Wish List Trips: Tori’s Dream Spring in Japan
Bouldering, cherry blossoms, and a whole lot of good food.
This holiday, we’re wishing big.
We asked our staff:
If Santa put a plane ticket in your stocking, where would it be to, and what gear would you pack to go with it?
Japan has been on Tori’s list for a long time.
“I’ve been to other parts of Asia before,” she says, “but Japan just feels totally different. There’s so much to see, and so many ways to experience it.”
She’s not going for the powder. Spring is the dream: cherry blossoms, climbing days, and nights full of incredible meals.
“March or April would be amazing. There are all kinds of festivals during blossom season.”
A mix of climbing, culture, and slow travel
If Santa’s putting plane tickets under the tree, Tori’s plan is two or three weeks with one week in each region. First stop would be somewhere for hiking and climbing. Probably Okayama, where Mount Ojigatake has a bouldering zone she’s been eyeing.
Next? A more urban, food-focused stop.
“There’s such an amazing culinary scene in Japan. I already love Japanese food. But to experience how it’s made and served, the culture around it, would be incredible.”
She’s also really into ceramics, so she’d spend another leg of the trip exploring places with deep ties to traditional craft. Fun fact: Tori makes ceramic jewelry herself — and if you’ve ever seen her pieces, you’ll know she’s a seriously talented artist.
How she packs for a trip like this
“I’m pretty minimalist when it comes to clothes, but my checked bag is always full of gear.”
Climbing ropes and gear are bulky, so all her clothing goes in her carry-on. Two pants, some versatile layers, and pieces that work whether she’s hiking or heading out for dinner.
“One fancy-ish outfit, and the rest is just regular outdoor dirtbag outfits.”
Here’s what she’s bringing:
- Scarpa Rush Pro GTX Boots For hiking days and uneven terrain
- Indyeva Matkailu Pants "I can hike in them, climb in them, go to dinner in them"
- Patagonia Black Hole MLC Her go-to carry-on travel bag
Other must-haves? Her e-reader, always loaded with both high fantasy and business and finance reads — a mix of total escape and staying sharp.
And don’t forget the AlpineAir instant coffee stashed in every bag.
“One time in Iceland I forgot to pack coffee for an 8-day through hike. I cried. So now I keep it everywhere.”
Why Japan?
“It’s kind of everything I’m into. Climbing, food, art, travel. But more than anything, I’d just want to slow down and enjoy it.”
Her partner Annie would join for most of the trip — just not the climbing.
“That part’s just for me.”
