01/02/2020 / Last updated : 20/03/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

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

June 2019, 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　　然別湖 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. […]

30/01/2020 / Last updated : 19/03/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Wakkanai to Asahikawa, Scenic Drive　　稚内から旭川

June 2019, Cold and windy night in Wakkanai, but warm enough in the car. By morning, the breeze is still chilly but the clouds are breaking up and the sun is making the effort to break through. By the time we are ready to leave, it is a warm, sunny day. Sarobetsu wetland by Ororon line We take the coast road – Ororon line (R.232) back towards Sarobetsu. This is a great road, following the coast with splendid views of Mt. Rishiri and with flowers busting through the sasa on either side. As we head south, we can see the array of wind turbines standing tall and hazy in the […]

06/01/2020 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 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 […]

13/10/2019 / Last updated : 01/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Koya Ryujin Skyline; Gomadansan, Koyasan Okuno-in　高野龍神スカイライン

November 2018, Koya Ryujin Skyline Obviously, Ryujin michi no eki is silent as the grave with only a little more light. The 24 hour toilet is terrible. The door to the handicapped facility is broken and does not close. I cannot recommend the place for shachuhaku. Of course, it is possible to stay, just lower your expectations Koyasan is our destination for the day and we drive the Koya Ryujin skyline (R.371). This is a good road, of sweeping views, from Ryujin to Koyasan Okunoin. Gomadansan (Mt.Gomadan) 護摩壇山 Along the skyline, at Gomadansan, the second highest mountain in Wakayama, we stop to take a short walk through the beech woods […]

02/09/2019 / Last updated : 05/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Shikoku Karst Road, Godan and Tengu Highlands　四国カルスト

November 2018, Mikawa michi-no-eki Leaving Tenku no Sato Sanan, we take R. 33 along the river valley towards Kouchi. We stop to look at Mikawa michi-no-eki. This would be an excellent place to stay. It has access to the river which flows blue. As we progress, the valley becomes increasingly spectacular. Just beyond Mikawa michi-no-eki is a huge crag, sitting in the river reminiscent of Gunkanjima (Mitsukejima) in Noto Hanto. (Gunkan is battleship, and the island resembles a ship heading directly for the beach.) Later the road takes us higher and higher and the valley becomes so steep and narrow that it is impossible to see the river in the […]

23/02/2019 / Last updated : 29/01/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Abo Toge / Abo Pass　安房峠

Summer 2018, Michi no eki Fuketsu no sato is a busy michi no eki on the main route between Matsumoto and Takayama. Consequently, a lot of tour buses stop here and it is on the Highland Kamikochi and Norikura bus lines. Thunder in the night and the day breaks cloudy with intermittent rain. After driving towards Matsumoto, to take advantage of the cheaper gasoline, we U-turn towards Takayama. Skirting the town, we have wandered its crowded tourist sites in the rain before and have no desire to do so again, we head slowly on R. 173 towards Gujo Hachiman. Having time on our hands we plan to check a few […]

07/02/2019 / Last updated : 29/01/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Mt.Shirane Yugama and Manza Onsen　白根山湯釜

Summer 2018, Route 292 Our plan for the day was to walk around Mt.Shirane Yugama, a crater lake above Kusatsu. On arrival, we find this is not possible, as the area is still closed after the sudden eruption of last January. Consequently, we decide to drive around and approach from the other side via route 292. We take the toll road (Manza highway) to Manza onsen where we pick up R.292 again and drive to the highest point on a national road – 2,172 meters. This is, of course, pointless but the views are magnificent. On this route, the toll road bit, I was surprised to see two serow; presumably […]

28/01/2019 / Last updated : 10/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Yatsugatake Highlands and Suwa Taisha　八ヶ岳、諏訪大社

Day 69, November 2016, Kiyosato Highland　　清里高原 A very wet night but, we woke to a warm morning of weak sunshine, golden hills and Onbashira paraphernalia. Onbashira is the crazy festival, held every 7 years, when the locals ride tree trunks down a very steep hillside, hoping not to get killed. We decide to visit Kiyosato Highland, a place D. used to visit as a child. As the road starts to climb, the clouds roll in and cover everything. This mist lends a truly mysterious air to the larch forests and we drive gently through mist wreathed trees. Sometimes, we stop at viewing spots or parking places. We can see nothing […]

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