Lake Kusu
24/01/2020 / Last updated : 17/08/2020 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 […]
Cape Gorota
19/01/2020 / Last updated : 17/08/2020 d.d Drive Hokkaido Area

Cape Sukoton Hiking Course in Rebun　礼文島ハイキングコース

7th. June A little rain in the night but the morning is dry, if overcast. Cape Sukoton We take the bus from Rebun-so Hotel to Cape Sukoton, the start of the Cape Tour hiking course . This is a hike of some 12 kilometres. The bus is very expensive, so the day passes that are available are probably a good idea if you are likely to take the bus more than once. Arriving at Cape Sukoton we join the bus tour groups gazing across the water to Todo Island. This is a wintering spot for sea lions, but they left in April. It is also the location of the most […]
Rebun island
18/01/2020 / Last updated : 17/08/2020 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. […]
Tsuda no matsubara
14/09/2019 / Last updated : 24/08/2020 d.d Drive Kansai Area

Awajishima to Soni HIghlands　淡路島、曽爾高原

November 10th. ~ 11th. We follow R.11 towards Tokushima to take the bridge to Awajishima. At Tsuda no Matsubara michi no eki we stop for lunch. This is a pleasant location, next to a shrine and a short walk to the beach. The michi no eki is nothing special and the facilities primitive. The beach is a good spot for a picnic with a view out over the Setonaikai. After lunch, we fill up with fuel as petrol is significantly cheaper in Tokushima-ken than Kagawa-ken. Don’t ask me why. Onaruto Bridge and Uzushio michi no eki. Across Onaruto Bridge to Awaji, where we stop, on the off chance, at michi […]
Naoshima Ferry Port with Kusama Yayoi
11/09/2019 / Last updated : 24/08/2020 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, […]
flower vase and shouji
27/08/2019 / Last updated : 24/08/2020 d.d Drive Shikoku Area

Takehara to Shimanami Kaido　竹原、しまなみ海道

October 29th. A little rain in the night at Mito SA. The morning is aglow with misty sunshine that rapidly becomes more shine than mist. The cleaners are abroad in the car park with their yellow balloons attached to their helmets. We follow the Chugoku Expressway but, sadly, only as far as Ogori where we pick up the Sanyo Expressway. This is not such a good road as far as I am concerned, more traffic, more tunnels, less undulation and fewer curves. Takehara – Taketsuru Masataka Coming off the Sanyo, we take Route 185 to Takehara. This town has an area of Meiji era houses; just one street really, overlooked […]
Ariake Sea
11/08/2019 / Last updated : 23/08/2020 d.d Kyushu Circumnavigation December 2017

Ariake Sea 　有明海

  Day One. Fukuoka to Ariake -Sweeping curves to a blow-dried rectum. Just after 11am we leave Fukuoka and head for Susenj to cross the mountains (pref.R.56) via the Mitsuse Tunnel. After crossing R. 202, the road up towards the tunnel is wide with smooth curves sweeping upwards. I recall coming down this road, 30 years ago, when it was a dirt track that became increasingly impassable as the gully erosion in the centre became wider and wider. We were too far down to reverse and there was no possibility of turning round; we had to press on. I unloaded the family and eased the 4WD Honda Street down the […]