Chomonkyo　長門峡

April 17^th. 2024

Michi no eki Ganjoju Onsen lives up to its promise. There are only 4 overnight vehicles. The morning is wreathed in mist and a moth that I photographed a year earlier on the toilet wall because it was so large and beautiful (the moth not the toilet) was still there. Well, one of the same species in much the same place.

Chomonkyo

After leaving the michi no eki, we drive about 40 minutes to Chomonkyo/gorge. The latter stages of this drive is along a narrow and I mean narrow (prefecture road 310).
In the unlikely event that you read a lot of these pages, you will be aware that out travels frequently involve driving on single track, winding roads, but this one was disturbing in the almost total lack of passing places. Luckily, a total absence of traffic too.

Ryugubuchi

Arriving at the gorge entrance ‘Ryugubuchi’, there is ample parking and toilet facilities. D. was somewhat perturbed by a bat hanging bat fashion in the Ladies.
A restaurant at the gorge entrance had exhibits of stuffed animals as a window display. I suspect the bat in the Ladies to be an example of taxidermist humour.

The walk along the gorge, if you complete the necessary round trip is a little over 11 kilometres. Not being up to that at present we walk only a section. There is a rough, concrete path following the river which flows unusually slowly. At the beginning, just by the restaurant there are many deep pools full of large carp.

The gorge sides tower satisfyingly overhead but the path is under tree canopy, so views are curtailed.

When we reach the tea house in an open area where the river is wide and spread into rivulets we retrace our steps. This tea house appears derelict but may just be closed at this time of year. The restaurant by the car park was due to open for the season shortly.

A fine walk full of crags, trees, flowers, and strong, slow water and 3 snakes, the first of the year.

From the gorge we are home in 4 hours or so. The end of another satisfying trip.