Part of the Japanese psyche seems to be that with the big cities and urban sprawl nature has room, thus the beautifully manicured parks of which there are plenty, and just outside of the urban areas are nature-esque places. Only thirty minutes by train makes a huge difference as you see the city quickly drop to the background and the green mountains with steep valleys spread out in front. As I hopped off the train and headed into the forest on a wide trail next to a creek the sound of the train faded into the distance. I headed into the Tokai Nature Park.

Even here the Tokai nature trail is intersected by roads and at one point a resort. At the resort the sign posts guide you onto a sidewalk around a parking area and back into the woods. It is in this combination of urban and attempts at rural that perhaps a balance is achieved- maybe the lesser of evils. At least there is someplace close by to go and though it may not be my idealistic image of uninterrupted trails winding through forested hills with views that do not include the haze of a not so distant city with peaks of skyscrapers protruding, I do not take it for granted. Wherever you happen to be is where you are and it is what you have to deal with.

Almost Zen- Shoden Pond

At the signpost up ahead, the Tokai Nature Trail- View image

No Japanese adventure would be complete without little statues, or maybe odd ones- View image