Victor's first visit to Japan made him fall in love with the countryside and culture so he head no other choice but to move there! He travells around the country and takes beautiful pictures which you can find on his Instagram and other social media. He also doesn't shy away from adventure: last year Victor walked the 319 miles long Tokaido road historically the main walking trail connecting Edo (Tokyo) and Kyoto! We had a quick chat about this impressive feat, his passion for climbing Mt. Fuji, and street photography.
Hi, thanks for talking to us today. Could you tell us a little about yourself?
Hello! My name is Victor and I am a freelance photographer and videographer here in Japan.
How did you end up living in Japan?
I ended up living in Japan after visiting back in 2009 and falling completely in love with the countryside and the culture. I moved out here in 2012 and have been spending most of my time traveling within Japan to find hidden gems that I can share with the world.
What inspired you to complete the Tokaido Route last year and how did it go?
The inspiration hit when I was talking to a friend about how “travel must have been more difficult back then”, as we were climbing Mt. Takao. We were curious to see if anyone would be able to handle walking such a long path in the current day.
We discussed the Nakasendo and Tokaido Route which are still accessible and open to everyone. After some discussion, we decided that the Tokaido Route would be best, as it travels along major cities along the way.
From there, we made our preparations and headed out from Nihonbashi early in the morning to start our trip.
What was your favourite part of the journey?
My favorite part of the trip might have been the Hakone stretch and the road at the Seki Post town. Hakone was able to provide us with a great view of Mount Fuji in the distance, while admiring the Torii at Hakone Shrine.
The Seki area was also very welcoming as it gave us a glimpse of what the Tokaido route must have been like a hundred years ago. The people from the shops there were very kind and helpful in guiding us along our way.
You have climbed Mt. Fuji quite a few times! What makes you keep coming back?
10 times now! I keep coming back because of the challenge and for the experience that it brings. Many of the people that work in the mountain huts have become my friends throughout the years, so getting an opportunity to visit them again is something I look forward to every year.
We love your street photography on your Instagram ‘Frame of Travel’. Do you have any advice for visitors who want to capture Japanese streets?
Thank you! My biggest advice would be to wander beyond the normal photography hot spots. Some of the best places to shoot are off the beaten path and can produce some great results!
Thank you!
You can find out what he's been up to on his Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Website, and YouTube channel!
