I Was Already Into Hiking...
I Just Didn't Know It Yet.
By: Edsel E. Jeon
INTRODUCTION
While sorting through some of my old travel photos, I suddenly realized something surprising:
My hiking debut did not officially start in South Korea this year.
Apparently…
it happened 10 years ago in another Asian country—I just did not realize it at the time.
For context, this article only includes what I personally consider actual “hiking” experiences—activities involving trails longer than 4 kilometers or peaks elevated enough to be somewhat comparable to places I have explored locally.
HIKING SEAM REAP
A few years before the pandemic, back when direct flights to Siem Reap were still available, my teammates and I used to join the annual Angkor Wat International Half Marathon as part of our pre-race season kick-off.
Well…
partly for training.
And partly because we genuinely loved the nightlife and crowd at Pub Street.
During one of those trips, we booked a tour to a very popular destination located around 50 kilometers from Siem Reap called Phnom Kulen National Park—more commonly known as Mt. Kulen.
The night before the trip, we joined a street party.
So naturally…
I ended up being the only one who woke up on time and was actually ready when our booked van arrived.
I went there the day after completing a half marathon, completely alone, and with the confidence of someone who clearly had zero understanding of what hiking actually meant.
Picture this:
skimpy shorts + thin slippers + post-half-marathon legs = clueless hiking newbie.
To be fair, the concept of “hiking” was not even remotely part of my vocabulary back then.
I simply thought:
“Mountain? Scenic? Walking? Sure.”
So technically…
this was my actual hiking debut.
This uphill area is probably one of the most popular destinations for tourists looking for unique experiences that can be completed in a day, and it is conveniently located near Tokyo.
I have probably been to Hakone about four times already, mainly because I enjoy doing my easy runs here as part of my preparation for the annual Mt. Fuji International Marathon.
In a way, it has become my go-to area whenever I want a light uphill training session while also getting the chance to explore and enjoy a bit of Japan at the same time.
Just in case you’re wondering whether I ever ran there wearing a Wonder Woman costume—
well… it’s Japan.
NAGANO
I went to Nagano primarily to check out the famous and trending Snow Monkeys at Jigokudani Monkey Park.
The hike itself was not particularly steep. However, what made it more challenging was the deep snow and slippery pathways, which made every step feel more adventurous than expected.
The total out-and-back distance was somewhere around 4–5 kilometers, making it a relatively short but memorable winter hike.
WAKAYAMA
My hike in Wakayama Prefecture took place in one of Japan’s historic and spiritual destinations.
The experience was a combination of mountain trekking and endless manmade stairways, making it feel less like a regular hike and more like a journey through history and culture.
Every step somehow felt connected to the stories of the past, which made the climb feel even more rewarding.
NIKKO
Nikko was simply fun to explore.
The place had a way of constantly surprising visitors—from scenic landscapes and cultural landmarks to unexpected little moments that made wandering around feel exciting.
It was one of those destinations where the experience felt just as rewarding as the destination itself.
AND MANY MORE PLACES...
Japan is probably one of the few countries where one visit is never enough.
No matter how many times you return, there always seems to be another trail to walk, another mountain to admire, another hidden destination to discover, and another unforgettable experience waiting just around the corner.
Mt. Jirisan in South Korea marked my official debut into hiking—at least in the sense that the entire trip revolved around it. It was the first time I set out with the clear intention of hiking as the main event, not just something that happened along the way.
But if I’m being honest, my old photos tell a different story. They reminded me that I had already been wandering through trails long before I ever called it “hiking.” Back then, there were no labels, no fancy gear, and definitely no well-planned itineraries—mostly because the idea of waking up early to head into the jungle didn’t exactly excite me. I was already struggling to get up early for running and triathlon training… adding mud, bugs, scorching heat, the need to carry lots of stuff and steep climbs into the mix wasn’t exactly something that appealed to me.
Looking back now, Mt. Jirisan wasn’t really the beginning—it was more like a realization. It gave a name to something I had been doing all along without thinking much about it. And maybe that’s how the best passions work: they don’t arrive or develop all at once. They quietly grow on you, step by step, trail by trail, until one day you look around and realize—you’ve been on this path for a while now.
Thank you.
Saranghae!
