15/09/2024 / Last updated : 15/09/2024 d.d Hokuriku region

Ichijodani Asakura Clan Ruins and Kumakawa juku　一乗谷朝倉氏遺跡、熊川宿

April 12th. 2024 Michi no eki Zen no Sato is ok for an overnight but not I imagine at weekends or high season. Ichijodani Asakura clan ruins Yesterday was geological time but today is more 17th Century Japan as we set off for Ichijodani Asakura clan ruins. This is a spot of great historical importance. The site was at one time an important town of some 10,000 inhabitants and the seat of the powerful Asakura warlords for 103 years from the mid 15th century. Though they was evidently not as powerful as Oda Nobunaga who laid the place to waste. All that remains are the foundation stones of numerous buildings […]

23/08/2024 / Last updated : 23/08/2024 d.d Temple / Shrine

Tsubosakadera, Great Buddha in cherry blosssoms　壺阪寺

April 8th. 2024 A quiet night, michi no eki Yoshinoji Kurotaki is a good place to stay. There is an adequate if strange onsen nearby and the facilities are splendid for such a small rural michi no eki. Though I don’t recall any fresh flowers. Tsubosakadera Our first stop of the day is Tsubozakadera. We had planned to visit this temple on the off chance this past weekend but the sight of the jammed traffic trying to enter the approach road gave us an instant change of heart. The following day traffic was also insane so we thought there must be something worth seeing. Today, Monday, access is easy thought […]

20/08/2024 / Last updated : 22/08/2024 d.d Hiking / Walking

Asukamura, Historical Area　明日香村

April 7th. 2024 Inabuchi Terraced Rice Fields　稲淵の棚田 The morning at michi no eki Yoshino-ji Kurotaki is busy early, not locals delivering produce but people taking pictures of Sakura (cherry blossoms) and waiting for the shop to open. We leave but find the roads around Yoshino and district already clogged with traffic, so we change direction and go to see the Inabuchi Rice Terrace at Asukamura. We assumed this would be something out of the ordinary but apart from a convenient lay-by and a fairly modern toilet it had nothing to distinguish it from other patches of landscape all over Japan. But the surroundings seem popular with cyclists. Undeterred, we next […]

14/08/2024 / Last updated : 14/08/2024 d.d Hiking / Walking

Akame 48 Waterfalls　赤目48滝

April 6th. 2024 Yoshinoyama mistake Michi no eki Kudoyama gave us an unexpectedly restful night being much less busy than anticipated. We rise earlier than usual and are soon on the way to Yoshinoyama to visit the temple and view its abundance of cherry blossom. We leave early as we expect it to be very busy, Sakura season, Saturday, and the last weekend of spring break. As we get closer still well before 9am. We hit significant traffic. This gets worse and worse, but we persevere as we were expecting the place to be busy. In the end, sitting in almost motionless traffic, on a steep incline watching the hoards […]

11/08/2024 / Last updated : 11/08/2024 d.d Temple / Shrine

Kamiyama, weeping cherry town　神山町

April 4th. 2024 Kamiyama Onsen michi no eki is very quiet during the night but comes alive early in the morning. Perhaps it is a meeting point for construction crews. We set off for Shosan-ji temple, number 12 on the Henro trail and the second highest (938m). On the way, we stop to take pictures of Shidare Sakura (weeping cherry) this is Kamiyama after all. Shosan-ji temple　焼山寺 The temple is reached by a tortuous, narrow lane necessitating the odd reverse to accommodate oncoming traffic. At the top, is a large car park from which you follow a track with a steep cliff face on one side and views over the […]

29/07/2024 / Last updated : 29/07/2024 d.d Temple / Shrine

Henro Trail Ryozenji temple　霊山寺

April 3rd. 2024 The rain in the night at michi no eki Itano was of little consequence, stopping and starting in an opportune manner but the day ahead is a wet prospect. We set off to a coin laundry so as not to waste a fine day. Ryozenji temple After the laundry, we go to see temple number 1 of the Henro trail, Ryozenji. This temple is of some interest. It has a solid wooden gate not large but elegant and immediately inside a pond across which is a view of a hall topped with gold ornamentation. The pagoda is of particular interest having a rounded mid-section. I am sure […]

25/07/2024 / Last updated : 25/07/2024 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Shiude-yama cherry blossoms　紫雲出山

April 1st. 2024 Luckily, the thunder and rain eased well before mid-night so no frantic dash to the toilets in a downpour. Michi no eki Takarada no Soto is on the noisy side, a lot of traffic in and out and trucks running engines all night. Ichinomiya Park　一の宮公園 Now we have a day to kill as we have a reservation to drive up Shiude-yama to view the cherry blossom. We must be at the fishing port at the foot of the mountain around 4.30pm. First, we take a look at Ichinomiya Koen(park). This is an ordinary sort of park but with a swimming beach. There are people taking advantage of […]

12/07/2024 / Last updated : 12/07/2024 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Scenic Drive R. 442 from Yame to Aso　八女から阿蘇へ

March 26, 2024 A leisurely start to this trip – the first for a year – in that we don’t leave until around mid-day. It is cold, windy and there is persistent drizzle. Soon, before we hit the highway, we stop for lunch at Ohsho. This gyoza chain had it’s origins in Kansai and I remember it as very down market, tin tables, plastic table covers and the staff skating in white gum boots on the greasy floor. It has cleaned up it’s act and is now a very reasonable lunch spot. Cost/performance excellent and the menu extends beyond gyoza and ramen. Cherry blossoms at Hyugami Dam　日向神ダム Soon we are […]