In 2025, I set out to follow the cherry blossoms the length of Japan by boat. What unfolded instead was a slower journey through Japan’s longevity hotspots, ...

Blue skies. A sparkling coastline. A secret beach for a midday dip. This is sailing in Japan — beautiful, empty, almost untouched. In the Med or Caribbean, ...

"I`m Not Dying. Not Yet". This week, just after the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, holds layers of meaning for me. - Six years ago, I moved ...

It’s a hot evening, so supper’s being cooked outside—simple chicken, spinach, and potatoes under the open sky. I’m using the mug my brother gave me from ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Check out my latest find: nearly new foul-weather gear I picked up second-hand! This set, possibly from a Belgian racing team, is in incredible condition and ...

The Ritual of Saying goodbye is a meaningful way to adapt to changes in space and pace. I’m heading to the UK at the request of my publisher to attend an ...