Exploring Gojo Falls Forest Alone & Kawagoe | Solo Travel in Empty Japan
Good morning! I got up early to enjoy a day full of solo adventures. First stop: Kawagoe, nicknamed “Little Edo”. It is renowned for its preserved feudal city center. The salarymen must be wondering why I’m dressed like that. Kawagoe has been prosperous since the Middle Ages. Throughout the Edo period, its commercial activity flourished.
Kawagoe is also famous for its silk, green tea and sweet potatoes. Despite major fires which destroyed several period buildings, Kawagoe has managed to preserve the spirit of ancient Edo. This city is very touristy and easy to access from Tokyo. I’m enjoying the calm of the morning, it’s 8 o’clock.
We are in front of the Toki no Kane tower! Kawagoe’s pride. This wooden bell tower measures 16 meters. This morning light is magnificent. The neighborhood is slowly waking up. I’m looking for somewhere to have breakfast and…I found the perfect place.
I’ve never seen a Starbucks like this! It tries to blend into the scenery 🙂 This garden must be absolutely stunning in spring. This Starbucks is very relaxing and the employees made me feel very welcome. I regained all my energy!
I enjoy the architecture one last time before going hiking in the Gojo Falls forest. If you come from 10 a.m., the shops and museums will be open. The Kawagoe Festival Museum has a very good reputation. You can also visit Kashiya-yokocho and the city castle.
Goodbye Kawagoe! It was an ideal getaway to wake up gently before hiking. 45 minutes by train await me. I go to Musashi-Yokote Station, in the countryside 🙂 Sweet potatoes are everywhere in this town. I love looking at country houses and seeing nature gaining more and more ground.
I’m very excited! It’s the end of December, but the weather is superb. Here we are at Musashi-Yokote Station! The mood has radically changed. The station is so cute. For those wondering why nature is so important to me, here’s a look at my native region in France:
When I’m in France, I go hiking every weekend with my mom. We sometimes go as far as Switzerland. This paradise is in Haute-Savoie. After 5 years in Paris, I returned to live there in 2022. Sometimes it feels good to go back to basics and simplicity.
This is how I usually spend my Saturdays in France. Let’s go back to Japan! Here we are near the famous Gojo Falls. We are going to explore the forest together and enjoy this magnificent nature and calm.
I’m so happy to smell the trees and the countryside. I won’t play any music, so you can hear the relaxing sounds of nature. Let’s go! You’ll see, I’m not going to meet anyone on my trip… I really feel like I’m alone in the world, it’s incredible. We are 1h30 from Tokyo.
Japan is truly an ideal country for traveling and living alone. Until now, I have always felt safe. But I am still on my guard. As I explained in my Totoro Forest video, the bears are out right now. So, Gojo Falls is located in the mountain forest of Koma-go in Oku-Musashi.
“Go” means “five” in Japanese, and the name “Gojo” refers to the 5 virtues of benevolence, justice, courtesy, wisdom and sincerity. According to legend, a warrior from the Nanboku-cho era purified his body in Gojo Falls before going to fight. They look like tiny raspberries… It would be a bad idea to eat them!
Several trails are possible. But being alone, I prefer to stay on safe paths. Ah, we arrive at Gojo Falls! The place seems a little abandoned to me, I’m afraid it’s closed… Well… It’s closed! I’ll try to look around to see if access is possible.
It’s impossible to access. But this is what Gojo Falls looks like from afar! Gojo Falls has an approximately 12 meter drop. Here’s a baby Gojo Falls to comfort us… I will continue my exploration, I am sure that this forest has surprises in store for us.
A path seems interesting to me. And I see on Google Maps that it leads to beautiful places. This view is magnificent! And the sun warms me. I wonder who lives here. I can see a cemetery behind the foliage… I let these people rest in peace.
I go deeper into the forest. I want to see how the trail ends. Another cemetery… In the middle of nowhere. I am soon reaching the end of the road. It’s the end of the trail! But that doesn’t inspire much confidence in me, it’s time to go back to the station.
It really seems like time has stopped here. I came across a third cemetery. It’s good to know! Anyway, I didn’t hear any noise or see anyone. I feel so good… I don’t want to get back on the train!
Here we are back at the start of the trail! I really had a blast today. It’s amazing all the adventures you can experience near Tokyo. I am very happy to be here.
I hope this video took you on a journey as much as it did me. Thank you very much for watching until the end. See you soon for new discoveries!
The surroundings of Tokyo hold so many surprises. Go on an adventure with me and discover the medieval town of Kagawoe. I then take you to the Gojo Falls forest for a solo hike in Japan.
I hope this vlog will help you recharge your batteries in nature and learn more about Japan.
🎵Music provided by Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/898sgs
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1 Comment
Great video and lots of great shots packed through great editing and music.