The undulating sea observes the solitary walker. A triangular bamboo farmer's hat shades his face as the infinite horizon stretches ahead, marking out his path.
While most of us feel lucky to pleasantly pass a few hours in a leisurely trek, Thomas Kohler ambles with a more lofty goal. The 44-year-old former travel agent is striding to help rebuild the tourist industry in Japan, one step at a time.
The Swiss national intends to walk 2,500 km to Cape Sata, the southernmost point in Kyushu, by the end of 2011. His first step on Aug. 1 from Cape Soya, the northernmost point of Hokkaido, steered him along the shores of the Sea of Japan, through tiny inlets and villages as he carefully considered local residents' advice about bears and beer.