Beyond the Last Streetlight

Come walk with me after dark in the mountains of central Japan.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Japan
• Japanese
• dark
• night
• farm
• jizo
• moon
• Tokaido
• Softypapa

[JrockXavieR]

Is there any insects or animals out there that you should be cautious of? Anything that could seriously harm you?

[softypapa]

Hello JrockXavieR, In terms of dangerous animals and insects here is a list of what to watch out for in this part of Japan: Animals: bears wild boars venomous snakes leeches Insects: giant hornets (the most dangerous animal in Japan) giant centipedes spiders (nothing dangerous though the big ones can give a nasty bite) There are likely more though these are the ones which come to mind. Please see my hornet videos to learn more about these huge and amazing insects. -Kurt :-)

[Derriickk]

Wow..1:12 made me jump. I was terrified, haha.

[softypapa]

Hello Derriickk, This moment made me jump as well during the hike. I was walking along trying to peer into the dark when suddenly this "thing" swings in from the side! Yahhh! -Kurt :-)

[acatinny]

I guess Lafcadio Hearn did same things back in those days. To me, walking around in the night of Japanese countryside is too scary. Too many things are just too suggestive. Some Jizoes were built for suppressing Evil Spirits, which means there might be something evil if you see a jizo. On the other hand, being able to be scared of Ghosts and Spirits indicates how peaceful your area is. In big cities like NY, people cannot afford that because humans are much more scary and violent.

[softypapa]

Hello acatinny, These are some excellent and very interesting observations you make. Thank you very much for sharing with us! I'm sure I'll be thinking over your comments during my next night hike. Thanks again! -Kurt :-)

[TheJapanChannelDcom]

I hope the dudes who like watching the Tokyo vloggers also watch your stuff, brother.

The country areas are the real Japan, to me.

I love my small town and would never swap it for the night clubs and so on :-)

[softypapa]

Hello Dave, Thank you for your nice words. I haven't done much night hiking during the warm months when leeches are most active. Mostly I'm afraid of walking into the many huge spider webs which cross the trails and roads all over this area. You have raised my curiousity though and I might need to head out to one of my leech haunts next summer at night to see what happens. Thanks for sharing your question. I'm sorry that I don't currently have a good answer. -Kurt :-)

[Mystek23]

Thanks for another amazing video Kurt, keep 'em coming! :)

[DRTMaverick]

Good time to hunt edible mushrooms :)

[davekaza]

Great video.. I always injoy seeing what you have to share.. it is always interesting if not also educational...

I am wondering, after seeing the videos you have on the mountain leech, do you find that you are "attacked" by leeches more at night or day, or is it about the same? Just Curious..

Anyway, great videos!

-Dave