27/08/2019 / Last updated : 02/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Takehara to Shimanami Kaido　竹原、しまなみ海道

October 2018, A little rain in the night at Mito SA. The morning is aglow with misty sunshine that rapidly becomes more shine than mist. The cleaners are abroad in the car park with their yellow balloons attached to their helmets. We follow the Chugoku Expressway but, sadly, only as far as Ogori where we pick up the Sanyo Expressway. This is not such a good road as far as I am concerned, more traffic, more tunnels, less undulation and fewer curves. Takehara – Taketsuru Masataka Coming off the Sanyo, we take Route 185 to Takehara. This town has an area of Meiji era houses; just one street really, overlooked […]

25/08/2019 / Last updated : 20/03/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Timber Wolves at Asahiyama Zoo 旭山動物園

Day 7 September 2016, Today is zoo day, so we drive back towards Asahikawa. This involves driving down the long valley of rice fields that stretch to the wooded hills that rise sharply on either side. Tacky tin buildings, farm house and sheds dot the fields. There are also many abandoned structures too. Some of these completely collapsed presumably by the weight of winter snow. Asahiyama Zoo The zoo is well signposted and there are many large car parks. Asahiyama zoo is famous, at least in Japan, for the ingenuity of some of its enclosures. This zoo attempts to shows the normal behaviour of the animals. Impossible, of course, in […]

19/08/2019 / Last updated : 02/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Komo-jinja, Ao no doumon and fantastic Rakanji　青の洞門、羅漢寺

December 2017, Komo-jinja and Ao no doumon　薦神社、青の洞門 Our first stop of the day is Komo-jinjya not far from the michi-no-eki Nakatsu. The shrine is not very interesting but we enjoy a walk by the large pond in pleasant morning sunshine though it is still cold in the shade. The pond is the object of worship of the shrine. After walking by the pond, we drive to Ao no doumon to walk through the tunnel. Zenkai, an early 18th. century monk hand dug this tunnel to ease movement for local people. Little of this original remains, as a much larger excavation carried out in the Meiji period destroyed most of Zenkai’s […]

19/08/2019 / Last updated : 02/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Saganoseki Peninsula and Usa Shrine　佐賀関、宇佐神社

December 2017, A peaceful night at Yayoi michi-no-eki, cold but we sleep warm. The morning is chilly and cloudy and someone is erecting a Jerry’s Popcorn stall right in front of us as we emerge. Next to that, a knife grinder and seller, white K-trucks are delivering vegetables to the shop. Busy. Saganoseki Peninsula We leave, a little after nine am, but it is still cold. as we head for Saganoseki. Here we are surprised to discover an observatory at the end of Saganoseki peninsula. From this point there is a splendid view of the turbulent straits (Houyo straits) between Kyushu and Shikoku. The lighthouse on the end of Sada-misaki […]

17/08/2019 / Last updated : 02/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Ohmi Shrine and Kimigayo rocks　大御神社

December 2017, Ohmi Shrine Kimigayo rocks　　大御神社さざれ石 Our first stop of the day is Ohmi Shrine. This is a pleasant place in a small cove at the end of a long sandy beach. The Shrine is a modest, unadorned, wooden structure perched on an interesting rock formation. Basalt columns, I guess. There is also a large rock called ‘Sazare-ishi’ garlanded with a ceremonial rope that, D. was surprised to discover, features in the Japanese national anthem. The rock is a large lump of conglomerate, that stands next to a natural, circular pool that was important in Jomon era dragon ceremonies. All this and a sandy cove too! A short walk through […]

15/08/2019 / Last updated : 02/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Cape Toi, Udo Shrine and Aoshima　都井岬、鵜戸神社、青島

December 2017, Cape Toi We set off for Toi-misaki(Cape Toi), which has good views, a lighthouse and wild horses(Misaki-uma). We visited this place on a motorcycle trip 30 plus years ago and had fond memories of it. Especially the minshuku, or B&B. This place, despite our initial reservations, (it looked like a very tacky café) provided superb sea views, opera on the radio and excellent food. We were surprised to find you now have to pay 400 yen to enter the cape and a further 200 yen to view the lighthouse. The cape does offer a spacious area of short, horse nibbled grass and wonderful seascapes on all sides. Then […]

14/08/2019 / Last updated : 02/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Arimura lava field and Cape Sata　有村溶岩展望所、佐多岬

December 2017, Arimura Lava Field A clear morning and a good view of Sakurajima. We can see the active crater which is on this side i.e. the landward side not the ferry port side. We head back towards the ferry port, however, as we want to walk around the Arimura lava field. This is an easy walk as the whole route is tarmac and the circuit takes only about 20 minutes. It is interesting to wander through these contorted rocks and wonder at the fact that these were molten flows. Sometimes this area is thick with fumes depending on the wind direction and the volcanic activity. I have also experienced […]

14/08/2019 / Last updated : 21/01/2025 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Ibusuki, Tamatebako Onsen and Sakurajima　指宿、桜島

December 2017, Tamatebako Onsen A good, quiet night so I can recommend Yamagawaminato Iokaido for an overnight stay. Quite a lot of activity on this Sunday morning, as people arrive to stock up on Katsuobushi. There is even a small bus tour, stopping to make purchases before 9am. We depart and make it back the 15 minute drive to Tamatebako Onsen. We are the first to arrive, still a few minutes early for a 9.30 opening. The entrance building is a modern, unimpressive, concrete structure which belies the experience within. Well, not the washing area which is small, only 8 washing stations, functional and rather cold as the door to […]