A train and bike trip to the wintering grounds of Mito to meet the hordes of swans and ducks down from Siberia to escape the big freeze.

A heavy trek through the snow on a sunny January day on the Northern Takao Ridge.

Light shining on budgies in cages along the Sumida River at Kinshichou in east Tokyo.

A five-day ski trip in Niseko Hirafu, Hokkaido.

Wandering around Shinjuku's Kabikucho, I bumped into a festival to celebrate the mountain Hakusan, and the famous local (mostly) female Taiko drummers.

A summer bike tour from the bottom to top of Hokkaido with some stops for mountain climbing in Shiretoko and on Rishiri Island.

Climbing a mountain I've wanted to climb for a long time. Bad weather, though, and didn't see a thing.

A green hike on the Shiretoko Peninsula in Hokkaido. Beautiful scenery and bears almost always on the mind. Well maintained trail and relatively easy if the weather is good.

Second time round and even better than the first. This time, the weather cleared at the peak just as I reached it, and the view of Fuji was stunning.

Long, rewarding but tiring hike, starting from the Gunma side and coming down into Yumoto Onsen. Ten hours.

Cycling around Tokyo on a sunny summer Sunday.