Going Alone

Enjoying a lunchtime stroll through the historic neighborhood near work. I’m admiring 80 and 90 year old homes with bronze plaques commemorating their architects and builders. I’m reminded of the 200+ year old farm estates I so frequently discovered in the remote mountains of Japan. Enormous homes designed to house three generations and perhaps a dozen or more family members. Homes built by the village from giant old growth trees, hewn with hand tools and held together withou

This short video captures one of the more dangerous moments I’ve experienced while exploring abandoned places in Japan. Near the end of the video I unwittingly cross over the rotting wooden roof of an abandoned water cistern. On the return track I spotted a crack in the leaf debris and found myself peering into a large, deep hole full of dark, cold water. I carefully made my way off the structure without incident while noting several large cracks which could have easily swall

I discovered this unlikely shack very high up a deserted canyon where farmers once raised wasabi radishes from hand-placed stone terraces. There was only the faintest remnant of a trail leading to the place beyond which the canyon became the possession of a very dark and tangled region of wilderness. —- Welcome to the Abandoned Japan blog. My name is Kurt Bell and I am delighted that you have taken some time to share a little of Japan with me. I’m available on Twitter, Facebo

Welcome to the Abandoned Japan blog. My name is Kurt Bell and I am delighted that you have taken some time to share a little of Japan with me. I’m available on Facebook and Google+ if you have questions or just want to chat and say hi. I can also be found at the JVLOG forum with other Japan-related content creators. All links are listed below. I look forward to meeting you on-line. Have a great day! Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/softypapa Be my friend on Facebook: