Send us a text

In Episode 50 of the podcast I speak with Marcus Consolini, owner and general manager of Daimon Shuzo - a 200 year old sake brewery in Osaka - and board member of the Minka Preservation Society. Marcus has hands on experience in the restoration of multiple historical properties in Japan including the brewery, private residences and other buildings. Given that experience, Marcus is an ideal guest to speak about the process of acquiring and renovating ‘kominka’ (traditional houses) and other historical buildings.

Marcus breakdowns the process of selecting the right property and determining how you will renovate it, including key questions to ask along the way. He categories the types of owners he has encountered and how principles including passion, thick skin and patience underscore yet also risk the success of every renovation. Marcus goes on to propose a working model based on three key focuses - evaluation, design and build - and the dynamic between the architect, designer and builder it is the carpenter that wins.

This episode will be of interest to anyone interested in acquiring a historical / heritage home in Japan or perhaps you are already in the process or have done so yourself. It builds upon Episode 43 and Episode 48, my interviews with fellow Minka Preservation Society board members, Lauren Scharf and Vincent Ing. For more information, visit the Minka Preservation Society website or Instagram and for further information about the brewery, visit the Daimon Shuzo website or Instagram.

A big thank you to Marcus for making time to speak with me and providing the images used in support of this episode. This episode is the last of Season 4. I will announce the return date of the podcast as soon as possible. In the meantime, I will republish popular episodes from Season 3. I hope you enjoy.

Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a text

Episode 49 of the podcast takes us to the smallest of Japan’s four main islands, Shikoku, and onto the Shikoku Henro. Associated with the life and teachings of legendary Buddhist monk Kūkai - also known as Kōbō Daishi – the Shikoku Henro is an 88 temple, 1200km / 745 mile pilgrimage circuit that circumambulates the island. Long-known by Japanese, “the Henro” is increasingly popular for international visitors with many people traveling to Japan specifically to walk a section or the complete trail.

Our guide in exploring the Henro today is guest Kōei Ervin. Kōei is an ordained priest in the Shingon tradition of Japanese Buddhism, Shugendō practitioner, and tour guide with Shikoku Tours including accompanying guests along the Henro. Kōei’s depth of knowledge of the Henro and Japanese Buddhism is self-evident, and as a guide, he weaves an engaging and accessible story regarding the history of the trail, why people walk it, what to expect, traditional clothing and basic logistics of accommodation and when to do it.

For more information about the Shikoku Henro, visit the Henro.org website, Shikoku Tourism website or Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage website. For guided tours with Kōei, visit the Shikoku Tours website or contact him via his Scattered Blossoms blog or his Instagram. During the interview, Kōei makes several recommendations including the revised Shikoku Japan 88 Route Guide Book, Ohenro San Facebook Group, Shikoku 88 Ohenro Pilgrimage Facebook Group and Sumotoriya Asano supply store.

A very big thank you to Kōei for making time to speak with me and for providing the images used in support of the episode. I hope you enjoy.

Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a text

In Episode 48 we travel to rural Kyoto Prefecture to speak with Vincent Ng, otherwise known on Instagram as Kyoto Insider. As Kyoto Insider, Vince documents his life in rural Kyoto, and in doing so, explores the interconnection of food chain origins while showing off his lifestyle. He is hands on in that exploration, embracing all aspects of rural life. Fishing, farming and hunting all feature heavily and reflect the realities and opportunities of life in rural Japan and how food is produced, procured and traded within communities, while also reflecting the idyllic beauty of that part of Kyoto Prefecture.

Vince is actively involved in the revitalisation of his village, performing many roles and working to attract prospective migrants as a rural tourism and migration consultant. In addition, he is the Managing Director of Ipanshadan Houjin Minka Preservation Society – an organisation dedicated to the conservation of Japan’s wonderful heritage and historical homes. As such, Vince is a wonderful advocate for the lifestyle available in rural Japan while also conveying a realistic understanding of what to expect and how to go about transitioning to life in the countryside.

Thank you for Vince for making time to speak with me and for sharing the images used in support of this episode. For more information and to follow Vince, make sure to check out his profile as Kyoto Insider on Instagram along with the Minka Preservation Society website.

Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a text

In Episode 47 I speak with Reverend Dr. TK Nakagaki. Rev. Dr. Nakagaki is the author of the book 'The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler’s Cross: Rescuing a Symbol of Peace from the Forces of Hate'. Published in 2017, the book presents a cross-cultural history of the “swastika”, a symbol of peace used by multiple Eastern religions, including Japanese Buddhism, and indigenous peoples but typically regarded as a hate symbol in the West.

Known as 'manji' in Japan, the swastika is commonly found on Buddhist temples along with many Shinto shrines. In keeping with its meaning in Buddhist and Hindu traditions, the swastika is a symbol of peace, light and represents the mind and teaching of the Buddha. It is found at temples and shrines throughout the country yet most international visitors depart without ever gaining an understanding of its meaning is the Japanese Buddhist context. I hope this episode goes some way to addressing that.

Rev. Dr. Nakagaki is an ordained priest in the Jodoshinshu tradition of Japanese Buddhism and Founder of the Heiwa Peace and Reconciliation Foundation of New York. He is a President Emeritus of the Buddhist Council of New York, an Honorary Board Member of the Interfaith Center of New York and a New York City Police Department Clergy Liaison along with a Hiroshima Peace Ambassador, Nagasaki Peace Correspondent and Honorary President of Sanghakaya Foundation of India. He graduated Ryukoku University in Kyoto in 1983 having majored in Buddhist history before undertaking advanced study in Jodoshinshu doctrine to Gyoshin Buddhist Seminary in Osaka from 1983 to 1985. He has an MA in Linguistics from California State University at Fresno in 1994 and a earned a Doctorate of Ministry in Multifaith Studies from the New York Theological Seminary in 2012.

Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a text

In Episode 46 of the podcast I speak with outdoor guide, Kouhei Nishida. Kouhei is the founder of Shinano Discovery - an outdoor guiding company - and a key member of the team behind creation of the Amatomi Trail. Opened to the public in 2021, the Amatomi Trail stretches 86km / 54 miles from Nagano City through Myoko Togakushi Renzan National Park to Lake Nojiriko and onto Madarao, on the border of Nagano and Niigata Prefectures. The Amatomi Trail is one of, if not the most accessible, hiking trail in Japan and provides access to mixed natural and cultural landscapes, working alpine villages, and important sites including Zenko-ji – one of Japan’s oldest and most important Buddhist temples – and the Shinto shrine complex of Togakushi.

As Kouhei explains, the Amatomi Trail combines a number of preexisting trails including the pilgrimage trails of the 'Togakushi Kodo', which lead hikers into the national park where they then traverse the foothills of the ‘Shinetsu Gogaku’ or ‘Five Peaks of Shinetsu’. The trail can be walked as a through hike or section hike, with Kouhei recommending 4 to 5 days for a through hike, with the most accessible section from Nagano City to Togakushi taking 2 days. With plenty of accommodation along the trail – ranging from hotels and lodges, ‘ryokan’ (traditional guesthouses, ‘shukubo’ (temple lodgings), ‘minshuku’ and ‘pension’ (basic guesthouses), and camping sites – there is no shortage of places to stay, catering to all budgets and tastes.

I consider walking to be the best way to experience a country and Japan, to be an outstanding walking travel destination. Trails are numerous and varied, increasingly interconnected, well maintained and safe. I hope this episode plays a role in raising the profile of the Amatomi and hiking or walking as one of the best ways to explore Japan. For more information, visit the Amatomi Trail website or Instagram and to follow or contact Kouhei, visit his Shinano Discovery website, Instagram or Facebook. I hope you enjoy!

Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a text

Episode 45 transports us to Tohoku in the north-east of Japan’s main island of Honshu. Tohoku is a large region comprised of six prefectures – Fukushima, Yamagata, Akita, Miyagi, Iwate and Aomori – known for its open and striking landscapes and distinct local traditions. Leading us on this exploration is photographer Alfonso Calero. With more than 20 years of experience as a professional photographer, Alfonso leads small photography tours to Japan each year, including his 10-day autumn tour in Tohoku.

Alfonso’s tour focuses on the natural landscapes of Tohoku including the mountains, forests, lakes and rivers of Towada-Hachimantai National Park and rugged rock formations of the Sanriku Coast. The tour balances its focus on landscape with cultural destinations including Towada Art Center and the samurai district of Kakunodate.

Full details of the tour can be found on Alfonso’s website and you can also follow him on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. I hope that this episode piques your interest in Alfonso’s photography and tours and Tohoku as a destination. Easily accessible thanks to Japan’s Shinkansen / Bullet Train network, Tohoku is in every other sense a world away from the congestion, neon and hum of Tokyo.

Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a text

This is the second half of Episode 44 of the podcast, my cha with Richard Pearce of Sustainable Daisen. Originally from the UK, Richard founded and operates Sustainable Daisen – an NPO dedicated to the protection of the Japanese Giant Salamander and effective conservation of its habitat. Richard and I discussed the salamander, the threats it is facing and the tremendous work of Sustainable Daisen in the first part of the interview.

In the second half of our interview Richard speaks about the state of environmental conservation in Japan including this critique of farming practices, animal husbandry, waste management and upcoming projects with Sustainable Daisen. Richard is critical of many policies and practices in Japan and in doing so, positions himself a vocal foreign advocate in a society that discourages people from speaking up. As such I think this part of our chat reveals important realities of Japan that will not be of surprise to anyone living here but may surprise anyone who does not – especially given the often repeated trope the deep connection and respect Japanese have for nature.

Toward the end of our chat, Richard reference’s the video ‘Bad Boy Monk: A Conservation Documentary’ about his work in Tottori along with the article ‘Japan was the Future but it’s Stuck in the Past’ by Rupert Wingfield-Hayes.I hope that my conversation with Richard sparks your interest in what he and Sustainable Daisen are doing and that he and the salamanders act as ambassadors (of sorts) for Tottori, and entice you to visit. For more information, visit Sustainable Daisen's website and follow them on Instagram and Facebook. You can also learn more about experiences led by Richard on his Bushido Japan website. I hope you enjoy!

Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Send us a text

In Episode 44 we travel to the southwest of Japan’s main island of Honshu and onto Tottori Prefecture to speak with Richard Pearce of Sustainable Daisen – an NPO dedicated to the conservation of the Japanese Giant Salamander and the habitat it is reliant upon. Originally from the United Kingdom, Richard founded and operates Sustainable with his wife and with the support of others in advocating for, researching and educating the public about the plight of the salamander. One of the largest amphibians in the world and relatively unchanged for 23 million years, the Japanese Giant Salamander is under serious threat due to impact of human action. Sustainable Daisen is endeavouring to address that while there is still time.

Richard was an engaging guest with plenty to say about the issues he cares about. In an effort not to edit too much out of our conversation, this episode is split into two parts. In this – the first half of our chat – you’ll hear Richard an I discuss the Japanese Giant Salamander and the work he is doing to converse both the animal and its habitat, while increasing public awareness. In the second half of the interview – available in a week’s time – Richard and I continue onto a broader discussion about environmental and wildlife advocacy in Japan and the challenges of doing so as a foreign voice.

I hope that my conversation with Richard sparks your interest in what he and Sustainable Daisen are doing and that he and the salamanders act as ambassadors (of sorts) for Tottori, and entice you to visit. For more information, visit Sustainable Daisen's website and follow them on Instagram and Facebook. You can also learn more about experiences led by Richard on his Bushido Japan website. I hope you enjoy!

Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.