Dear 2025,
Thank you for the 365 days we’ve journeyed together. It has truly been a
memorable year. Just like the one before, you brought countless blessings and
new travel adventures into my life, for which I am deeply grateful.
Let's look back and see what milestones we've crossed and
achieved this year.
1. This year, there were 377 published articles (That's 7 more articles than last year 😄😄).
2. I have reached a total of 4.8 million views (That's 800K new
views this year).
3. I got my contract renewed as an ALT under the JET
Programme. I’m officially in my 5th year as an ALT. This year is also my last
full year as an ALT for Rumoi Subprefecture.
4. We were given Recognition as the First Filipino Family to visit all 179 Municipalities of Hokkaido by the Honorary Consul General of Sapporo, Ken Luis Tobe
4. I received a special mention from Japanese Ambassador to
the Philippines Endo Kazuya during his speech at the 2025 JET Programme
Fellowship Reception on July 26, 2025.
5. I passed my JLPT N5 test! This achievement has boosted my confidence. It’s my first step toward my goal, and I hope that in the future, I’ll be able to speak Japanese fluently. 😍
6. My New Kamalayang Panlipunan 4 and 6 under Abiva Publishing House was published. I now have 7 published works.
 |
| Welcome to the family, Riri |
7. We bought a new car—a Nissan Serena, which we fondly named Riri. We also sold our trusted Suzuki Swift, Ruru, since we can’t manage two vehicles.
 |
| I made myself into an anime character, and this would be the "mascot" of The Backpack Adventures |
8. Exactly on July 1, I launched the official Facebook page of The Backpack Adventures. At first, I felt a bit sad that fewer than a thousand of my friends followed after my initial invite. But I was pleasantly surprised when many long-time readers of my blog began to follow the page. I also promoted it across various other pages. By the end of the year, the page had grown to more than 5,000 followers.
Speaking of travels, here are the highlights of my travels
for each month last year:
 |
| January 1 - Kai was finally out of the hospital after being confined for several days |
 |
| January 19 - First road trip of the year - Sapporo Fushimi Inari Shrine |
🌜 January
 |
| February 1 - Ella's Birthday Celebration |
 |
| February 8 - Team Nicerio visits Aizan Museum, Aibetsu |
 |
| February 8 - Team Nicerio enjoys the Sounkyo Ice Fall Festival in Kamikawa |
 |
| February 8 - Team Nicerio enjoys the Asahikawa Winter Festival Day 1 |
 |
| February 9 - Asahikawa Winter Festival Day 2 |
 |
| February 11 - Dined at Ramen Tonta in Shintotsukawa |
🌜February
 |
| March 2 - Pipa no Yu Yurinkan, Bibai City |
 |
| March 15 - Ella's Graduation from Midorigaoka Elementary School |
 |
| March 22 - Chippubetsu weekend trip |
 |
| March 23 - Morinoyu Hotel Hanakagura, Higashikagura |
 |
| March 30 to 31 - 2-Day Birthday Road Trip to Otaru |
🌜 March
 |
| April 18 - Team Nicerio Road Trip Day 1, Chitose & Sapporo |
 |
| April 19 - Team Nicerio Road Trip Day 2, Sapporo |
 |
| April 20 - Team Nicerio Road Trip Day 3, Sapporo & Ishikari |
 |
| April 21 - Team Nicerio Road Trip Day 4, Rumoi |
 |
| April 22 - Team Nicerio Road Trip Day 5, Wakkanai |
 |
| April 23 - Team Nicerio Road Trip Day 6, Sapporo |
 |
| April 24 - Team Nicerio Road Trip Day 7, Chitose |
 |
| April 28 - Senba Park |
🌜 April
 |
| May 5 - Hanami at Kitoushi Forest Park Family Travel Village |
 |
| May 5 - Kitoshi Observatory |
 |
| May 17 - Kamiyubetsu Tulip Festival 2025 |
 |
| May 17 - Black soft cream at Engaru Forest Okhotsk Roadside Station |
 |
| May 18 - Gokazan Park Camping Grounds |
 |
| May 18 - Monbetsu Crab Claw Statue |
 |
| May 18 - Takinoue Shibazakura Festival 2025 |
 |
| May 18 - Side trip to Toma Roadside Station |
🌜 May
 |
| June 21 - Rumoi Shrine |
 |
| June 21 - Chairumo |
 |
| June 22 - Asagiri port visit |
 |
| June 22 - Rumoi Taishi Festival 2025 |
 |
| June 28 - Akabira Tokugawa Castle |
 |
| June 28 - Ashibetsu Catbus |
 |
| June 28 - Camping at Kanayamakohan Camping Ground |
 |
| June 28 - Swimming at Mina-Mina Beach in Shimukappu |
 |
| June 29 - Lake Kanayama Lavender Field |
 |
| June 29 - Furano Cheese Factory |
 |
| June 29 - Furano City Museum |
🌜 June
 |
| July 5 - We celebrated Kai's 2nd Birthday |
 |
| July 5 - I attended what would probably be my last Rumoi High School Festival |
 |
| July 6 - I visited Uryu Ricefield Art for the first time |
 |
| July 6 - Took my N5 JLPT test at Sapporo Convention Center |
 |
| July 19 - Asahikawa Family bonding trip |
 |
| July 20 - Conquered Hokkaido's highest peak - Asahidake with my friends |
 |
| July 21 - Blueberry picking at Mashike |
 |
| July 26 - We attended the Rumoi Dontou Festival despite the continuous rains |
 |
| July 27 - Solo onsen trip to Asahi Onsen in Embetsu |
🌜 July
 |
| August 3 - We attended the Hokuryu Sunflower Festival in the town of Hokuryu |
 |
| August 3 - We visited the Asahikawa Rice Field Art 2025 in Asahikawa City |
 |
| August 10 - Rumoi Block karaoke night at Karaoke Utaya in Rumoi City |
 |
| August 11 - We watched the Rumoi Fireworks Festival at Rumoi Port, Rumoi City |
 |
| August 13 - Obon Road Trip D1 - We revisited the town of Yoichi |
 |
| August 13 - Obon Road Trip D1 - We visited the newest roadside station of Hokkaido - Furubira Roadside Station in Furubira |
 |
| August 13 - Obon Road Trip D1 - We camped at Bikuni Kodomari Campsite in Shakotan |
 |
| August 14 - Obon Road Trip D2 - Onsen at Kyogoku Hot Springs and Community Center in Kyogoku |
 |
| August 14 - Obon Road Trip Day 2 - We camped at Kyogoku Three U park Camping Ground for two days |
 |
| August 15 - Obon Road Trip Day 3 - We visited Fukidashi Park in Kyowa |
 |
| August 15 - Obon Road Trip Day 3 - Quick visit to Roadside Rest Area "Bōyō-Nakayama" in Kimobetsu |
 |
| August 15 - Obon Road Trip Day 3 - We visited Hamamasu Local Museum in Ishikari City |
 |
| August 24 - BBQ bonding with Matsuda-sensei and his family at Reuke Farm in Rumoi City |
 |
| August 25 - The JLPT test results are out. I passed N5. It's the lowest proficiency level, but it made me more confident in learning Japanese. |
 |
| August 31 - Bonding with Kai and Ella at Senba Park in Rumoi City |
🌜August
 |
| September 6 - Bonding with ALTs at Karakure in the town of Obira |
 |
| September 15 - Family day at Asahikawa Science Museum |
 |
| September 20 - We visited the Takikawa Folk Museum in Takikawa City |
 |
| September 20 - Visited Oohata Meatshop in Shintotsukawa to buy high-quality meat for our visit to Ebata-sensei |
 |
| September 20 - Dinner with Ebata-sensei in Rumoi City |
 |
| September 23 - Blueberry picking at Maruzen Sato Orchard in Mashike |
 |
| September 23 - Family bonding in Senba Park in Rumoi City |
 |
| September 23 - Transferred to Takasago Park for our afternoon family bonding in Rumoi City |
 |
| September 28 - Walking along Rumoi River |
🌜September
 |
| October 4 - Side trip to the Urausu Local History Museum in the town of Urausu |
 |
| October 4 - Side trip to Osokinai Shrine in Urausu on my way to New Chitose Airport |
 |
| October 4 - Went to New Chitose Airport in Chitose City for my flight to Kumatori in Osaka |
 |
| October 5 - Stopover at Shima Cafe in Osaka City while looking for a suitable parking area for our visit to EXPO 25 |
 |
| October 6 - Visited the EXPO 2025 with the Kameyama Family |
 |
| October 6 - Late-night ramen at Ichiran Ramen in Izumiotsu City |
 |
| October 7 - Breakfast at Sakura Cafe in Izumisano City |
 |
| October 7 - Quick visit to Pokémon Store New Chitose Airport in Chitose City |
 |
| October 12 - Family bonding at AEON Mall West Store in Asahikawa City |
 |
| October 13 - Kai's play day at Chairumo in Rumoi City |
 |
| October 18 - Father and Daughter trip to Sensai no Yu-En in Chitose City after driving my wife and Kai to the airport for their vacation to the Philippines |
 |
| October 18 - Dinner at Tamafuji in Chitose City |
 |
| October 19 - "Car-ping" at Chitose Roadside Station |
 |
| October 19 - Watched the salmon swim upriver at Chitose River |
 |
| October 19 - Explored and enjoyed the Chitose Aquarium in Chitose City |
 |
| October 19 - Visited the Kuriyama Town Pioneer Museum in the town of Kuriyama |
 |
| October 19 - Visited Yutarikkan in the town of Yuni |
 |
| October 19 - Paid respects to the guardian of the town at Hokuryu Shrine in Numata town |
 |
| October 31 - Culture Day 2025 Road Trip D1 - Toma Town Local History Museum in the town of Toma |
🌜October
 |
| November 1 - Culture Day 2025 Road Trip D2 - Yubetsu Shrine in Yubetsu |
 |
| November 1 - Culture Day 2025 Road Trip D2 - Kerochikotsu Park in Yubetsu |
 |
| November 1 - Culture Day 2025 Road Trip D2 - Saroma Roadside Station in Saroma |
 |
| November 1 - Culture Day 2025 Road Trip D2 - Abashiri Folk Museum in Abashiri City |
 |
| November 1 - Culture Day 2025 Road Trip D2 - Onsen and "Car-ping" at Kiyosato Roadside Station in Kiyosato |
 |
| November 2 - Culture Day 2025 Road Trip D3 - Kiyosato Space Observatory in Kiyosato |
 |
| November 2 - Culture Day 2025 Road Trip D3 - Memorial Hall of Sister Cities in Shari |
 |
| November 2 - Culture Day 2025 Road Trip D3 - Betsukari Roadside Station in Betsukari |
 |
| November 2 - Culture Day 2025 Road Trip D3 - Mt. Io in Teshikaga |
 |
| November 2 - Culture Day 2025 Road Trip D3 - Tsubetsu Wood Craft Museum Kinos in Tsubetsu |
 |
| November 2 - Culture Day 2025 Road Trip D3 - "Car-ping" at Kitami Roadside Station in Kitami City |
 |
| November 3 - Culture Day 2025 Road Trip D4 - Sounkyo in Kamikawa |
 |
| November 3 - Culture Day 2025 Road Trip D4 - Osamunai Shrine in Fukagawa City |
 |
| November 8 - Iemanja Concert in Rumoi City |
 |
| November 15 - Sunagawa City Local Reference Room in Sunagawa City |
.jpg "November 15 - 711 series EMU (Red Train) in Iwamizawa City") |
| November 15 - 711 series EMU (Red Train) in Iwamizawa City |
 |
| November 15 - Yuni Town Cultural Exchange Center in Yuni |
 |
| November 15 - Team Nicerio Reunited at New Chitose Airport in Chitose City |
🌜 November
 |
| December 16 - Rumoi English Conversation Club bounenkai in Rumoi City |
 |
| December 19 - Overnight stay at Teshio Onsen Yubae in Teshio |
🌜December
It is with a heavy heart that I share the sorrowful truth that this year has not ended without loss. We said goodbye to two remarkable souls who inspired me and embodied the values I hold dear—Judge Frank Caprio and Charlie Kirk. I also lost a dear friend, Mate Hart, who tragically passed away in a boating accident in Europe. May he rest in peace.
As we reflect on their lives, may we cherish the joy they brought, the lessons they taught, and the love they shared so generously. Though their absence leaves a deep ache, their legacy will continue to guide and uplift us. Let us honor them by carrying forward the kindness and strength they embodied.
With a heart still heavy but filled with hope, I now look toward 2026. May it bring brighter days, renewed strength, and fresh opportunities. Farewell, 2025—thank you for the memories, both joyous and bittersweet.
#2025
#Dear2025
#Hokkaido179
Sincerely yours,
Neil Alvin Nicerio
The Backpack Adventures
.jpg "November 15 - 711 series EMU (Red Train) in Iwamizawa City")
Comments
Post a Comment