14/12/2019 / Last updated : 17/10/2021 d.d Early Summer Flowers Road Trip '19

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 […]

10/12/2018 / Last updated : 15/11/2021 d.d Japan Summer Festivals Road Trip '18

Akita Komagatake hiking　秋田駒ケ岳

The night, at michi-no-eki ‘Shizukuishi Anekko‘, was much cooler than expected. I found it necessary to put on a sweater around 4 am. The morning is bright and clear as we arrive at Alpa Komakusa. Here we leave the car and take the bus to Mt. Komagatake Eighth Station, to begin our walk. Our plan is to walk to Amidaike, a small pond/lake between two fairly accessible peaks. Amidaike pond The climb to this point is quite steep, the path bordered by thick bushes and sasa grasses. It is like walking through jungle especially as the day is hot and oppressive. There is relief from this as, every so often, […]

29/10/2018 / Last updated : 16/11/2021 d.d Japan Summer Festivals Road Trip '18

Sabo Culture park, Lake Tazawa　田沢湖サボーカルチャーパーク

Another day of mice and men. We planned to climb Akita Komagatake, well the easy bits, as the weather forecast was good for the afternoon. The overnight rain, supposedly, clearing by lunchtime. To find some slightly cheaper fuel, we drove to the outskirts of Morioka to fill up the car and to buy food for the climb and dinner. Finally reaching ‘Alpa Komakusa‘ the foothills around lunchtime, it is still raining on and off and the TV screens, showing weather conditions on the mountain, are a grey blur. Having no rain gear we postpone our ascent to the morrow. Sabo Culture Park In the sunny spells, which are quite […]

26/10/2018 / Last updated : 16/11/2021 d.d Japan Summer Festivals Road Trip '18

Michi-no-eki Futatsui and Lake Tazawa　田沢湖

Juniko lakes (twelve lakes) are our destination for the day but when we arrive we are not impressed. So underwhelmed, in fact, that we circle the car park and leave. Michi-no-eki Futatsui Lunchtime finds us at Futatsui on route 7. This is a re-new michi-no-eki, open only about three weeks at this point. It is a very large affair, masses of parking and a good deal of open space around. The building itself is rather grand with a high timber roof of intricate rafters. The restaurant serves the usual suspects but is reasonably priced. The Yoneshirogawa (Yoneshiro River) flows behind it and there is a flight of broad steps down […]

12/10/2018 / Last updated : 17/11/2021 d.d Japan Road Trip Autumn '16

Mt. Chokai　鳥海山

Day 50 A lot of fast moving cloud this breezy morning but the sun breaks through now and again. The top of the mountain is in cloud and white horses crest the Nihonkai(Japan sea). The temperature is about 11°C but the wind is cold. It is well before 8am but 3 or 4 hardy Pokémon hunters are already absorbed at michi-no-eki Kisakata. Chokai Blue Line Finally we leave, and meander through the inland islands which we have to admit are not up to much when driven through. After picking up lunch supplies at a Max Value we head up Mt.Chokai. This is a drive from sea level to over a […]

07/10/2018 / Last updated : 18/11/2021 d.d Japan Road Trip Autumn '16

Nakajimadai, beech wood and Kisakata　中島台、象潟

Day 49 Yes the rain eased, but returned with a vengeance several times during the night judging by the drumming on the van roof.　The morning is damp but bright and very warm; we hang about so D. can check Higashiyuri road station’s local produce. Nakajimadai, Shishigahana Wetland We set off finally and drive to a beech tree and wetland area (Nakajimadai Shishigahana wetland) on Mt.Chohkai. Beware of bears signs abound as we set off for a walk through the beech woods, our anti-bear bell tinkling. The path is, as usual, along a wooden walkway and is very slippery due to the autumn leaves. I slip a couple of times and […]

18/09/2018 / Last updated : 19/11/2021 d.d Japan Road Trip Autumn '16

Goshogake onsen and Hachimantai　後生掛温泉、八幡平

Day 45 A grey start to the day but not so cold and no frost though the stars were visible in the night. We breakfast on coffee and toast and apples prepared in the office basement of Goshogake campsite and are enjoying this in the dining room when people start arriving for an event starting at 9. They are apologetic when we leave but breakfast is over anyway. The Akita apples ’Kita Kurenai’ are very good. We walk around the pond ‘Onuma’ which is part of the campsite. The usual raised wooden walkway carries you over the swamp and it is all very pretty but no sign of life, except […]