25/02/2025 / Last updated : 25/02/2025 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Unzen Nita Toge　雲仙仁田峠

November 27th. 2024 Michi no eki Ariake Perhaps 7 or 8 overnight visitors at michi no eki Ariake. The facilities are adequate but very draughty being open to the elements on both sides. But it does have a pleasant Onsen. It is an OK place. The weather which has been very kind on this trip has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Very changeable with brief periods of sunshine and torrential showers. It is also very windy. Shimatetsu Ferry We take the usually sedate ferry, from Amakusa Oniike port to Shimabaru Kuchinotsu, that today pitches and plunges quite alarmingly, spray bursting over the bows. ＊Shimatetsu ferry ; 500 yen […]

23/02/2025 / Last updated : 23/02/2025 d.d Temple / Shrine

Aoi Aso jinja　青井阿蘇神社

November 26th. 2024 Michi no eki Nishiki The covered walkway to the toilets at michi no eki Nishiki proved invaluable as torrential rain hit during the night. The toilets themselves are very new and modern with what appears to be a new michi no eki standard. We have noted the same pattern in newly refurbished toilets elsewhere. There are specific toilets for children and baby changing rooms. Admirable, but a massive use of space that limits other areas. Aoi Aso Shrine We set off in the rain to Aoi Aso Jinja. This is an interesting shrine and one of the national treasures in Kyushu, apparently. The main buildings are very […]

22/02/2025 / Last updated : 22/02/2025 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Tarumizu Senbon Icho　垂水千本銀杏

November 25th. 2024 Michi no eki Tarumizu Michi no eki Tarumizu is a good spot for an overnight stay. Flat and spacious with modern, clean toilets. There is also a cheap and cheerful onsen. No frills, no soap no shampoo. It does have an ashiyu or foot-bath with a view of the bay and Mt. Sakurajima. There are 10 to a dozen overnight vehicles. One of these caught my attention. An oldish K-car, a small car less than 600 cc. Was parked in the handicapped spaces under the roof in front of the toilets. The car was full of rubbish, some spilling outside. As it had no shades the elderly, […]

17/02/2025 / Last updated : 17/02/2025 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Cape Sata, view of East China Sea and Pacific Ocean　佐多岬

November 24th. 2024 Michi no eki Kinko Nishiki no Sato Kinko Nishiki no Sato was a good choice for an overnight. Even on a Saturday night there were only 2 other vehicles so the limited facilities were not an issue. It was very quiet and provides a splendid view. In the morning, it was busy with locals shopping as the michi no eki seems to fill the role of a local supermarket. There is also a Lawsons next door. From Kinko Nishiki no Sato our destination is Cape Sata, the southernmost tip of Kyushu. The road approaching the Cape is deserted and the nearer you get the more tropical the […]

14/02/2025 / Last updated : 14/02/2025 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Ogawa Waterfall and Oosumi Peninsula　雄川の滝

November 23rd. 2024 Michi no eki Kuninomatsubara Oosaki Kuninomatsubara Oosaki is a recommended place to stay. The onsen is spacious and friendly though really too hot. The toilets are over designed but if you ignore the bells and whistles they are extremely clean and modern. No rubbish bins is the only real downside, well that and the massive silver kabutomushi (stag beetle). Uchinoura, JAXA launch site　内之浦 We set off for the JAXA rocket launch site at Uchinoura. Not that we are particularly into rocket science but hope it may prove interesting. On arrival at what is certainly a remote location, we are issued with a pass and allowed to enter […]

29/01/2025 / Last updated : 29/01/2025 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Michi no eki Nango, Botanical Garden　道の駅なんごう

November 22nd. 2024 Michi no eki Nango and Botanical garden Michi no eki Nango is, I think, an excellent place to stay. Yes, most of the parking is on a bit of a slope but there are places that are flat. The toilets are small, clean and 50% modern. They also feature potted plants and posies. Any negative points are outweighed by the splendid location; overlooking the sea and adjacent to a large, free botanical garden few michi no eki come close. In the botanical garden there is a tropical area, a rock plant area and Jacaranda woods. There are various trails and wooden boardwalks wandering through a large area. […]

29/01/2025 / Last updated : 29/01/2025 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Mizonokuchi Cave and Miike Lake　溝口洞穴、御池

November 21st. 2024 Miike Lake　御池 Michi no eki Ebino provided a good night and we set off for Mizonokuchi Doketsu. On the way to this large cave, we are sidetracked by a sign to Miike, a small lake that we passed yesterday. The sign has a picture of a Fairy Pitta. I have never seen this bird so we make for the lake. The lake presents a splendid view of placid water with Mt Takachiho (maybe) looming in the background. Here you can rent paddle boats and canoes but the rental place is closed as is the path around the lake edge due to a rockfall. We note that there […]

26/01/2025 / Last updated : 26/01/2025 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Kunimigaoka and Mitate gorge　国見が丘、見立渓谷

November 19th. 2024 Kunimigaoka, cloud sea. The night at michi no eki Seiunbashi was very cold, a sudden, drastic drop in temperature. 3 degrees C with the clear sky, bright with a waning moon. This morning D. wants to go to Kunimigaoka to view the cloud sea. Consequently, we set the alarm for 6.30 and set off before breakfast. It is, however, quite a long drive and well past sunrise when we arrive to a wonderful view with an almost complete absence of cloud. We can see a puff of smoke hanging over Mt. Aso far away in the distance. The reclining Buddha, formed by Nekodake and Aso, very clear […]