15/05/2022 / Last updated : 15/05/2022 d.d Drive Tohoku Area

Mt.Chokai Waterfalls and Namahage Demons　鳥海山、男鹿ナマハゲ

May 29th. Mototaki Fukuryusui　元滝伏流水 A wet night at Kisakata michi no eki but by morning the weather is clearing. Mt. Chokai is still a mass of towering, grey cloud but there are patches of blue out over the Nihonkai (Japan sea). We set off for Mototaki Fukuryusui. This is about 15 minutes’ drive from the michi no eki. This is a natural spring, that forms many small waterfalls. It is fed by the numerous rivulets emerging from the subterranean springs of Mt. Chokai. The whole area is covered in a luxuriant moss due to the damp and shade. There is a pleasant ten minute or so walk through the woods […]

30/03/2022 / Last updated : 30/03/2022 d.d Kyushu 2020-21

Mt. Aso, Kijima-dake and Hourei no yu　阿蘇杵島岳、豊礼の湯

Dec ’21 Minami Aso, Kugino michi no eki Waking in Minami Aso on a frosty, misty morning that promises a fine day, we walk around the large, flat area that comprises this michi no eki. We note the dog run and the large Christmas illuminations that are unilluminated at this time of the morning. There is also an artificial, rectangular pond. It reflects the mountains and a series of cartoon figures in silhouette so I conclude it is for Instagram purposes. Nevertheless, the soft morning light, the mist and the hazy blue mountains are an absolute delight. Mt. Aso From the road station we set off for Mt. Aso. As […]

26/03/2022 / Last updated : 26/03/2022 d.d Kyushu 2020-21

Ebino Plateau and the 3 Lake Course　えびの高原

December, ’21 A bright full moon and a very cold night. Ebino Plateau We set off on a beautiful morning for the Ebino Plateau, making sure to buy supplies on the way before getting into the mountains. It is often difficult to buy food in very rural areas. Around midday, we arrived at a large car park of Ebino Eco Museum Centre. From here we could see the snow on Mount Io and Karakunidake glistening in the bright sunshine, there was, however, a bitterly cold wind whipping across the open space. The 3 Lakes Course　池めぐりコース We had planned to hike around the three crater lakes, but part of the route […]

10/03/2022 / Last updated : 10/03/2022 d.d Kyushu 2020-21

National Route 445 and Takachiho Gorge　　国道445号、高千穂峡

Dec. ’21 National Route 445 Today we are making for Takachiho and its famous gorge. It is many, many years since we were last there. First, we have to cross the Kyushu Mountains. The highway is the easy but dull option, so we take Route 445. This is a national route, but the actuality makes this hard to credit. Long sections of this road are far too narrow for two vehicles to pass, and it is very windy indeed. There is evidence of rockfalls, and road subsidence everywhere so considerable maintenance is essential. This in turn means construction traffic, so the possibility of meeting oncoming dump trucks is constant. As […]

28/02/2022 / Last updated : 28/02/2022 d.d Kyushu 2020-21

Tamatebako Onsen and Kirishima 　玉手箱温泉、霧島

December Tamatebako Onsen 　玉手箱温泉 Woke in Yamakawa-ko michi no eki. This is an unspectacular place down in the fish docks, but it is quiet, the toilets are surprisingly reasonable and there is an izakaya next door. More importantly, it is only 12 to 15 minutes’ drive from Tamatebako onsen. This is probably the reason there were 6 to 8 other shachuhaku vehicles in the place on a cold December night. We make straight for the onsen and arrive just as it is opening at 9:30 am. There is only one other person in the bath as I enjoy the morning sun over the sea, the bleak massifs of Takeyama towering […]

16/02/2022 / Last updated : 28/02/2022 d.d Kyushu 2020-21

South West Kagoshima Drive　南西鹿児島

December. 2021 Kiire michi no eki　　喜入 Our first shachuhaku night in a long time and we choose a very cold and windy one. Driving down on the west coast of Kagoshima prefecture, we stop for lunch at Izumi. Here, car rocking in the strong wind, we watch tsuru (common and hooded cranes) banking as they come in to land. We planed to visit Fukiagehama to see the longest dunes in Japan but the gale means it is not the right weather for sand. So we just try to find the place for the night. Our first choice of michi no eki, Kinpo Konohanakan, proves to be very open and exposed […]

10/08/2021 / Last updated : 28/10/2021 d.d Kyushu 2020-21

Yamanami Highway, Daikanpo and Nabegataki　やまなみハイウェイ、大観峰、鍋ヶ滝

As the pandemic slithers on, long distance travel seems inappropriate, but some relatively local excursions can be excused as contact free. In this spirit we head for Aso. This volcanic vent in central Kyushu is really outstanding and the surrounding area is spectacular in different, calmer ways. Today, we skirt the edge of the Aso caldera and visit Daikanpo. This is a viewing spot on the edge of the caldera that provides a view of the active volcano that is the centre of Mount Aso with all its attendant peaks. The most identifiable being the ragged skyline of Neko-dake. From this viewpoint, one can gain a clear idea of the […]

13/07/2021 / Last updated : 28/10/2021 d.d Kyushu 2020-21

Takasu Shrine and Koshin-zuka　　高須神社、庚申塚

As travel in a time of pandemic is anti-social, it has been a time of exploring or revisiting little local gems. Takasu Shrine　高祖神社 One of these is Takasu shrine located in Takasu, Itoshima Kyushu. This place is not particularly famous or spectacular, but it is worth a visit. I say it is not famous, but it has an historical record dating back to 1197. Its origins are, as they say, lost in the mists of time, The shrine is related to Takasu Castle the remains of which we did not explore as they appeared to be lost in the tangles of undergrowth. It also has a special stage for shrine […]