On Children’s Day, I went hiking—with a heavy belly, back pain, and fear of leeches. This post reflects how even on the most chaotic days, stepping outside can shift your body, your mind, and maybe your life. Sometimes, a fully loaded day brings unexpected clarity.
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On Children’s Day, I casually said, “Let’s go for a hike.” What I got instead was a fully loaded combo of back pain, a belly full of ramen, and leech anxiety. Still… somehow, I ended up feeling glad I went. This is that story.
May 5th—Children’s Day in Japan. But for me, it felt more like “Back Pain Day.” From the moment I woke up, my lower back was throbbing. Just a few days ago, a chiropractor recommended a monthly ¥56,000 treatment course. The deadline to decide is next week, but it feels expensive… kind of a waste. I even thought, “Maybe I should just go to an orthopedic clinic and use insurance.” And yet, somehow, I found myself getting in the car—headed to the mountains. With back pain.
Before the hike, for some reason, I had morning ramen. Not just one bowl—two extra servings of noodles and rice on the side. It was the ultimate guilty full course. My heart felt satisfied, but my body was weighed down.
Around this time of year, leeches start appearing. I’ve had my fair share of nasty encounters in Tanzawa, so I’m a bit traumatized. Just to be safe, I had AI predict the leech appearance rate for today. The answer? “Low probability.” But not zero. And that “not zero” messes with your head. Once you start thinking about it, every step feels risky.
In the car, I was still stuck—should I pay for treatment, or trust nature to heal me? While I was overthinking, we arrived at the trailhead. There was a sign: “Trail closed due to landslide.” I felt a strange relief. Just as I thought, “Maybe we should skip it,” my wife casually said, “Let’s go.” And that settled it. Our dog Momiji was already eager and ready.
Back pain, ramen belly, fear of leeches. It was the ultimate “everything-loaded” hike. Even a broken bridge and muddy trails couldn’t stop my wife and Momiji. Momiji, who usually struggles with heat, was in great shape thanks to the cool weather. The sound of the stream, the birds chirping—the calmness of the mountains healed my spirit. Meanwhile, I was dragging behind, ramen trying to make a comeback.
At the summit, a cool breeze swept over us. I suddenly noticed—“Wait, my back… it feels a bit better?” Was it shock therapy? Just mental? Or maybe, moving really helped?
By the time we got back to the car, my back felt lighter. The pain that had bothered me all morning had eased up. Maybe sitting around all the time was actually worse. Today reminded me how even a little movement can make a big difference.
Today’s hike had it all—back pain, leeches, ramen overload, heat, landslides. But in the end, it turned out just fine. Sometimes, all it takes is stepping outside to get your life moving again. And sometimes, a fully loaded day is exactly what you need.
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