18/02/2023 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Hakuba Happo-one, Happoike hiking　八方池

October 2022, Despite its grim appearance, michi no eki Shinshushinmachi is fine from a shachuhaku point of view. There were very few other vehicles, the facilities large and clean and rubbish bins are provided. The road has very little traffic during the night. Hakuba Happo-one An early rise, and off to Hakuba Happo-one. Already busy when we arrive and parking at 1000 yen a bit shocking, plus the two chair lifts and gondola ride make this a pricy outing. The chair lift is an interesting ride in itself, and it is clear some people ride it for its own sake and do not venture further up the mountain. The lift […]
Shirakawago
27/06/2022 / Last updated : 18/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Shirawakawago in spring to Kuzuryu　白川郷から九頭竜

18th April 2022 Michi no eki Hida Hakusan This was our second time to spend a night at Hida Hakusan. It is a good place for an overnight at least outside peak tourist season as the proximity to a world heritage site probably means it get seriously crowded. We shared the car park with perhaps four other vehicles and one person on a Honda 50 who erected a small tent. Kudos. Trucks grinding up the hill do make a noise but there are few. This michi no eki has an adjacent onsen which is spacious and pleasant. The outside bath was, sadly, not in operation due to lack of water. […]
Hida Furukawa
22/06/2022 / Last updated : 18/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Hida Asahi village and Hida Furukawa Walk　　飛騨古川

17th April 2022 Hida Asahi Cherry Tree tour　飛騨朝日村 This morning we wander around Hida Ashahi-mura to see the, at least locally, famous cherry trees. We walk around the village and visit 4~5 cherry trees at shrines and temple. These are a little disappointing as they are either past their prime or yet to shine. So, we drive a short distance to visit another Shinmei shrine (Aoya district). Here the cherry blossom is reflected in a handily flooded rice field. At night it is clear that this is very special but in daylight with a stiff breeze rippling the water it is beautiful but not outstanding. Hida Furukawa Having had our […]
Yashimagahara wetland
18/06/2022 / Last updated : 18/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Kirigamine Yashimagahara Wetland, Empty Walking Path in April　　霧ヶ峰八島ヶ原湿原

April 15th. 2022 Michi no eki Imai Megumi no sato gives us a quiet night of pouring rain but by parking next to the handicapped spaces dry access to the toilets. Kirigamine Yashimagahara Wetland　八島ヶ原湿原 Today we set off for Yashimagahara Wetland in Kirigamine, here there is a walking course of a few kilometres depending on which circular route you choose around the marshy ponds. We had planned to follow the Venus line to this spot, but part of the route is closed until the end of this month, April. So we followed the section that was open and drove for some distance in thick fog with no views at all. […]
Mt.Kobo Tomb
09/06/2022 / Last updated : 18/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Mt. Kobo Tomb Cherry Blossom Hiking　弘法山古墳

13th April, 2022 Michi no Eki Farmus Kijimadaira Michi no Eki Farmus Kijimadaira gave us a very quiet night. This michi no eki provides no rubbish bins and there are notices requesting you take your rubbish home. Today we are traveling to Matsumoto city in Nagano prefecture to view the cherry blossom of the 4,000 trees covering an ancient tomb. Nakayama Cemetery　中山霊園 Arriving in Matsumoto we make for the Nakayama municipal cemetery. From there, there is a short, about 5km. return hike to the tomb and 4,000 cherry trees. It was a surprise to find that the cemetery shares space with a mallet golf course. Mallet golf which, I suspect […]
Norikuradake
21/05/2020 / Last updated : 31/01/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Norikuradake Hiking and Hirayu Onsen　　 乗鞍岳と平湯温泉

June 2019, Wake earlier than usual as we plan to climb, well hike a bit, on Norikuradake   Mt. Norikura. We drive to the Honoki-daira free parking area to take the bus to Tatamidaira by way of the Norikura Skyline. Tatami-daira is the highest bus stop in Japan, which was certainly news to me. The bus fare is 2,300 yen return and the shuttle bus runs every 30 minutes. Norikura Skyline is open from May 15th. to Oct. 31st. Tatami-daira　　畳平 From Tatami-daira there are various hiking routes, from the gentle stroll round the flower meadow, Ohanabatake, to the hike to the top of Mt. Kengamine, the highest peak of the […]
Tsumago-juku
11/05/2020 / Last updated : 31/01/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Nakasendo from Magome to Tsumago 馬籠から妻籠

June 2019, Kisomura michi no eki is fine for shachuhaku. The traffic did not prove to be a problem. The toilet is modern but does smell a bit. It has no natural ventilation and the automatic fan is not effective enough. That’s my diagnosis – for what it’s worth. Nakasendo from Magome 馬籠 to Tsumago 妻籠   From the michi no eki we drive Route 19 towards Nagoya but branch off and travel through Tsumago and on up to Magome to walk the famous section of the Nakasendo. This is the old Edo era road from Kyoto to Edo, today’s Tokyo. Along this route were numerous – 69 in fact […]
Lake Kizaki
10/05/2020 / Last updated : 31/01/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Togakushi Kodo and Okusha, Lake Kizaki　戸隠古道、木崎湖

July 2019, Otari michi no eki Otari michi no eki is a noisy place, even on a Sunday night. It is on a straight stretch of road at the bottom of a long hill so the trucks, of which there are many, really get up speed, sweeping down or taking a run up for the climb.  They roar past very close to the parking. The morning is bright, hot and sunny so we think we will grab the chance to walk  Happo-One and see the view. It is only a 10 or 15-minute drive but during that short period the cloud has rolled in and the nearby hilltops are lost […]