18/08/2020 / Last updated : 30/10/2021 d.d Shikoku - Nara Road Trip '19

Yusuhara – Architectural wonders in the mountains – and Yasui Gorge 梼原、安居渓谷

October 30th. Yusuhara michi no eki Yusuhara michi no eki , against expectations, transpires to be a good shachuhaku spot. The upper part of the onsen car park, just below the hotel, is quiet and dark and not really so far from the toilet. A good night, with a very beautiful, starry sky. The stars are one of the pluses of getting up in the night. No, there aren’t any others. Yusuhara Town In the morning, we drop down the hill into Yusuhara town to look around. Yusuhara is an interesting place due to the number of unusual buildings designed by Kuma Kengo, of Tokyo Olympic Stadium fame. In addition […]

13/05/2020 / Last updated : 11/10/2021 d.d Early Summer Flowers Road Trip '19

Hida Takayama Museum

June 11th. Hida Kaido Nagisa michi no eki is a large place with little going on. There is a sizable information centre with a stuffed serow, a couple of tanuki in comical hats and very little else. From a shachuhaku point of view it is fine, apart from the lack of rubbish bins. Minami Hida Osaka michi no eki We start the day with a drive to Minami Hida Osaka michi no eki. We were hoping to walk to a couple of waterfalls before the rain that is forecast for later in the day. On the way, we are pre-empted and by the time we arrive the rain is relentless. […]

11/05/2020 / Last updated : 11/10/2021 d.d Early Summer Flowers Road Trip '19

Obuse, Hokusai’s Phoenix ceiling 小布施

July 9th. Obuse michi no eki Obuse is a strange michi no eki in that there is parking underneath the main building. This is good in the rain. Unfortunately, the elevator from the parking area to the toilet stops at 8 pm. After that you have a long trek outside and up some steps. A long way in the wet. It is also noisy, as the road, just off a highway interchange and at a crossroads, is very busy. On the other hand, the toilets are very good and rubbish bins are provided. There is also a park and a restaurant. On this visit it was all under wraps as […]

02/05/2020 / Last updated : 13/10/2021 d.d Early Summer Flowers Road Trip '19

Hakone Okada Museum of Art and Oshino Hakkai 　岡田美術館、忍野八海

July 4th. Taking the Tokaido A wild, wet and windy night. Torrential rain and the van rocking in the gusts. The morning brings no respite as the rain is still relentless and forecast to be so until lunchtime. There is not a lot we can do, so decide to take a look at the Okada Museum of Art in Hakone. We set off along the coast road, strewn with leaves, branches and the occasional rock, detritus from the storm. Of course, all the places along here that boast a Fuji view are overly optimistic. Finally, we take Route 1., the old Tokaido. This is the route to Edo (modern Tokyo) […]

25/04/2020 / Last updated : 13/10/2021 d.d Early Summer Flowers Road Trip '19

Eirinji Temple and Ishikawa Uncho 石川雲蝶, Michelangelo of Echigo

June 24th. Eirin-ji Temple and the Echigo Michelangelo　永林寺 The morning at Minami Uonuma michi no eki is dismal wet. Relentless rain and heavy, dark clouds piled up around the mountain as we set out for Eirin-ji temple. This unprepossessing, out of the way temple is home to the works of Ishikawa Uncho. A late Edo and early Meiji period artist, he was a master of wood carving, painting and plaster relief. He worked mainly in Niigata so became known as the Michelangelo of Echigo, the old name for Niigata. His work impressed us in various ways. The incredible skill of his 3-D wood carving, some incorporating perspective and some double […]

22/04/2020 / Last updated : 13/10/2021 d.d Early Summer Flowers Road Trip '19

Tagokura Dam, Rokujuri-goe Pass and Kiyotsu Gorge　田子倉ダム、清津峡

June 23rd. Oku Aizu Kaneyama is a good place to stay. There was some major construction in progress, but the view is better than most, the facilities are good and rubbish bins are provided. Shachuhaku friendly. It is also set in a picturesque area. Very Nihon mukashi-banashi as in old folk tale. Tagokura Dam Today rain is forecast, but there is some hazy sunshine as we set off. First, we drive to the Tagokura Dam on the Tadami River. The road leading up the dam is very steep and delivers spectacular views. The dam was planned in 1939 but, after many difficulties, was finally finished in 1960, J Power is […]

12/02/2020 / Last updated : 14/10/2021 d.d Early Summer Flowers Road Trip '19

Hosooka Viewing Point, Rokka no Mori 　細岡展望台と六花の森

June 15th. Hosooka Viewing Point The morning at Takkoku Campsite is damp and blustery but the only rain is an intermittent sprinkle borne on the wind. For an overall, last look at the wetlands, we set off for the Hosooka Viewing Point. From here there is a good scenic vista of the marshes and the meandering Kushiro River. There is a visitor centre near the viewing point, but parking is limited so it is better to park in the much larger parking area a little lower down. This large car park serves the tiny Kushiro Shitsugen station. The visitor centre is large and provides comfortable armchairs around a huge wood […]

11/09/2019 / Last updated : 24/10/2021 d.d Shikoku and Kii peninsula 2018

Naoshima-Benesse House Museum 　直島

November 9th. Naoshima The rain in the night causes us no problem and we are awake early to catch the Shikoku Kisen ferry from Takamatsu to Naoshima. We arrive in good time for the 10 am sailing. It is a sunny morning, after the overnight rain, and the short boat ride to the island is very pleasant. ＊Takamatsu – Naoshima (Miyanoura) ; 990 yen / adult (return) On arrival at Naoshima, we have a picnic lunch at the ferry port with a view of Kusama Yayoi’s red pumpkin. We then take the 100-yen bus to the Chichu Museum but, rather than enter, we walk along the road devoid of cars, […]