31/03/2020 / Last updated : 31/01/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Urabandai hiking – Goshikinuma, Nakasenuma　五色沼、中瀬沼

June 2019, Intermittent rain during the night at Ura Bandai michi no eki. The morning is overcast and threatening. Ominous clouds hang over the mountains. Goshikinuma We plan a short walk by the coloured ponds of Goshikinuma. Rain is forecast from 11am. but we hope we can manage a brief hike before then. After we set off, the weather improves and we are walking in intermittent sunshine. The weather remains changeable and the wonderful coloured ponds are frequently dimmed by cloud cover. This Goshikinuma hike is an excellent, easy walk (3.6km) for almost everyone. The path is mainly flat, the woods open and airy and the ponds a startling range […]
15/02/2020 / Last updated : 31/01/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Lake Utonai and around Mt.Yotei ウトナイ湖、羊蹄山

June 2019, Lake Utonai The morning in Mukawa Shiki no Sato breaks bright and warm. We are near the ferry port but our ferry leaves tomorrow night. So, with two days to fill we head inland towards Sapporo, or at least Chitose, to Lake Utonai. This lakeside boasts six walking courses and a bird sanctuary. Lake Utonai is apparently a stopover for migratory birds and over 250 different species can be seen, during presumably in spring and autumn. As we approach Chitose along R.36 in rush hour we meet more traffic than we have seen in weeks. Eventually, we arrive at the michi no eki Lake Utonai. Here we find […]
Lake Kusu
24/01/2020 / Last updated : 30/01/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Lake Kushu Course in Rebun　久種湖

June 2019, Wake, a little stiff from yesterday’s hike, on the  cold, grey morning we leave Rebun Island. We must catch a bus at noon, in front of our hotel, in order to make the 1.25 pm. ferry that goes by way of Rishiri. The morning, is ours to fill. Kushuko Hiking Course Consequently, we opt to walk around Lake Kushu, the Kushuko Course (4.2km). This walk is very gentle and, as it follows the lake closely, has no inclines to test your aching limbs. It is a pleasant, if unremarkable walk, following a mown grass trail along the lakeside and through an area of marsh and reeds. This section […]
06/01/2020 / Last updated : 30/01/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Shosanbetsu, Sarobetsu and Lake Kutcharo　初山別、サロベツ

June 2019, Shosanbetsu – michi no eki, Onsen and Campsite Cloudy morning and quite cold in Shosanbetsu. This is a good place to stay either down by the onsen hotel or up on the headland by the observatory and camp site. From the headland there are wonderful sea views and a choice of campsites. The onsen has left no particular impression, though I have been there twice. It is definitely not bad, I would have remembered that. We spend time watching a couple of hares that are not so timid, so it is possible to get fairly close to them. Ororon Line, Otonrui Wind turbines　オロロン・ライン From Shosanbetsu we stop at […]
Fukiagehama
13/08/2019 / Last updated : 28/10/2021 d.d Kyushu Circumnavigation December 2017

Izumi Cranes and Fukiagehama　出水の鶴、吹上浜

December 9th. Kuronoseto Dandanichiba Dandanichiba was a little noisy during the night due to passing trucks. In the morning, from quite early, it was very busy and noisy, it being a Saturday. We watch as live fish are unloaded from a truck to stock the tanks in the michi-no-eki. The truck driver struggling under the weight of the fish as he carried them, one by one, in a net, from the truck into the michi no eki. Later we check the tanks and note very large Kanpachi (Greater Amberjack), Thai (Sea Bream) and beautiful mackerel swimming about. One Dandanichiba customer bought 3 or 4 big fish; pointing out his choices […]
Ine
03/08/2019 / Last updated : 01/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Mikata-goko to Ine boat houses　三方五湖、伊根

October 2017, Mikata-goko Wet night and a wet morning. We leave michi-no-eki Nishiyama Koen, which is very new and clean and head for Tsuruga, Mikata-goko (five lakes) and three nuclear power stations. The Rainbow Skyline toll road did not provide a rainbow due no doubt to the total absence of sunshine. For some reason, the toll road is half price perhaps because of the typhoon the effects which are everywhere evident. It is a pleasant drive with good views and we eat lunch looking out over the sea, high on a headland, in a deserted car park. At our next stop to admire the scenery, we spot a large flock […]
Izumo Taisha
19/05/2019 / Last updated : 02/11/2021 d.d Japan Road Trip Autumn '16

Izumo-taisha, stone rabbits　出雲大社

Day 93 A night marked by heavy rain and thunder but the morning brings pale sunshine, even if the thunder is still rumbling around and the western sky fantastically dark. I make a trip to the toilet, thinking I have time before any serious rain arrives. As I emerge, the hail is sheeting down. This doesn’t last long and, after a short chat to the lady cleaner, I make it back to the car. We drive across the road to a Lawson car park for breakfast as, uniquely, this michi no eki has no vending machine for coffee. Izumo-taisha　　出雲大社 Our next stop is Izumo-taisha. Its big hall, immediately, made me […]
05/12/2018 / Last updated : 30/11/2021 d.d Japan Road Trip Autumn '16

Izunuma – Genbikei　伊豆沼、厳美渓

Day 54 The morning breaks cold and overcast. The pale, weak sun not really trying to raise the temperature above the 3 degree mark. As we have a long drive ahead, we set off early, heading north to visit the temples and gorge that we missed by making for Mt. Iwaki. Izunuma Lunchtime finds us at Lake Izunuma and, after picking up a bento in a supermarket, we head for the lake which is a famous bird sanctuary.  Here, the  car park we find, has a view of the water only partly obscured by bushes and reeds. Sadly, the lake, from this point at least, is not very impressive. The […]