13/02/2019 / Last updated : 11/02/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Gujo Hachiman and Enku　郡上八幡

Day 74, November 2016, During the night, I had to remove some layers of clothing and we were not using sleeping bags. The morning is damp and very warm. We look around the michi no eki ‘Kokindenju no sato Yamato‘ which is a very pleasant place. It is laid out with small gardens and square ponds full of carp, linked by canals. There are large, flat stones placed here and there to serve as benches. The vegetable market is open and doing good business. On display are some odd vegetables that I have never seen before as well as the usual suspects. The temple museum that houses the Buddha images […]

28/01/2019 / Last updated : 10/02/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Matsumoto Castle　松本城

Day 70, November 2016, A cold morning, and getting colder, with a chill wind blowing. The michi no eki ‘Alps Azumino Horiganenosato’ is busy with elderly people from small trucks delivering vegetables. Customers, buying large amounts, crowd the shop. There are signs requesting that people don’t buy too much of any one item, only 3 bunches of spinach, for example. Matsumoto Castle We set off for Matsumoto castle and park in the city parking. Then go to the bank, which somehow gives us a discount on the parking. The castle is interesting as castles go. It is at least original, not a concrete replica so, you can see how it […]

06/01/2019 / Last updated : 16/03/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Komoro – Castle, garden and town　小諸

Day 64, November 2016, Waking Nightmare I awoke to the realization that Trump was not just a nightmare but, a hard reality, on this bitter morning. The michi-no-eki ‘Raiden kurumi no sato‘ is surrounded by mountains but there is no significant snow on them. Komoro We decide to start the day with a walk in the gardens of Komoro castle ruins ‘Komoro Kaikoen’. The momiji is very pretty and some white plaster buildings make it all very picturesque but, I can’t help feeling how excited I would have been 30 plus years ago. I still appreciate it but, it doesn’t excite. There is not much of the castle to see […]

19/12/2018 / Last updated : 17/05/2026 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Aizu Tsurugajo castle　会津鶴ヶ城

Day 60, November 2016, Unexpected rain in the night and I find my crocs full of water. There is a grey, watery sky but no actual rain. I count at least 42 shachuhaku vehicles in the parking area of michi-no-eki Kita no Sato. Mostly they are camper vans but there is the man in the K (small size) car and a couple in a BMW! Not sure what that was about? After checking the ducks on the small lake – pintail and pocard – we set off for Tsurugajo castle in Aizu. Aizu-Wakamatsu Tsurugajo castle The Tsurugajo castle proves to be very busy even though it is still quite early […]