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
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!
The varied sights of eastern Hokkaido in early autumn
September 20, 2025 at 1:00 AM
The varied sights of eastern Hokkaido in early autumn
Spent the day getting my field ready for autumn vegetable planting. The cages are to stop monkeys from stealing things (they especially love onions and carrots)
September 16, 2025 at 9:49 AM
Spent the day getting my field ready for autumn vegetable planting. The cages are to stop monkeys from stealing things (they especially love onions and carrots)
One of the best things about living in the countryside is watching wildlife from my window. Deer are very common visitors at night, but today I was lucky to see one out in the open during the daytime
September 13, 2025 at 12:04 PM
One of the best things about living in the countryside is watching wildlife from my window. Deer are very common visitors at night, but today I was lucky to see one out in the open during the daytime
Lake Kussharo in eastern Hokkaido is the second largest lake on Japan’s northernmost island, and the largest caldera lake in Japan. On a clear day the panoramic views of the lake from Bihoro Pass are absolutely staggering.
September 10, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Lake Kussharo in eastern Hokkaido is the second largest lake on Japan’s northernmost island, and the largest caldera lake in Japan. On a clear day the panoramic views of the lake from Bihoro Pass are absolutely staggering.
Blue skies over rural Kyoto after the typhoon and some much needed rain
September 5, 2025 at 9:14 AM
Blue skies over rural Kyoto after the typhoon and some much needed rain
Have dreams of obtaining this small akiya (empty property) next to my place and converting it into a guesthouse
August 24, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Have dreams of obtaining this small akiya (empty property) next to my place and converting it into a guesthouse
All my aubergines are oddly long this year
August 23, 2025 at 11:05 AM
All my aubergines are oddly long this year
Not a fan of the summer heat, but a big fan of moody summer evening skies
July 25, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Not a fan of the summer heat, but a big fan of moody summer evening skies
I’m taking a break from social media, but when I return this is the place you’ll find me (on here, not in the tent)
June 10, 2025 at 9:02 AM
I’m taking a break from social media, but when I return this is the place you’ll find me (on here, not in the tent)