Jul 30, 2019 - 1 min read

Camping on the Shimanto River

Wake up to the sound of serenity

By Nate Hill

Community writer

“It is not that we have so little time but that we lose so much. ... The life we receive is not short but we make it so; we are not ill provided but use what we have wastefully.” ― Seneca, On the Shortness of Life

The Shimanto River is one of the last clear rivers of Japan. It has no dams and does not flow near any major cities.

As long as you live, keep learning how to live. -- Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Abundance is not something we acquire. It is something we tune into. -- Wayne Dyer

An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day. -- Henry David Thoreau

In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. -- John Muir

Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness. -- Henry David Thoreau

Everything is the product of one universal creative effort. There is nothing dead in Nature. Everything is organic and living, and therefore the whole world appears to be a living organism. -- Lucius Annaeus Seneca

All art is but imitation of nature. -- Lucius Annaeus Seneca

豊 - Yutaka - Abundance. That is what you feel waking up on the Shimanto River. So much, in fact, you are overwhelmed and content at the same time, feeling that same small feeling you have when you stare at the stars -except for this time, it is not from imagining being on such a tiny planet, an invisible dot on the spread of infinity - no, the feeling on the Shimanto is from realizing that you are merely just one form of life, surrounded by so much diversity when you start to look closely.

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By Nate Hill

Community writer

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Bronwyn O'Neill 7 years ago

Great piece!

Anne Lauenroth 9 years ago

The pictures look so peaceful. Do you know if it is possible to camp outside of official camping grounds in Japan, or if that is prohibited by law?

Victoria Vlisides 9 years ago

Oh and i love how you opened with the kanji! Very nice!

Victoria Vlisides 9 years ago

The color of the water is just unreal!

Tyra 'nell Pille-Lu 12 years ago

Excellent! I love everything you have here... lemme include this in one of my favorites! Great photo essay you have here, an awakening at the same time!

5 comments in total