After a Night Shift, I Finally Climbed Mt. Shirouma 🌿

After a night shift, my body was quietly asking for the mountains. I finally climbed Mt. Shirouma — a summit I had dreamed of for a long time. I drove through the night and started early from Renge Onsen Lodge, and the weather was perfect. When I reached Lake Hakuba-Oike, it was so beautiful I kept thinking, "Is this really Japan?" The sheer number and beauty of the alpine flowers held my eyes the whole way. The ridge walk toward Shirouma was what I had looked forward to most. With every step closer to the summit, the shape of the ridge, its colors, even its scent — all of it was beautiful. Near the top the mist rolled in, and on the way down the views I'd seen on the way up were gone. But I felt nothing but gratitude for all of it. I even met a rock ptarmigan up close. Back down, I soaked in the hot spring at Renge Lodge and ate watermelon — the water soaking into my body. The lodge felt homey and somehow nostalgic; next time I want to stay the night. A perfect, quiet, healing day. More than ever, I want to keep traveling with just a laptop. A quiet journey to breathe again. 🌲 Filmed at Mt. Shirouma and Renge Onsen, Nagano / Niigata, Japan. #QuietEscape #vanlife #hiking #NatureVlog #SilentVlog #JapanAlps