24/12/2020 / Last updated : 29/10/2021 d.d Extra Edition-Okinawa

Urauchi River Cruise and Hiking, Iriomote island　浦内川クルーズ、西表島

Day 6 Up around 7 am and start the day with a quick convenience store breakfast in our hotel room. This is a concrete box, even on the inside. Taking the ferry to Iriomote island After checking out, we walk to the ferry terminal to take the ferry to Uehara on Iriomote Island. However, as we had been warned, due to inclement weather the ferry to Uehara is not running. The route of the Uehara ferry is outside the shelter of the islands, so the sea is too rough when the wind is from the north, especially in winter. Passengers for this ferry are then, routinely, transferred to the Ohara […]

22/12/2020 / Last updated : 10/10/2021 d.d Extra Edition-Okinawa

Taketomi island, snorkeling and cycling　竹富島

Day 5 Up at 7 am on snorkeling day. A quick, convenience store sandwich breakfast as the diving school guy is picking us up at 8, outside our hotel. At the port, we find there are only two other people on this trip. They are planning to dive whilst we are only going to snorkel. We set off and, surprisingly far from the shore, we finish pushing into our wet suits and take to the water. Snorkeling This is my, indeed our, first experience of wet suits and it was colder than I had anticipated. Not seriously uncomfortable but a periodic shock as a wave sloshed down my neck and […]

30/07/2020 / Last updated : 30/10/2021 d.d Drive Shikoku Area

The UFO Line-scenic drivecourse　　UFOライン

October 28th. Beppu-wan SA Woke in Beppu-wan SA (Oita-do highway) after a cold and very windy night, and a drive from Fukuoka. This service area is on the top of the hill overlooking Beppu near the APU campus. I once met an APU student, from Singapore, whose first words in Japanese were “Kaze ga tsuyoi desu ne” The wind is strong, isn’t it? If you spend time around APU you will understand this. Nevertheless, from a shachuhaku point of view Beppu-wan SA is a good place to stay,. It is busy early on a Sunday night but ultimately quiet. There is a viewing mound, or grassy knoll, with a view […]

16/02/2020 / Last updated : 14/10/2021 d.d Drive Tohoku Area

Ura Bandai, Nihon Kitsune　裏磐梯

June 20th. Ferry to Sendai After a smooth night on the Taiheiyo ferry we arrive in Sendai at 10am. We carried our food and beverages (Thank you Seicomart) but this ferry line, I think, offers a better food selection than the Maizuru line. There is boiling water and a microwave available if you want to avoid the pricey restaurants. Shichikashuku and Tsuchiyu michi no eki Once off the ferry, we make for Shichikashuku on Route 113. This is a pleasant enough michi no eki, but it is not exactly on the dam lake as we were expecting. There is an adjoining park plus a park golf course and at the […]

24/01/2020 / Last updated : 15/10/2021 d.d Drive Hokkaido Area

Lake Kushu Course in Rebun　久種湖

June 8th. Wake, a little stiff from yesterday’s hike, on the cold, grey morning we leave Rebun Island. We must catch a bus at noon, in front of our hotel, in order to make the 1.25 pm. ferry that goes by way of Rishiri. The morning, is ours to fill. Kushuko Hiking Course Consequently, we opt to walk around Lake Kushu, the Kushuko Course (4.2km). This walk is very gentle and, as it follows the lake closely, has no inclines to test your aching limbs. It is a pleasant, if unremarkable walk, following a mown grass trail along the lakeside and through an area of marsh and reeds. This section […]

18/01/2020 / Last updated : 15/10/2021 d.d Drive Hokkaido Area

Rebun-Floating Island of Flowers, Hiking the Momoiwa Observation Course　礼文島

June 6th. Up at 6am after a quiet night at Wakanai michi no eki. It is a long trek to the toilets in the night but, at least, when you get there, they are modern and clean. Ferry to Rebun Island We drive the short distance to the ferry port, about 2 minutes, and buy our tickets. We then return to the michi no eki for breakfast with 30 minutes to spare before boarding. Back at the ferry terminal, we leave the car in the pay car park. People do leave their cars in the michi no eki car park; we feel, probably stupidly, that this is a bit rude. […]

26/12/2019 / Last updated : 16/10/2021 d.d Drive Tohoku Area

Mutsu Bay Coast Road and Ferry to Hokkaido　陸奥湾

June 1st. Yokohama michi no eki was busy from dawn. From first light people were gathering and by 7am two busloads of baseball teams were overwhelming the facilities. Mutsu Bay Coast Road to Hotokegaura and Ooma We have to catch a ferry from Ooma at 1:00 pm so this gives us enough time to take the coast road (R.338) via Wakinosawa and Hotokegaura. This road has a bad reputation and most people avoid it. This seems to me overcautious as almost all the way to Hotokegaura it is two-way traffic. It even has a centre line, so it is merely, bendy. Initially, this route passes a natural harbour formed by […]

11/09/2019 / Last updated : 24/10/2021 d.d Drive Shikoku Area

Naoshima-Benesse House Museum 　直島

November 9th. Naoshima The rain in the night causes us no problem and we are awake early to catch the Shikoku Kisen ferry from Takamatsu to Naoshima. We arrive in good time for the 10 am sailing. It is a sunny morning, after the overnight rain, and the short boat ride to the island is very pleasant. ＊Takamatsu – Naoshima (Miyanoura) ; 990 yen / adult (return) On arrival at Naoshima, we have a picnic lunch at the ferry port with a view of Kusama Yayoi’s red pumpkin. We then take the 100-yen bus to the Chichu Museum but, rather than enter, we walk along the road devoid of cars, […]