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 […]

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 […]

20/03/2023 / Last updated : 03/11/2024 d.d Hiking / Walking

Mt. Aso Eboshidake, butterflies and a frog　阿蘇烏帽子岳

Nov. 1st. 2022, Nakatosa michi no eki Nakatosa michi no eki proves to be a fine place to stay. It is flat, has good modern facilities, a dog run, provides plenty of rubbish bins and clearly marked evacuation routes in case of a tsunami. This being the Pacific coast of Koichi, something to keep in mind. It is adjacent to a small port, busy with fishing boats unloading. Misaki to Saganoseki Ferry There was a little light rain in the night but by the time we set off for the ferry port at Misaki this has stopped. We follow last night’s baffling road of wide metalled road, tunnels and narrow […]

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 […]

18/03/2023 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Zenigata Sunae and Takaya Jinja, Torii in the sky　銭形砂絵、高屋神社

Oct. 30th. 2022, In the event, Genpei no Sato Mure was no problem but has little to recommend it. On a weekday it is probably reasonable enough but it’s busy at weekends. Zenigata Sunae On leaving, we take a long drive to Kannonji to see Zenigata Sunae. From Kotohiki Park the final stretch is up a steep narrow road that is thankfully one-way traffic. At the top, is a small car park and a viewing point of a sand sculpture. This is large and can be seen clearly from the top of the hill. Back from the strip of sand beach, in a clearing in the pine trees, is a […]

04/03/2023 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Odaigahara, to the edge of the abyss.　　大台ヶ原

Oct. 23rd. 2022, Kiho-Umigami Koen michi no eki Kiho-Umigami Koen is in most ways a good place to stay. There is a covered walkway which would be great on a rainy night, and it is flat with reasonable facilities. It was a little noisy on a Saturday night. It was also very warm for late October, and we were troubled by mosquitoes. The beach here is famous as a spot for Sea Turtles to lay eggs, as the name suggests. Odaigahara We leave the coast and head into the mountains again. This time to Odaigahara on the Odaigahara driveway. As we climb, approaching our destination, the view of mountains is […]

28/02/2023 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Kamikochi, beyond Kappa Bashi　　上高地

Oct. 18th. 2022, Okuhidaonsengo Kamitakara michi no eki The second night at Okuhidaonsengo Kamitakara is different. It is not raining, and the morning promises fine so perhaps this is why it was much busier and rather noisy. Mostly chatter and car doors banging as, I suppose, people prepare to leave well before sunrise to scale high peaks. Shuttle bus to Kamikochi We were up before 6.30am but at least it was daylight. We drive the 10 or 15 kilometres back to Hirayu, Akandana car park for the shuttle bus to Kamikochi. Private vehicles are not permitted into Kamikochi beyond the Kama tunnel on R. 158, so the only options are […]

24/02/2023 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Utsukushigahara, cows grazing above the cloud sea + Mishaka ike　美ヶ原

October 2022, Marumelo no eki Nagato Marumelo no eki Nagato is a good place to stay even though it is very busy and has no rubbish bins or vending machines. For this, you have to visit Lawsons. We leave early, waking before 6.30am. Very unusual but D. has a plan. This is to walk at Utsukushigahara, an open highland that is not a wetland. It is noted as a place to see a sea of cloud. The place is high enough to be above the cloud bank. Utsukushigahara We arrive at michi no eki Utsukushigahara Kogen and have no difficulty parking in the huge car park. Even from here, there […]

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