Stephen Pern in Japan - an old video

While transferring some old tv shows from dvd to the PC's hard drive, I came across one of my all-time favourite programmes, Stephen Pern's film about walking the length of Japan. This has some wonderful moments - his experiences in traditional Japanese inn's - Ryochan? - some great campsites on the many ridges he walked along, an amazing view of Mount Fuji in the early morning, some amazing koto music. A truly great programme.



Stephen Pern at one of his high mountain campsites

I was also reminded of a couple of other programmes on similar themes - for instance, Lesley Downer's retracement of the "narrow road to the deep north". And some books on the same theme - for instance, Alan Booth's The Roads to Sata. What a shame Pern didn't write a book about his trip. His US book, The Continental Divide, is really good. He suggests in the film that he has pretty much lived his whole life as a traveller. Now that is truly something to have achieved