Minokoshi coast
17/05/2023 / Last updated : 21/05/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Tatsukushi and Minokoshi Coast, weird rocks and coral sea.　　竜串

March 27th. Monday Ohtsuki michi no eki and Kashiwa Jima Michi no eki Ohtsuki comes alive in the morning. The market is opening, and people seem to be seeking information from the appropriate office. The facilities are small but functional. Leaving Ohtsuki, we make for Kashiwa Jima. This turns out to be a pleasant enough drive, but I noted nothing of particular interest in Kashiwa Jima itself. It is a spot popular with divers because of very clear water, (water so clear boats appear to be floating in the air), and variety of fish. There are clearly a number of dive tour boats in the harbour plus dive school B […]
04/03/2023 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Dorogawa Onsen, and the wild road to the demon coast　　洞川温泉

Oct. 22nd. 2022, Good night at michi no eki Resti Karako-kagi on the outskirts of Nara. The number of overnight vehicles seems to have increased since our last visit. On leaving, the first thing we do is fill up with fuel. Nara is significantly cheaper than Nagoya. Why should that be? Dorogawa Onsen Full tank, we set off into the mountains to Dorogawa onsen at Tenkawa-mura. This village is the gateway to Ominesan Temple. Well, gateway for males, women are forbidden to approach too close. The onsen village is crowded into a narrow valley so charging for parking is a local industry. We park at Ryusenji Temple, and D. collects a […]
Takeno beach
10/07/2022 / Last updated : 18/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Genbudo Geopark　玄武洞公園

20th. April 2022, The slope at michi no eki Kumihama did not present any problem. There were perhaps 7 other overnight vehicles in this small michi no eki which, I realize in the morning, has a distant view of the sea and a constant chorus of frogs. Despite my initial reservations it is a good place to spend the night. Genbudo Geopark Our first destination for the day is Genbudo Geopark. Here there are some basalt cave formations we want to view. As luck would have it, there is major construction work in progress and one of the main features is closed. The first major basalt cave is a magnificent […]
Hotokegaura
26/06/2022 / Last updated : 31/01/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Shimokita Peninsula Coast Road and Ferry to Hokkaido　下北半島から北海道へ

June 2019 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 […]
Ikitsuki island
18/01/2021 / Last updated : 19/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Ikitsuki Island and Hirado 生月島、平戸

November 2020, Ikitsuki Ohashi michi no eki A mild night at Ikitsuki Ohashi michi no eki, which proved to be an excellent place to stay. The toilets are clean, if basic, but boast a heated seat washlet which was a surprise. The car park has a view of the bridge, you are almost underneath it, and the sea is next to you. There are benches and picnic tables if the weather allows outside dining. In season it is probably very busy but at this time of year, November, there were only a couple of other vehicles overnight. Obae Lighthouse and Shiodawara cliffs　大バエ灯台、塩俵の断崖 We set off for Oobae Lighthouse on the […]
Yobuko
02/01/2021 / Last updated : 23/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Nanatsugama Quasi National Park and Yobuko 七ツ釜、呼子

November. 2020 An extraordinarily hot day for November. Due to the Corvid 19 pandemic, long trips seem indulgent and reckless, so we take a day trip to Nanatsugama Quasi National Park and Yobuko. From Fukuoka, we take the coast road R.202 to Karatsu. This road used to be narrow and very busy but, due to the toll road highway (Free in this area), the coast road has become far less frequented. It has also been improved so less heart-stopping but still satisfyingly winding. There are also good views of the sea for considerable parts of the way. Niji-no-matsubara　虹の松原 This road also passes through Niji-no-matsubara an area of pine trees planted […]
Kouri-jima
08/12/2020 / Last updated : 23/02/2023 d.d Extra Edition-Okinawa

Bise, Kouri Island and Manzamo 備瀬、古宇利島、万座毛

Jan.2020 Very comfortable night in our accommodation on Sesoko. I told D. the foam mattress was a “True Sleeper”, but she did not believe me. After our complimentary breakfast coffee, we set off to walk on the famous Sesoko island beach nearby. Sadly, access was denied as construction of a huge hotel had taken over the entire area. So, we visited the only other beach on this island which turned out to be a poor affair under the bridge that links it to the mainland. We made use of it for a U-turn and set off for Bise. Bise Bise is a very old settlement, laid out on a grid […]
Izu Matsuzaki
30/04/2020 / Last updated : 31/01/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Nishi-Izu, Matsuzaki and Dogashima　西伊豆

July 2019, Shimogamo Onsen Yunohana is not a bad place to stay but it is low lying, backs on to a river and is surrounded by foliage. In the rainy season it is hot and full of mosquitoes. Our night was not as bad as I make this sound and we both slept well. The dismal weather is a problem. This area is famous for views of Mt. Fuji and that is out of the question. As we drive the coast road R.136, the glimpses of the cliffs and coastline urge us to stop and admire the scenery. However, as in many areas like this, where the land drops abruptly […]