Unzen Fugen-dake
25/02/2025 / Last updated : 25/02/2025 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Unzen Nita Toge　雲仙仁田峠

November 27th. 2024 Michi no eki Ariake Perhaps 7 or 8 overnight visitors at michi no eki Ariake. The facilities are adequate but very draughty being open to the elements on both sides. But it does have a pleasant Onsen. It is an OK place. The weather which has been very kind on this trip has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Very changeable with brief periods of sunshine and torrential showers. It is also very windy. Shimatetsu Ferry We take the usually sedate ferry, from Amakusa Oniike port to Shimabaru Kuchinotsu, that today pitches and plunges quite alarmingly, spray bursting over the bows. ＊Shimatetsu ferry ; 500 yen […]
Aoi Aso Jinjya
23/02/2025 / Last updated : 23/02/2025 d.d Temple / Shrine

Aoi Aso jinja　青井阿蘇神社

November 26th. 2024 Michi no eki Nishiki The covered walkway to the toilets at michi no eki Nishiki proved invaluable as torrential rain hit during the night. The toilets themselves are very new and modern with what appears to be a new michi no eki standard. We have noted the same pattern in newly refurbished toilets elsewhere. There are specific toilets for children and baby changing rooms. Admirable, but a massive use of space that limits other areas. Aoi Aso Shrine We set off in the rain to Aoi Aso Jinja. This is an interesting shrine and one of the national treasures in Kyushu, apparently. The main buildings are very […]
18/06/2023 / Last updated : 02/07/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Nokogiriyama Nihon-ji Temple　鋸山日本寺

April 9th. Tokyo Bay Aqua Line Leaving Tokyo via the Aqua Line which we had fondly imagined to be some kind of bridge across Tokyo Bay. It turns out to be a 9.5 kilometre tunnel full of crawling Sunday traffic. After the Umihotaru S.A. it does become a bridge to Chiba side, but the magic has gone. ＊Tokyo Bay Aqua Line ; 3140 yen (car with ETC ; 800 yen) Nokogiriyama Nihon-ji Temple Once in Chiba, a prefecture we are visiting as we have neglected it so far, we head for Nokogiriyama. To climb from the bottom, take the ropeway or drive to the top? That is the question. It […]
Kunozan Toshogu
30/05/2023 / Last updated : 18/06/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Nihondaira and Kunozan Toshogu　日本平、久能山

April 1st. 2023 Akabane Loko Park When we went to sleep at Akabane Loko Park we were far from the michi no eki, out along the sea front. We were also alone. In the morning there are 20 or 30 vehicles stretched out along the beach. These are surfers who have arrived during a Friday night. Before breakfast, we move to the michi no eki Akabane Loko Station itself for the facilities and availability of coffee. Our eventual departure sets us up for a day of driving as we head for Nihondaira.  First, along a lengthy stretch of Route 42 following the beach to Hamanako. This an inlet from the […]
Nagoro Scarecrow
17/05/2023 / Last updated : 21/05/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Oku-Iya, Ochiai Village and Nagoro Scarecrow Village　　奥祖谷

March 28th. Tuesday Very reasonable night at  Michi no eki Musasabi no sato. but very cold as we are at some elevation. The facilities are reasonable. Fresh flowers! It is busy in the morning and the parking is close to the road, but the road is quiet during the night. We leave and take the road towards the famous vine bridge in the Iya valley. This place is very popular with foreign tourists for some reason. We do not view the bridge but press on, on Route 439 towards Mt. Tsurugi. This narrow and tortuous road we follow basically all day. Ochiai Village Observatory　　落合集落展望所 First, we stop at michi no […]
Mt. Kamegamori
19/03/2023 / Last updated : 19/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Climbing Mt. Kamegamori at UFO line　瓶ヶ森

Oct. 31st. 2022, Michi no eki Konoka is excellent for an overnight stay. It has a restaurant that closes at 8pm as does the onsen. The onsen is very good, but I have no experience of the restaurant. I suspect river fish high on the menu as this is a fishing spot. UFO Line It is also close to the entrance to the UFO line, just before the Kanpuzan tunnel on R.194. We have driven this road before but only in thick fog, so we are here for the views. D. has checked the weather forecast and planned to be here on this day. She and the meteorological office are […]
Niseko Panorama Line
22/12/2022 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

East / West across South Hokkaido

Early October 2022, Niseko Panorama Line Leaving Michi no eki Kuromatsunai, we set off for a day of driving. First heading for Mt. Yotei to view the huge volcanic cone, then cutting across to the Japan sea via the Niseko Panorama Line (Prefectural Road 66). This should have been a blaze of Autumn colour, but this year remains stubbornly green. Notwithstanding, it is an excellent road to drive. The coast south of Iwanai On reaching the coast at Iwanai, we head south following the coast of black ominous rocks and shallow reefs. The roadside is dotted with abandoned dwellings and those still inhabited are protected from the wind and winter […]
Shirakawago
27/06/2022 / Last updated : 18/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Shirawakawago in spring to Kuzuryu　白川郷から九頭竜

18th April 2022 Michi no eki Hida Hakusan This was our second time to spend a night at Hida Hakusan. It is a good place for an overnight at least outside peak tourist season as the proximity to a world heritage site probably means it get seriously crowded. We shared the car park with perhaps four other vehicles and one person on a Honda 50 who erected a small tent. Kudos. Trucks grinding up the hill do make a noise but there are few. This michi no eki has an adjacent onsen which is spacious and pleasant. The outside bath was, sadly, not in operation due to lack of water. […]