Tom Fay
@tom-fay.bsky.social
British outdoors and travel writer based in rural Kyoto/Otaru, Japan. Mostly into mountains and minka (traditional Japanese houses).
Guidebooks for Lonely Planet, Fodor’s Travel, Bradt & Cicerone
Guidebooks for Lonely Planet, Fodor’s Travel, Bradt & Cicerone
I love how in Japan there can often be a stark difference in microclimates from one valley to the next.
The snow has already melted in my area of Kyoto, but took the bus 20mins to the next valley over and it’s still like a winter wonderland.
The snow has already melted in my area of Kyoto, but took the bus 20mins to the next valley over and it’s still like a winter wonderland.
February 11, 2026 at 1:57 AM
I love how in Japan there can often be a stark difference in microclimates from one valley to the next.
The snow has already melted in my area of Kyoto, but took the bus 20mins to the next valley over and it’s still like a winter wonderland.
The snow has already melted in my area of Kyoto, but took the bus 20mins to the next valley over and it’s still like a winter wonderland.
Leave Otaru for a couple of weeks and come back to a half buried house
February 1, 2026 at 10:04 AM
Leave Otaru for a couple of weeks and come back to a half buried house
At the summit of Asahi-dake, Hokkaido’s highest peak, in mid-winter
January 28, 2026 at 10:31 AM
At the summit of Asahi-dake, Hokkaido’s highest peak, in mid-winter
A safe winter refuge in Daisetsuzan, the roof of Hokkaido
January 21, 2026 at 12:29 PM
A safe winter refuge in Daisetsuzan, the roof of Hokkaido
Back in frosty and chilly rural Kyoto - much less snow than Hokkaido, but morning temperatures are often not so different!
January 9, 2026 at 11:22 PM
Back in frosty and chilly rural Kyoto - much less snow than Hokkaido, but morning temperatures are often not so different!
Spent new year in Otaru, mostly shoveling snow
January 4, 2026 at 1:52 AM
Spent new year in Otaru, mostly shoveling snow
Otaru looking picture perfect
December 29, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Otaru looking picture perfect
Spending the festive season up at my place in snowy Otaru, enjoying the snow life
December 27, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Spending the festive season up at my place in snowy Otaru, enjoying the snow life
My favourite Kyoto autumn leaf spot, a lovely little bridge near my house where I never see anyone - the best autumn spots are not usually the crowded popular ones
November 30, 2025 at 10:19 AM
My favourite Kyoto autumn leaf spot, a lovely little bridge near my house where I never see anyone - the best autumn spots are not usually the crowded popular ones
Cold but sunny start to the three-day weekend at home in countryside Kyoto, have a good one everyone!
November 21, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Cold but sunny start to the three-day weekend at home in countryside Kyoto, have a good one everyone!
Glorious day for yard work in rural Kyoto. Also had a surprise harvest of shiitake mushrooms!
November 15, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Glorious day for yard work in rural Kyoto. Also had a surprise harvest of shiitake mushrooms!
Chance of seeing the aurora if you’re in Hokkaido tonight or tomorrow
November 11, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Chance of seeing the aurora if you’re in Hokkaido tonight or tomorrow
My persimmon trees are in overdrive this year, after a rather barren spell last year
November 7, 2025 at 9:23 AM
My persimmon trees are in overdrive this year, after a rather barren spell last year
A lovely autumn morning in rural Kyoto, might have a barbecue in the garden later
November 2, 2025 at 1:35 AM
A lovely autumn morning in rural Kyoto, might have a barbecue in the garden later
First snow seen on Mt Fuji this season - 21 days later than average, but much earlier (15 days) than the super late ‘first snow’ of last year
October 23, 2025 at 6:16 AM
First snow seen on Mt Fuji this season - 21 days later than average, but much earlier (15 days) than the super late ‘first snow’ of last year
It’s starting to really look and feel like autumn now, at home in rural Kyoto
October 19, 2025 at 12:12 AM
It’s starting to really look and feel like autumn now, at home in rural Kyoto
Today was Sports Day (a public holiday) in Japan, and I spent it cycling around Mt. Yotei - a very fine and shapely peak which, thanks to a certain recently released game, is suddenly much better known outside of Hokkaido
October 13, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Today was Sports Day (a public holiday) in Japan, and I spent it cycling around Mt. Yotei - a very fine and shapely peak which, thanks to a certain recently released game, is suddenly much better known outside of Hokkaido
Down by the river at Asarigawa Onsen, a small and quiet hot spring/ski town just outside Otaru
October 12, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Down by the river at Asarigawa Onsen, a small and quiet hot spring/ski town just outside Otaru
Spotted a whole bunch of hyakumeizan (Japan’s 100 famous mountains) on the flight from Kansai to Sapporo:
- Ontake (with a guest appearance by Mt Fuji)
- Norikura
- all the big peaks at the Kamikochi end of the North Alps; Yari, Hotaka, Jonen etc
- Chokai up in Tohoku
- Ontake (with a guest appearance by Mt Fuji)
- Norikura
- all the big peaks at the Kamikochi end of the North Alps; Yari, Hotaka, Jonen etc
- Chokai up in Tohoku
October 11, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Spotted a whole bunch of hyakumeizan (Japan’s 100 famous mountains) on the flight from Kansai to Sapporo:
- Ontake (with a guest appearance by Mt Fuji)
- Norikura
- all the big peaks at the Kamikochi end of the North Alps; Yari, Hotaka, Jonen etc
- Chokai up in Tohoku
- Ontake (with a guest appearance by Mt Fuji)
- Norikura
- all the big peaks at the Kamikochi end of the North Alps; Yari, Hotaka, Jonen etc
- Chokai up in Tohoku
Early autumn scenes in the Japanese countryside
October 5, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Early autumn scenes in the Japanese countryside
Moody views from high up in the Southern Alps of Japan
October 4, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Moody views from high up in the Southern Alps of Japan
More local scenes from early autumn - rice fields just on the cusp of harvest
September 28, 2025 at 5:35 AM
More local scenes from early autumn - rice fields just on the cusp of harvest
Feels like autumn is finally on the way - getting close to chilly in the mornings, and persimmons starting to ripen on the trees
September 27, 2025 at 4:41 AM
Feels like autumn is finally on the way - getting close to chilly in the mornings, and persimmons starting to ripen on the trees
Very excited to find a シロマダラ, or ‘oriental odd-tooth snake’ literally right on my doorstep this evening. A very rarely seen snake as they are mostly nocturnal.
September 23, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Very excited to find a シロマダラ, or ‘oriental odd-tooth snake’ literally right on my doorstep this evening. A very rarely seen snake as they are mostly nocturnal.
Japan’s first snow of the season seen at Mt Kuro-dake in Daisetsuzan national park. Winter is on its way!
September 20, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Japan’s first snow of the season seen at Mt Kuro-dake in Daisetsuzan national park. Winter is on its way!