A camera, a train ticket, and time to walk.

I live in Yokohama and go out most weekends with a camera. Sometimes that means walking from one station to the next, photographing the same tower from a dozen streets. Sometimes it starts with a conbini coffee at 06:00 and a train out of the city. I prefer walking, cycling, buses and trains to travelling by car. Long walks and frequent stops for photographs are part of the day.

I have visited 39 of Japan's 47 prefectures, but I also like returning to places I know. Kamakura is one of my favourites, along with Takachiho in Miyazaki. The same place in another season can give me a different reason to go back.

Temples, castles and views of Mount Fuji often feature in my travels, with stops for local food and drinks along the way. Autumn is the season I look forward to most. Kyoto's temples with autumn leaves are my favourite combination.

What you'll find here

Between Stations focuses on walks around Tokyo and Yokohama and days out by train. Each walk follows one day in the order it happened. The times are real clock times, and practical details are dated to the visit.

The photographs are the point. The words tell you where I stood, what I paid, what disappointed me and what I would do differently.

The stamps mean what they say:

• Worth it: A day I would repeat.
• Only in season: The season is what makes the trip worthwhile.
• Weekdays only: I would choose a weekday because of the crowds.
• Skip: I would spend the day elsewhere.

The photographs and the footnotes

Photos and clips are mine. Captions say where I stood, with a practical note for anyone taking a camera along. If you would like to use a photograph, the terms are here.

Corrections and closed-cafe reports are welcome. Prices, opening hours and train schedules change. Every post includes a visit date so you can judge how old the information is.