Hatenashi Settlement
05/10/2019 / Last updated : 12/05/2026 d.d Hiking / Walking

Kumano-kodo Kohechi, Hatenashi settlement　熊野古道小辺路　

November 2018, Entrance to Kohechi at Yanagimoto Bridge Today we plan to walk a section of the Kumano Kodo Kohechi, pilgrim trail. Kohechi is the oldest and shortest pilgrim trail from Koyasan to Kumano Hongu Taisha.  A distance of about 70 km., through elevations of over 1000m., in the mountains of the Kii peninsula. So, from Mizunosato Hidaka River michi no eki we make for Yanagimoto Bridge on R.168. If you use the bus, the  nearest bus stop is ‘Warabio’, or you can stay at Totsugawa onsen the previous night and walk to the Kohechi entrance. To reach the entrance to this section of the Kumano Kodo, pilgrim trail, you […]
at Nakahechi
29/09/2019 / Last updated : 12/05/2026 d.d Hiking / Walking

Kumano-kodo Nakahechi to Tsugizakura-oji　熊野古道中辺路

November 2018, Kumano-kodo Nakahechi from Chikatsuyu-oji to Tsugizakura-oji The target for the day is to walk part of the Nakahechi to Tsugizakura-oji. So, leaving Kuchi Kumano michi no eki we drive to Chikatsuyu-oji. Here, we park in a large, free car park and set off to find the entrance to the Nakahechi route. Nakahechi was one of the pilgrimage routes to Kumano Sanzan, the three main temples (Hongu, Shingu and Nachi) from Tanabe city. This was the official route for the nobility in Heian times. (We walked another part of this route, from Gyubadoji ( michinoeki Kumano Kodo Nakahechi) to Chikatsuyu-oji on a previous trip.) It is a wonderful, sunny […]
Karekinada
25/09/2019 / Last updated : 12/05/2026 d.d Hiking / Walking

Kumano-kodo Ohechi ; Nagaizaka　 熊野古道大辺路；長井坂

November 2018、 A fine sunny morning with a strong, chill wind coming off the land not the sea. Susami michi no eki has a good view of the sea though this is not obvious from the car park. You must walk round to the other side of the building. Kumano-kodo Ohechi, Nagaizaka course from Mirozu station There are three sacred places in Kii peninsula, Yoshino, Koyasan and Kumano. These are linked by numerous pilgrimage route mostly for Shugendo, a mountain worshiping sect. The Kumano-kodo, however has been a very popular pilgrimage route for more than 1000 years. People, rich and poor, walked from Kyoto to Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama […]
Onigajyo
17/09/2019 / Last updated : 13/05/2026 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Yokoyama Viewing Point, Onigajo and Dorokyo 横山展望台、鬼ヶ城、瀞峡

November 2018、 Michi no eki Ise-Shima proves to be an excellent shachuhaku spot. It is well away from the road, flat, with modern toilets and a large Plant supermarket, which has a good quality deli area, only five minutes’ drive away. Yokoyama Viewing Point Our first stop of the day is Yokoyama Viewing Point. The road, up to the viewing point itself, is steep and very narrow in places. In high season it may be better to park at the bottom (Visitor centre) and walk up as, I imagine, the congestion must be chaotic. We are there early on a Monday morning in November and by the time we leave […]
Tsuda no matsubara
14/09/2019 / Last updated : 13/05/2026 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Awajishima to Soni HIghlands　淡路島、曽爾高原

November 2018, We follow R.11 towards Tokushima to take the bridge to Awajishima. At Tsuda no Matsubara michi no eki we stop for lunch. This is a pleasant location, next to a shrine and a short walk to the beach. The michi no eki is nothing special and the facilities primitive. The beach is a good spot for a picnic with a view out over the Setonaikai. After lunch, we fill up with fuel as petrol is significantly cheaper in Tokushima-ken than Kagawa-ken. Don’t ask me why. Onaruto Bridge and Uzushio michi no eki Across Onaruto Bridge to Awaji, where we stop, on the off chance, at michi no eki […]
Ine
03/08/2019 / Last updated : 12/05/2026 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Mikata-goko to Ine boat houses　三方五湖、伊根

October 2017, 2024 Mikata-goko Wet night and a wet morning. We leave michi-no-eki Nishiyama Koen, which is very new and clean and head for Tsuruga, Mikata-goko (five lakes) and three nuclear power stations. The Rainbow Skyline toll road did not provide a rainbow due no doubt to the total absence of sunshine. For some reason, the toll road is half price perhaps because of the typhoon, the effects which are everywhere evident. It is a pleasant drive with good views and we eat lunch looking out over the sea, high on a headland, in a deserted car park. At our next stop to admire the scenery, we spot a large […]
27/05/2019 / Last updated : 13/05/2026 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Sanjusangendo and La Collina at Omihachiman　三十三間堂、近江八幡

October 2017, Sanjusangen-do　　三十三間堂 After an uneventful and unexpectedly quiet night, being right on Route 9., we left Gareria Kameoka around 9am. for the drive into Kyoto.We follow R9 into the city and find the free car park in front of Sanjusangen-do. This parking is for the temple and free for 40 minutes but although we stayed for an hour and a half the attendants did not seem bothered at all. The temple is one of the very famous Kyoto temples and is well worth a visit. A very long main hall houses the thousand Buddhist images flanking the main large seated Kannon. Of these 1000 images 124 were made in […]
Himeji castle
08/05/2019 / Last updated : 13/05/2026 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Himeji, The White Heron Castle 姫路城

Days 87, 88 and 89,  December 2016, After 3 days in Kyoto visiting old friends and some of our favourite places – Kiyomizudera, Maruyama Park, Tetsugaku no michi and Manshuin to name a few – we headed out of Kyoto and followed R. 9 as the weather deteriorated. Finally we stopped at Yoka Tajima no kura michi no eki for a hot bath and to sleep for the night. We wake to weak sunshine, mist in the hollows and steam rising everywhere as we set off for Himeji. The views are wonderful with the mist rising and the sun trying to assert its supremacy; sumie scenes all around. Takeda Castle […]