Its my last day in the port of Yonabaru, where he has met many wonderful people over the past 14 months. I am sailing tomorrow to Itoman on the other side of Okinawa to position myself to head north and follow the annual cherry blossom the length of Japan,...
Stay tuned for more updates on both the Osaka Marathon and the upcoming season of Chasing the Cherry Blossom 2. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more adventures from Japan!
#marathon #coldfront #japan #sailing
I'm preparing to leave port and follow Japan's cherry blossom front—a journey that goes beyond sailing. At 70, I'm reflecting on a path similar to my bicycle journey 25 years ago when I cycled the length of Japan during Cherry Blossom Season, the result ...
I'm excited to share my latest update as I gear up for the Osaka Marathon training session! In this video, I talk about my plans for the marathon and the special visit from my brother Brent and cousin Harry, who will join me on the boat and cheer me on at ...
Brrr, it’s cold out there! In this video, I'm leaving Wahine and heading to Osaka for an exciting marathon and some cherished family time. Despite the chill, the journey is heating up—after Osaka, I'll return to Okinawa before setting sail for a few mo...
Ever wondered what it’s like to rent a boat in Tokyo and explore Japan’s stunning waterways? Join me, my cousin, and my brother, an old friend and my son as skipper, as we have a unique adventure, taking in the sights from a whole new perspective! Fro...
On our northward trek, I would like to avoid overnight passages if possible. So I discussed with Ian and an on board, and we plan to pull into Ieshima, which we plan to visit for a night, and possibly Yoron the next day. I aim to get to Sakurajima for my b...
Hi, Lowell here of Pacific Solo and the Never Too Late Academy speaking to you from Ieshima, a small island off the west coast of Okinawa, near Motobu and Nago. We pulled in here unexpectedly. I would sail overnight to Amami, but I wanted to see as many is...
The journey north begins! After 15 months, my boat is finally back in Kyushu, marking the start of Chasing the Cherry Blossom 2 – a voyage following Japan’s iconic Sakura season by sea. Leaving Itoman, I planned to sail overnight to Amami, but as I pas...
Hi, Lowell here of Pacific Solo and the Never Too Late Academy. I've arrived at a new island in the Ryukyu Island Chain. It's an island that I've never been able to really pronounce properly, and I won't pronounce it properly now but I'll say it slowly syl...
I arrived in Amami safely. An islamd I know quite well and have many friends here.
#Amami #PrivateBeach #Sunrise #Moonset #Uken #70thbirthday Birthday #sailing #ukenglish
Thinking of mooring your boat in a Japanese fishing port or harbor? Japan is a welcoming but deeply group-oriented society, and showing respect is key to a smooth experience. In this video, I share two essential tips to help foreign cruisers integrate resp...
March 20th isn’t just another day on the calendar—it holds deep personal meaning for me.
It marks the Vernal Equinox, a symbol of balance, renewal, and fresh starts.
On this day 25 years ago, I began a life-changing 3,000 km bicycle journey from Sakur...
SY Wahine is safely moored back in Buren Bay with Lowell mentions that Mitsu, Ian and Brian’s help. No I continue my journey the length of Japan in search of Longevity Hotspots and Cherry Blossom Parties. Leg two takes me Shimane prefecture to intervi...
Brian and I just left Wahine after a very gentle evening on the water. Brian's off to Nagasaki. I'm off tomorrow as well. And we'll rendezvous again in Shimane with Tyler and Julia, the Ramona Rae crew. Bye-bye, Wahine.
#japan #sailing #travel #ramona...
This video highlights Leg One, a journey that will take me the length of Japan. Ian and I finally arrived at Uken Inlet and Buren Bay. My friend Brian flew in from California to join us for the next leg, only to have his plans take an unexpected turn.
I...
I’m on Ama Island, in Shimane Prefecture—Japan’s true Blue Zone and the country’s top hotspot for longevity.
Why?
Because this prefecture has more centenarians per capita than anywhere else in Japan. That’s right—100+ and still going strong.
...
I've now been to all 47 prefectures in Japan. I'm in Shimane, where Matsue Castle is located, and it's a longevity hotspot - a 'blue zone' with the highest number of centenarians in Japan. I'm here researching a book on longevity for the Never Too Late Aca...
Lowell here, kicking off Leg Four of my Journey Beyond the Blue Zone!
After sailing the Ryukyu Islands, the leaving my boat to catch up to the annual Cherry Blossom migration and visiting Japan’s Longevity Hot Spots in Shimane and Nagano, I am now headi...
This is Leg 2 of my Journey Beyond the Blue Zone. I visit Ama Island in Shimane Prefecture — a Longevity Hotspot with Japan’s highest number of centenarians — and reunite with my friends Tyler and Julia.
One year ago, Tyler and Julia sailed their In...
Morning from Buren Bay! I just inflated my SUP (with mixed success), and I’m heading ashore for provisions thanks to Mitsu kindly lending me his car. A Canadian sailing couple has arrived nearby—always nice to see new faces out here. It’s a typical d...
A peaceful evening in Buren Bay aboard Wahine. After a shower and supper, I take a quiet 360° look around the anchorage—glassy water, Mitsu’s boat, a generous loaned tender, and my inflatable paddleboard. Sometimes, it’s these calm, ordinary moments...
I ’m back in full writing mode, working on my next major video—where I’ll be revealing news about the future :
• For me
• For my boat,
• For this channel
In the meantime, life in Buren Bay continues:
- I’m relying on a tender again, and af...
Only one week left to pre-order A Journey Beyond the Blue Zone — my 10th and most personal book yet.
From the deck of my sailboat in Japan’s Blue Zone to cherry blossom-covered castles in the mountains, I’ve spent the past year chasing the secrets o...
Sometimes all it takes is a splash of cold water to reset your mind.
In this off-grid moment from the edge of Japan, I share a simple nightly ritual — a recycled PET bottle, a roadside breeze, and a reminder that creativity often flows best when we stop...
Rainy season has arrived in Japan, and that means humid days, provisioning missions, and rowing a few hundred meters to shore. Life on a boat, currently in the middles of remote Bay, isn’t glamorous, but it’s rich in rhythm, reflection, and a good w...
I'm up early to row my tender ashore to pick up new glasses before the winds pick up! Life on the water always keeps you moving—and today, that includes braving the swell. Stay tuned: I have some important announcements coming soon about me, my boat Wahi...
Nightly Ritual Aboard Wahine — Peace of Mind Under the Stars
Before I sleep each night on my sailboat in Japan, I follow a quiet rhythm—a ritual that brings calm and clarity.
First I take a quick outdoor shower under the stars, a reminder of the beau...
After four years and 80+ ports, and a failed attempt to realize a dream to cross the pacific Solo before I am 70, I’m charting a new course, for myself, my boat and this channel.
In this update, I reveal three big announcements: the future of my sailboa...
I’m off the boat and getting my steps in—aiming for 10K today while I’m on land.
When you live on a sailboat, it’s easy to stay confined, and my doctor reminded me: daily walking is non-negotiable.
Tonight’s route takes me past one of Japan’s ...
Soaked, smiling, and stepping ashore.
I actually like the rain, but later today a gale is going to glow and I have writing to do so I am moving my `writing room` ashore this morning to Mitsu`s house which is near the boat.
Life on a sailboat means embrac...
Morning chores on the boat never end — especially after a good downpour! 🌧 Today in Buren Bay, it’s me, a bucket, and about 30 liters of rainwater in the dinghy. If only I had my jerry cans…
A salty little reminder that even solo, you can still s...
I’ve had severe allergic reactions to bee stings—so when I heard fake dragonflies might ward them off, I ordered six off Amazon. They’re going up on my sailboat as a kind of quirky defense system. Should I name them? And… what eats dragonflies anyw...
Welcome to Pacific Solo, where I, Lowell Sheppard, share my sailing adventures and discoveries around Japan. Initially, my goal was to sail across the Pacific solo before turning 70, but that journey is on permanent hold due to unforeseen circumstances. No...
Something AWESOME is coming!
Be the FIRST to know⛵
Sign up for exclusive updates and be the first to hear when we go live!
Get sneak peeks, exciting announcement, and special content straight to your inbox!
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to optimize our website, personalize and measure the effectiveness of advertising and collect statistics on usage. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Technical or Functional cookies
Always active
Technical or functional cookies are essential for the basic functionality of the website. They are necessary for general web administration, session identification, website security, and presenting optimized content based on your devices. They also improve the general usability of the website, enabling features such as logging in to your account, adding products to your shopping cart, and checking out securely. These cookies are crucial for the website to function properly and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are typically set in response to actions made by you, such as setting privacy preferences, logging in, or filling in forms. While you can configure your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, please note that some parts of the site may not work properly if you do so. It’s important to mention that these cookies do not store any personally identifiable information directly related to your identity. We may place these cookies without your explicit consent as they are strictly necessary for providing our service.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics or Performance cookies
We utilize statistics cookies to optimize the website experience for our users and gain insights into its usage, such as the number of website visitors, unique visitors, visited pages, and traffic sources. These cookies enable us to measure and enhance site performance by identifying the most and least popular pages and tracking visitor movement. This data aids us in understanding and analyzing website performance for continuous improvement. All collected data is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Disabling these cookies hampers our ability to monitor site visits and performance effectively. We ask for your permission to place statistics cookies.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing, Advertising, and Tracking cookies
On this website, we use marketing, advertising, and tracking cookies to personalize the advertisements we show to you, ensuring they are meaningful and relevant. These cookies also allow us (and third parties) to gain insights into the effectiveness of advertising campaigns. This is achieved by creating a profile based on your click behavior and Browse activity both on and outside our Website. These cookies link you, as a website visitor, to a unique ID, for example, to ensure you do not see the same advertisement repeatedly. The information stored in these cookies may also be used by third-party ad providers to show you ads on other websites you visit. Because these cookies are used for tracking and marketing purposes, we ask for your explicit permission to place them.