Hiking in Japan

During my time in Kyoto, I initially intended to have my research project be about martial arts in Japan. However, I realized that I loved the natural environments and hikes that were all around Kyoto so I switched my research project to better understand the significance of these hiking routes. 

I found that most of these hikes existed for a specific purpose to serve the Japanese people. The vast majority of the hikes were important because they led to culturally significant shrines or temples, allowing the Japanese people to connect with their history and religion.

Beyond that, some of the hikes were significant because they reflected the Japanese peoples' desire to protect their environments and nurture beauty in the world around them. 


One final thing that I noticed while both learning about and doing hiking in Japan was that it created a unique social space where interpersonal interactions were acceptable. This is rare in Japan, so I thought it was an interesting cultural insight into the Japanese people and how they perceived each other. Overall, I feel like I'm able to much better understand the Japanese people and culture because of the time I spent hiking and seeking to understand hiking during my time here.

 

Key Vocabulary Words:

  • しぜん - Nature

  • うつすくしさ - Beauty

  • ハイキングコース - Hiking Trails

  • かんさつ - Observed

  • もくてき - Purpose

  • しゅうきょう - Religious History

  • つうじて - Leads to (like a trail leading somewhere)

  • せいち - Sacred Place

  • さんちょう - Mountain top

  • しゃかいからのぶんり - Separation from society

  • しゅきょういさん - Religious heritage

  • ほぞん - Keep / Preserve

  • しんせい - Sacred

  • たいけん - Experience

  • そせん - Ancestors

  • つながり - Connection

  • ひょうしき - Signs (Like, wooden signs and such)

  • しぜんほご - Nature Preservation

  • さぼう - Erosion Control

  • しゃかいてきこうりゅう - Social Interactions

  • レクリエーションかつどう - Recreational Activities

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