09/01/2021 / Last updated : 09/01/2021 d.d Kyushu 2020-21

Chimachibou to Ikitsuki Island　乳待房、生月島

November. 2020 Yamabushi The middle of a pandemic, despite the government’s urging “Go To Travel” is not the ideal time to set out on a trip. The government’s campaign may be an economic success in the short term but, perhaps, also a super spreader event. Shachuhaku, we reason, is different in that you can almost completely isolate yourself traveling in your own bubble. So we set off on a short trip to explore Chimachibou. This is a small but rugged mountain in Saga Prefecture. It features perpendicular crags – like those in Chinese sumi-e paintings – that are much sought after by Yamabushi. This religious sect venerate mountains and favour […]

07/09/2020 / Last updated : 07/09/2020 d.d Drive Kansai Area

Onaruto Bridge to Horyuji　大鳴門橋、法隆寺

November 1st. Hina no Sato Katsuura michi no eki A very quiet night at Hina no Sato Katsuura michi no eki. Ours was the only vehicle in a very large car park and the road, after the evening rush, was largely devoid of traffic. The facilities are reasonable but during the morning busy period prove to be rather too small. This is because the adjoining JA vegetable market is very popular. This area of Shikoku we have explored on previous trips, so after filling up with fuel, (for some reason I cannot fathom, Tokushima-ken has significantly cheaper fuel than most other places) we head out on the highway across Awaji-shima […]

18/08/2020 / Last updated : 24/08/2020 d.d Drive Shikoku Area

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 […]

01/02/2020 / Last updated : 02/04/2021 d.d Drive Hokkaido Area

The Taushubetsu Rail Bridge emerges from the water　タウシュベツ橋梁

June 11th. Minami Furano michi no eki is a good place to stay. The parking is flat, the toilets are modern and clean, and it is away from the main road. It is busy in the morning and there are no rubbish bins, but a good place nevertheless.. Shikaribetsuko – Lake Shikaribetsu We head off to Shikaribetsuko but on the way we run into fog at the Karikachi-pass on R.38 and when we drop down to the lake it is mostly covered in mist. The only access to the lake, we find, is by a large hotel. There is a jetty with boats to hire for fishing but little else. […]

14/09/2019 / Last updated : 24/08/2020 d.d Drive Kansai Area

Awajishima to Soni HIghlands　淡路島、曽爾高原

November 10th. ~ 11th. We follow R.11 towards Tokushima to take the bridge to Awajishima. At Tsuda no Matsubara michi no eki we stop for lunch. This is a pleasant location, next to a shrine and a short walk to the beach. The michi no eki is nothing special and the facilities primitive. The beach is a good spot for a picnic with a view out over the Setonaikai. After lunch, we fill up with fuel as petrol is significantly cheaper in Tokushima-ken than Kagawa-ken. Don’t ask me why. Onaruto Bridge and Uzushio michi no eki. Across Onaruto Bridge to Awaji, where we stop, on the off chance, at michi […]

07/09/2019 / Last updated : 24/08/2020 d.d Drive Shikoku Area

Oboke, Iya and Mima in Tokushima　大歩危、祖谷、美馬

November 6th. Oboke Valley 　大歩危 Our plan for the morning is to climb Mt. Tsurugi but, the forecast is cloud and we can see the mist hanging over the peaks in the distance. So, we postpone the climb for a day. As an alternative, we decide to drive the Oboke valley. This is a disappointment, as the valley is difficult to appreciate from the road and the only access points appear to be boat tour stations. Boat tours are popular, perhaps, the only way to view this valley. Iya no Kazurabashi We continue on to visit the famous vine bridge at Iya no Kazurabashi. On arrival, we decide we don’t […]

02/09/2019 / Last updated : 25/08/2020 d.d Drive Shikoku Area

Nakatsu Gorge – Niyodo Blue　中津渓谷 − 仁淀ブルー

November 3rd. Bios Ogata michi-no-eki It is a national holiday and Bios Ogata is busy very early. We go for a short walk and watch the surfers, far away as the beach is very wide. There is also a flotilla of fishing boats arrayed with banners moving slowly, line astern. Suddenly the lead craft breaks away, very fast, and turns around to head back towards the port. All the rest of the boats follow suit, turning in opposite directions alternately and heading back the way they had come towards the port. Clearly some kind of festival but too far away to figure out what it was all about. Leaving the […]

13/05/2019 / Last updated : 18/08/2020 d.d Drive Chugoku Area

Sakaiminato – Kitaro town　境港

Day 91 Kaze no Ie michi no eki It is a cold, foggy morning with ice not just on the windscreen but the whole vehicle is encased in a thin layer. The wooden decking, attractively fronting the toilet area, is treacherous. Kaze no Ie michi no eki is noted for its large vegetable market. A few people are arriving to shop, but it is closed. It shut for the winter on the 1st of December. We drive to Sakaiminato and the temperature rises by 10 degrees as we descend to sea level. The area around Mt. Daisen is very pleasant. There are steep valleys, wide river beds and plateaus. It […]