon as it glowed across the mirror-like surface of the water. We were delighted to realize this was spring tide and a full moon. The tide slowly made its way up the beach before we finally noticed it right at the edge of our tent.

We hurriedly gathered our things and piled them inside; however, just as we were about to be overrun, the waters began to recede. We would have been flooded if the old man had not picked the spot for us.

The next day our well-exposed friend sent us off in fine fashion. Sadly, though, we struck a reef on our way out to sea, tearing a hole in the boat. Forced to check the tide forecast on our cell phones, we couldn’t help thinking how nice it would be to have “natural sensors” like the old man rather than relying on the digital world.

[novo-map id=2 individual=”yes”]

Outdoor Japan logo tree

Related

Latest posts

Categories