My journey started on 2nd of September in 2014 from Mochimune Beach in Shizuoka Prefecture. Shizuoka is famous for Fuji mountain, the highest mountain in Japan.

There was a rule during this trip for me, which was "traveling from sea to sea only on foot". The reason why I chose to travel like this was that there were less bus services then. In summer season, there are frequent bus services in those areas. But only a few after August. Second reason, it just sounded fun. :)

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Although it was after the summer holiday season, it's very hot in September in Japan. It usually very humid and the sun scorches the ground.

I started walking on 2nd of Sep. and had to walk about 80km before get to the trail head of Southern Japanese Alps (Hatanagi Dam).

(* There are many routes and trail heads in Southern Alps, but this time I chose to start from Hatanagi. Other major trail heads are Sawarajima. Hirogawara etc.)

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I didn't know anything about long distance walking, so I was carrying too many things in my backpack. My backpack was 90 liters and was full(!).  It was like a torture to walk on sealed roads with that heavy pack on a hot sunny day. But on the way to Hatanagi Dam, there are some small villages with tea tree fields. The beautiful country side scenaries cooled me.