Lake Ashi is the heart of Hakone — calm, scenic, and framed by rolling hills that seem to change colour with every hour of the day. Small boats glide quietly across the water, and the lakeside paths invite slow walks past shrines, tea houses, and little harbours. Whether you arrive by boat, bus, or cable car, there’s a gentle rhythm to life here: time stretches, the air feels lighter, and the reflections on the lake make it easy to forget everything beyond its shores.
Himeji Castle offers a lesson in perspectives. From afar, its white walls rise gracefully above the city, almost floating against the sky — a vision of perfection and harmony. Up close, the details tell a different story: steep stairways, narrow passages, and wooden beams worn smooth by centuries of footsteps. Every angle reveals something new — strength, elegance, and the quiet endurance of one of Japan’s most beloved castle.
Nestled in the mountains southwest of Tokyo, Hakone is a region known for its hot springs, peaceful lakes, and lush green hills. It’s a favourite escape for city dwellers looking to slow down and reconnect with nature. And while it usually tends to be rainy in this part of Japan in early July, the weather was fabulous while we were there — warm, calm, and beautifully clear. We made the most of it, taking long walks around Lake Ashi, enjoying the quiet atmosphere, and simply letting the days drift by at a slower pace.
Situated gracefully above the city of Himeji, the Castle of the White Heron (Shirasagi-jō) embodies centuries of Japanese elegance and resilience. Its white walls and soaring roofs evoke the image of a heron taking flight, untouched by time despite wars and earthquakes. Built in the early 1600s, this masterpiece of defensive design hides strength within beauty — a maze of winding paths, steep wooden stairs, and watchful towers. Today, it stands not only as Japan’s most perfectly preserved castle, but as a symbol of quiet endurance and refined harmony.
As daylight fades, Norway reveals one of its most magical faces. The mountains soften into deep blue silhouettes, their outlines mirrored in the stillness of fjords. Fishing villages glow with warm light, lanterns and windows reflecting gently across the water. The sky lingers between colors—amber, rose, and violet—before surrendering to the calm of northern night. In summer, the dusk seems endless, a twilight that hovers like a dream, while in winter the brief glow feels all the more precious. Norway at dusk is a moment of quiet transformation, where nature, light, and silence blend into a harmony that lingers long after the sun has gone.
The culture of the North is deeply rooted in a life shaped by nature, where long winters and short, radiant summers set the rhythm of tradition. In Norway, this connection is seen in the architecture of wooden houses, in stories of trolls and sagas, and in the songs that echo across fjords and valleys. Daily life blends the old with the new—ancient crafts, fishing, and reindeer herding live alongside modern design and innovation. The North values community, resilience, and simplicity, reflected in gatherings around firelight or the quiet joy of the outdoors. From midsummer festivals to the calm of a snowy evening, the culture of the North is one of balance—between people and landscape, past and present, silence and celebration.
Michael Hoffman Photography 