Tipbits from Tyler MacNiven
Posted in Pre-Trip on 02/18/2009 03:36 pm by ScottPart of our inspiration to walk Japan comes from Tyler MacNiven, aka Kintaro.
His video about his experiences made the whole idea actually seem possible. He shows how easy it is to find camping spots, and how nice the locals are. But a couple of “real” information was missing. Stuff like, “Where do you go to the bathroom?” and “How much food did you carry at any one time?”
So I decided to write him in the hopes that he would find the time to respond. Luck for me, he did! Here is what he had to say:
bathing - there are hot springs in almost every town, so I got to bathe nearly every day, but sometimes I’d go a few days without it, just life on the road.
bathroom - convenient stores aren’t called convenient stores for no reason!
following the roads - I was mainly on roads, but I looked for hiking trails in the mountains whenever possible. I liked sticking to the coasts and small towns. I saw some world class sights on the east coast of Kyushu.
equipment - basic camping gear, small tent, journal, video camera.
other advice - Plan a vague route but be willing to change it while on the road. I would consciously allow for some alone walking time during the day. Walking alone is remarkable meditation. Everyone wants to talk, but usually you’ll have to start the conversation. Never feel like you need to rush.
Getting this first-hand advice was really awesome. The whole trip feels real now.