A Seeker’s Journey
Journey within. Explore the world. Find what binds us all.
About this blog
Welcome to A Seeker’s Journey.
This blog is a collection of travel stories woven with history, culture, spirituality, travel and self-discovery, and personal reflection. Born and raised in Japan, I have also lived in Australia and several other countries, experiences that have shaped the way I see the world and my own self-discovery. My travels, especially in India and Japan, have inspired a deeper understanding of both the places I visit and myself.
Rather than simply describing destinations, I share the people, traditions, and moments that have transformed the way I see life and deepened my self-discovery. I hope these stories inspire curiosity, reflection, travel, and your own journey of self-discovery.
Introduction to my India Travel Journal
I have felt drawn to India since my twenties, sensing that something there was waiting for me. Over the years that pull only grew stronger, until finally I set out to follow it — and what I found became the beginning of this journal.
India Travel
Rajasthan
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Jodhpur: The Splendour and Shadows of Mehrangarh Fort
Jodhpur, the second-largest city in Rajasthan, is famously known as the Blue City for its distinctive, blue-painted houses clustered beneath the magnificent Mehrangarh Fort, which towers over the city. This visit to Jodhpur continues our exploration of Rajasthan’s royal history. For the broader story of the region’s rulers, forts, and shifting alliances, read Rajasthan: A…
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Rajasthan: A Land of Maharajas, Forts and Shifting Alliances
This introduction to Rajasthan explores how Rajput kingdoms like Amber, Marwar, Mewar, Bikaner and Jaisalmer built formidable forts and palaces while navigating Mughal expansion and British rule. Today, former royal families, grand residences like Umaid Bhawan Palace, and living cityscapes keep these layered stories of courage and compromise alive.
Kerala
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Tea Tasting in Coonoor-A Guide to the Nilgiri Tea experience
Ooty and Coonoor in Tamil Nadu are two of the most beautiful hill stations in the Nilgiri Hills and are considered the heart of the Nilgiri tea country. Ooty sits at an altitude of about 2,240 metres above sea level, where the cool mountain climate and frequent mist create a tranquil atmosphere. Coonoor, by contrast,…
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Fort Kochi’s Colonial History and Kathakali Dance in Kerala
A City Shaped by Empires The next day, Fort Kochi offered a different kind of pleasure: not food or evening atmosphere, but history. Its colonial history stretches across more than four centuries, and one of the best places to glimpse that layered past was Bastion Bungalow, just a short walk from the Old Harbour Hotel…
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Fort Kochi 1: Heritage Hotel and Art Scene
From a gridlocked taxi and overburdened ferry to a serene colonial mansion by the sea, this Fort Kochi vignette traces a long day’s travel turned into quiet blessing. Heritage architecture, monsoon-fresh streets, galleries, murals, and Kashi Art Café’s chocolate cake all reveal a town where history, hospitality, and contemporary art gently intertwine.
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Guruvayur Temple, Kerala: A Journey into Hindu Devotion and Culture
Arriving in Guruvayur I paid only a brief visit to Amma’s programme in Thrissur — Amma being Mata Amritanandamayi, the renowned spiritual teacher and humanitarian known across India and the world for her practice of giving darshan through embrace. Tens of thousands travel to receive her hug, a gesture she offers as an expression of…
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Shiva temple in Thrissur, Kerala: A Spiritual Encounter
The Temple Vadakkumnathan Temple stands on an elevated hillock in the heart of Thrissur, enclosed by a massive stone wall that contains nearly nine acres of sacred ground. Within this spacious compound, shrines, murals, and ancient banyan trees create a world apart, serene and self-contained despite the bustle of the city beyond its walls. Tradition…
Uttar Pradesh
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Taj Mahal: Love, Ambition and the Impermanence of Power
This reflective piece weaves the serene beauty of the Taj Mahal with the dramatic story of Shah Jahan—his ruthless ascent, glorious architectural legacy, and tragic downfall at the hands of his son. Standing before the monument, the author ponders love, ambition, betrayal, and the impermanence of worldly power.
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Meditation in the caves of Rishikesh: A Transformative Experience
April 2026 Since time immemorial, Rishikesh has drawn sages, seekers, and ascetics to the sacred banks of the Ganga, serving as a timeless haven for meditation and spiritual pursuit. When I first lived there in 1991, many sadhus could be seen near the Ram Jhula and Lakshman Jhula bridges. Having renounced worldly possessions, they spent…
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Sunrise at Kunjapuri Temple, Uttarakhand: A Himalayan Awakening
Perched on a hilltop about 25 kilometers from Rishikesh, Kunjapuri Temple is one of the most beautiful places in the region to watch the sunrise. As the first light of day spreads across the Himalayan foothills, the surrounding mountains and valleys gradually emerge from the darkness, creating a breathtaking panorama. According to Hindu tradition, Kunjapuri…
Himachal Pradesh
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Trekking to Triund, Dharamshala:A Complete Guide & Personal Journey
According to many websites, the Triund Trek is considered one of the easiest Himalayan treks, but that description can be quite misleading. We saw many hikers beginning the climb from Bhagsu Waterfall, even though this route is steep, poorly maintained, and covered with loose pebbles that make the ascent both difficult and potentially dangerous. If…
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Kareri Lake Trek, Dharamshala: A Himalayan Adventure
Plan your Kareri Lake trek from Dharamshala with this first-hand account. Routes, campsites, river crossings, altitude tips, and honest insights from a 4-day Himalayan adventure.
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Dharamshala: Home of Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Community
Nestled in the Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh, Dharamshala overlooks the majestic Dhauladhar Range of the Himalayas. With its British colonial legacy and rich Tibetan cultural and spiritual heritage, it is a place where history, exile, and quiet resilience converge.
Japan Travel
Kumano
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Kumanokodo’s Mysterious Connections with India
At Seigantoji temple beside Nachi Waterfall, a legend of an Indian monk and the Bodhisattva of compassion opens into a wider reflection on how beliefs travel. Tracing Kannon from India’s Potalaka to Japan’s Fudaraku, the essay explores Kumano’s radical sea pilgrimage toward an unseen spiritual shore.
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Kumanokodo 3: Why is it sacred?
Discover why Kumanokodo is sacred, from its ancient pilgrimage routes and spiritual traditions to the transformative power of walking through Japan’s Kumano mountains.
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Kumanokodo 2: Onigajo & Hanano Iwato
On the Kumano Kodo’s Iseji route, the trail meets the sea in Mie, where wind-carved cliffs and legends shape Onigajyo, the “Demon’s Castle,” and Hanano Iwato, one of Japan’s oldest sacred sites. Between myth, raw landscape, and nights spent in a van, the journey becomes quietly spiritual and deeply human.
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Kumanokodo 1: Iseji Route, Power spots around Ise Shrine
From the cedar forests of Ise Shrine to the sea-battered Wedded Rocks and the mythic cave of Amano Iwato, this story follows the Kumanokodo Iseji Route through Japan’s Kii Peninsula. It traces how ancient Shinto legends, sacred springs, and modern pilgrims meet in a living spiritual landscape.