So I spent a whole day just walking around Kobe, racking up some 45,000 steps, which apparently translates to about 33 km.
I have no idea how many calories that burned, but I’m pretty sure I put them all back on with my lunch and dinner. Yes, hamburgers are actually really good in Japan these days compared to what they were 35 years ago when I first arrived.
What’s really amazed me is the English level of the staff at these restaurants. With all the inbound tourism in Japan right now, the staff have really stepped up their game. The woman who served me spoke incredible English… sure, I could’ve cut it short and said, “Hey, don’t worry, I speak Japanese,” but honestly, I’m past that now. It actually makes me happy when I go into a restaurant and a local comes up to me speaking flawless English
The weather was overcast, which made Kobe look a bit dull, but no matter how many times I see the Port Tower, it still mesmerizes me. My long stroll took me through Motomachi, Chinatown, and many of the arcades (商店街), which I absolutely love in Japan. Honestly, I consider them a national treasure.
After wandering around, checking out bicycle shops, and buying a few things I’ll need for my camping trip along the Shimanami Kaido, I finally took a train back to my son’s house, only to find he wasn’t home. Thankfully, there’s an onsen nearby, so I could soak and rest my tired legs there.
One great thing about living in the countryside is that when you go to the city… riding trains, hearing the noises, getting jostled on crowded buses, trying all sorts of foods… it almost feels like taking an overseas trip.
The perfect balance! Kei-truck, tent, and bicycle.
When I’m not beekeeping on the weekends, I think I’ve found the perfect pastime. I’m actually quite sad it took me so long to cotton onto this. Before, on the motor scooter, I would just pack everything up and go. Granted, I’d walk around a little when I got to the place, but generally, I’d do most of my sightseeing on the scooter.
Now I get to cycle and walk around for hours, taking photos and enjoying Japan at a slow pace. It’s highly addictive, and I can’t see myself buying a motorised two-wheel machine for the next few years. On top of that, you get great exercise, which means you can scoff more food while travelling, ha ha.
Snow Peak Land Nest Dome M
Snow Peak 「ランドネストドーム M」
Overview
Price: ¥29,800 (tax included, official store)
Capacity: 3–4 people.. Very comfortable with two
Weight: 8.7 kg
Packed size: 70 × 21 × 25 cm
Materials:
Flysheet – 75D polyester taffeta (PU coating 1,800 mm waterproof, water repellent, UV cut)
The flysheet has no front or back – either side can be the entrance. You can’t go wrong sitting it up
Hanging inner tent (detachable, so the flysheet alone can become a shelter)… Probably the reason I bought this tent.
Plenty of mesh panels for ventilation…. cold in the winter?
1. Easy setup
The symmetrical frame means you don’t spend ten minutes wondering which way is “front.” If you’ve ever been halfway through pitching a tent and realized the door faces the wrong direction….. In the first F word out of your mouth is not front.
2. Spacious comfort
It’s roomy enough for three adults or two adults + two kids without feeling like a sardine can. There’s decent headroom, and the vestibule (front area) can actually hold gear instead of just shoes.
3. Great airflow
With multiple mesh windows and dual-side openings, it breathes well—even in the sticky Japanese summer. Plenty of campers mention it stays surprisingly cool and dry overnight.
4. Solid value
At under ¥30,000!! and its SNOWPEAK!!
Things to Keep in Mind
1. It’s not exactly featherweight
At 8.7 kg and 70 cm packed length, it’s fine for car kei-truck camping, If you’re thinking “bikepacking minimalism,” you might reconsider.
2. Not made for deep winter or high winds
There’s no skirt along the bottom edge, so cold air can sneak in. And while the fabric is durable, it’s not fire-resistant…. This could be a problem for me….
So basically
The Land Nest Dome M is one of those rare tents that gets the balance right between price, practicality, and design sanity. It’s ideal for people who like camping but don’t enjoy solving geometry puzzles every time they pitch a tent… You can even get drunk while pitching it…
Setup is quick, the space feels civilized, and it carries that calm, understated Snow Peak aesthetic – modern but not flashy. It’s the kind of tent that makes you look like you know what you’re doing, even if you only go camping twice a year.
On the flip side, it’s not the “one tent to rule them all.” If you’re doing winter camping in Hokkaido or hiking into the wilderness, you’ll want something lighter or more insulated. But for weekend trips, lakeside sites, or family car camping, it’s nearly perfect….. On second thoughts don’t go to Hokkaido right now 🐻
And let’s be honest:
“The less time you spend wrestling with tent poles, the sooner you can start the campfire and open a beer.”
Leaving late on a Friday isn’t ideal, but it’s the only option if you want to spend Sunday relaxing.
Hopping into my kei truck, I set out for what should have been an easy one-hour drive. But after about 40 minutes, the exhaustion from a busy Friday started to catch up with me. The yawns turned into tears, and I realized the best thing to do was stop and crash in the back of the truck… before I really crashed.
I hadn’t properly planned my Saturday, but I knew I wanted to go for a walk and probably visit an island somewhere. In general, islands tend to be the most fun, with not too many people around. If the bees and vegetables aren’t bugging me, I like to get out of my neighborhood on my days off and walk or cycle somewhere new.
Just before nodding off, I checked the map and decided I’d head to two islands: Megijima (女木島) and Ogijima (男木島).
It’s good to set aside a day when visiting a small island in Japan… you never really know what kind you’re going to get. I figured I’d do both islands in one day since my main goal was just to enjoy a nice walk.
Technically, we’re still in rainy season, but it’s already starting to feel like summer. Not exactly great walking weather… oh well.
First stop Megijima
As per normal, when I go somewhere, I don’t like to research it online. So when I got off the ferry and saw a sign about caves, I decided to walk up the mountain to see what it was all about. Most people took the bus, but since today was about walking, I went for the 2km hike up the hill. At the top, I paid the ¥600 entrance fee for the caves… and I think an ¥800 bus ride back to the port, because I would’ve missed the boat to the next island if I hadn’t walked it.
The caves! 😀 These tourist traps have always amazed me in Japan. I can’t even get angry at them anymore… just weird. The good thing about the cave was that it was nice and cold inside, around 16°C… outside was 30-something, so that was nice. And since I’m a fan of the Momotaro story, that part of the cave… I guess was kind of interesting.
Next on to Ogijima
I was a little pressed for time… these islands really should’ve been a two-day trip. So the next stop was all about getting lunch, flying my drone, and going for a little walk… maybe not much of a walk, because I knew I’d miss the ferry back if I wasn’t careful.
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Ogijima was actually super interesting, and I’d like to spend a bit more time walking around it. I only got to visit the port town, but it looks like they have campgrounds and other things to see. My lunch was spectacular, and for the size of the port, there was a good number of coffee shops. After chatting with some of the locals, they mentioned that half the population is now made up of people who never lived on the island before… and half of those are from the Kanto region of Japan.
My two cents… grab lunch and a drink at Ogijima, skip the caves in Megijima. Maybe Megijima is better for swimming?
