30/07/2023 / Last updated : 30/07/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Sandankyo Hiking　三段峡

April 22nd. 2023 Michi no eki San Eight Mito Michi no eki San Eight Mito provides us with a good night. There are no other guests, and the facilities are reasonable. Although very close to the road, there is no traffic so this is not an issue. It is not a popular shachuhaku (sleep in a car) spot but it is a possibility. Sandankyo From the michi no eki we set off for Sandankyo. This gorge has been a very famous tourist attraction from perhaps Taisho times. We were debating whether to climb Mt. Shinnyu or walk the gorge, both start from essentially the same place. The weather is bright […]

24/07/2023 / Last updated : 24/07/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Sugaya Tatara Sannai, Princess Mononoke’s world 　菅谷たたら山内

April 21st. 2023 Michi no eki Sakagura Okuizumo and Orochi no sato Michi no eki Sakagura Okuizumo Koryukan is a dead place. It is flat and has good toilets so for an overnight stay it is fine. Except that the signs tell you not to do that. As a michi no eki it has nothing except the sake products that it wishes to sell as it is basically a sake brewery. There is not even a drink vending machine, so we set off before breakfast in search of coffee. This we find at michi no eki Onochi no sato about 14 kilometres away. This is a much more pleasant place […]

21/07/2023 / Last updated : 21/07/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Fukiya, Red Iron Oxide Village 　　吹屋

April 20th. 2023 Michi no eki Kayou Waking in a still misty michi no eki Kayou we slowly discover it’s secrets. The facilities are reasonable as the place has few overnighters but it does become a little overrun in the morning rush. We are surprised to discover a hidden Lawsons, open from 9am to 6pm. There is a shop selling Bonsai and other plants. The bonsai are elementary but are selling for less than the usual price of the ceramic pot containing them. It also boasts a non-functioning water wheel and a picnic area on a grassy knoll that was closed off. I had the impression the place had seen […]

18/07/2023 / Last updated : 18/07/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Uji Byodo-in, Ten yen temple　　宇治平等院

April 19th. 2023 Michi no eki Resty Karako-Kagi Thunder in the night at Resty Karako-Kagi, but the actual downpour only lasted a few minutes. Resty, as I have said before is an excellent michi no eki for an overnight stay. Consequently, it is becoming known and popular. I think it would be very crowded – too crowded – on a three-day weekend for example. On a damp Wednesday night, there are perhaps 30 to 40 overnight vehicles, and the capacity is 75 cars. Uji Byodo-in, Ten Yen Temple Thunder in the night gives rise to a damp, foggy morning and the humid conditions persist all day. We set off to […]

15/07/2023 / Last updated : 15/07/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Nara/ Kyoto border Kasagidera and Dragon Shrines　笠置寺、龍穴神社

April18th. 2023 Kasagidera Temple From the michi no eki Minami Yamashina we drive to Kasagidera. A large temple not on the usual tourist itinerary, outside autumn leaves season anyway. The access to Kasagidera is up a somewhat daunting lane that ends in a car park for perhaps 20 cars. No one is collecting parking fees earlyish on a Tuesday morning in Spring. From the car park, there is a walk of perhaps 200 metres, past an unlikely ryokan to the first temple building. Here a gentleman accepts 300-yen temple entrance fee and another 300 for D.’s Goshuin. We are then free to wander the mountaintop circuit (about 800m) of temple […]

12/07/2023 / Last updated : 12/07/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Shin-Hotaka ropeway　　　新穂高ロープウェイ

April 16th. 2023 For such a small michi no eki Azumino Matsukawa on a wet night there were quite a few overnight vehicles. Come morning, we set off for the Shin-Hotaka ropeway. Abo Touge (Pass) On the way to Okuhida, for the Shin-Hotaka ropeway, we took R.158 to Hirayu. We thought it more fun to drive over the Abo Pass as it provides a wonderful view of Mt. Yakedake from the top. The road over the pas is on the right just after the entrance to the Kama tunnel but before the Hirayu tunnel. The road appears to be open. We drive up past Nakanoyu Onsen but there is more […]

09/07/2023 / Last updated : 09/07/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Matsumoto City Museum of Art 　松本市美術館

April 15th. 2023 Shinshu Tsutakijuku provided a reasonable night, even in the rain that started around midnight. There were quite a number of overnight guests. Come the morning all vehicles converged on the parking spaces nearest the toilets. Michi no eki Kobuchizawa We leave, in relentless rain and drive a few kilometres to michi no eki Kobuchizawa to take a look as, we have heard, it has a bakery. It does have a large prominent chain bakery which specializes in fancy, expensive, sweet things but does not really sell bread. Inside the michi no eki building is a much more modest, real bakery. This offers serious bread, baguettes and crusty […]

06/07/2023 / Last updated : 06/07/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Daizenji – Grape Temple and Shosen-kyo　大善寺、昇仙峡

April 14th. 2023 Michi no eki Otaki onsen We spent the night at michi no eki Otaki onsen. It was a Thursday night so the onsen was closed as was the restaurant. There is a F. Mart open until 10 pm but that is on another level up there with the road. The michi no eki car park etc. are below, deeper in the gorge. The first impression of the place is grim concrete, especially as a section of the parking is under the parking for the convenience store above. The michi no eki is connected to the F. Mart by a rusting spiral staircase. The facilities are also under […]