22/01/2019 / Last updated : 29/01/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Lake Nozori & Agatsuma-kyo　野反湖、吾妻峡

Lake Nozori As the forecast for Nikko is still bad, we make for Kusatsu, via a coin laundry in Numata. On the road to Kusatsu, we make a side trip to visit Nozoriko or Lake Nozori. This proves to be further than anticipated and at the end of a long and winding road. It is steep and very narrow, which is fine, but we repeatedly meet dump trucks coming down as, we discover, there is a quarry half way up. We reach a car park overlooking the lake, but high above it, and realize that there are various hiking routes around the lake and over nearby peaks. This is all […]

13/01/2019 / Last updated : 10/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Shiraito no taki and Aokigahara　白糸の滝、青木ヶ原

Day 68, November 2016, Asagirikogen michi-no-eki Despite being 900 meters high in November, it was a warm night. Fujisan looks grey and ominous this morning. The michi-no-eki Asagirikogen is busy though it is before 7am. Even tour busses are pulling in to unload, mainly elderly, passengers to use the toilets. What time did they leave their hotels? We head out early, though clearly, not as early as some. Shiraito no taki – Shiraito Waterfall D. is anxious to get to Shiraito no taki before the crowds as it is a very famous spot. We succeed in this and get to the parking area before the attendants so, free parking for a […]

06/01/2019 / Last updated : 16/03/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Fujisan – Mt.Fuji　　富士山

Day 67、November 2016, Leaving Tokyo Up around 7:30, to get our stuff together and repack the van after 2 nights in Tokyo. At first, we do well heading out of Tokyo but, after entering a long underground section of highway, the navi stops working. It takes a little while for this to become apparent by which time, although still underground, we now have absolutely no idea where we are. We have to surface to establish our whereabouts. It turns out we are around Aoyama and we join the Tomei highway. This was not the one we planned to use but, it is not so congested and soon we can see […]

05/12/2018 / Last updated : 08/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Izunuma – Genbikei　伊豆沼、厳美渓

Day 54, October 2016, The morning breaks cold and overcast. The pale, weak sun not really trying to raise the temperature above the 3 degree mark. As we have a long drive ahead, we set off early, heading north to visit the temples and gorge that we missed by making for Mt. Iwaki. Izunuma Lunchtime finds us at Lake Izunuma and, after picking up a bento in a supermarket, we head for the lake which is a famous bird sanctuary. Here, the car park we find, has a view of the water only partly obscured by bushes and reeds. Sadly, the lake, from this point at least, is not very […]

29/10/2018 / Last updated : 29/01/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Sabo Culture park, Lake Tazawa　田沢湖サボーカルチャーパーク

Summer 2018, Another day of mice and men. We planned to climb Akita Komagatake, well the easy bits, as the weather forecast was good for the afternoon. The overnight rain, supposedly, clearing by lunchtime. To find some slightly cheaper fuel, we drove to the outskirts of Morioka to fill up the car and to buy food for the climb and dinner. Finally reaching ‘Alpa Komakusa‘ the foothills around lunchtime, it is still raining on and off and the TV screens, showing weather conditions on the mountain, are a grey blur. Having no rain gear we postpone our ascent to the morrow. Sabo Culture Park In the sunny spells, which are […]

26/10/2018 / Last updated : 29/01/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Michi-no-eki Futatsui and Lake Tazawa　田沢湖

Summer 2018, Juniko lakes (twelve lakes) are our destination for the day but when we arrive we are not impressed. So underwhelmed, in fact, that we circle the car park and leave. Michi-no-eki Futatsui Lunchtime finds us at Futatsui on route 7. This is a re-new michi-no-eki, open only about three weeks at this point. It is a very large affair, masses of parking and a good deal of open space around. The building itself is rather grand with a high timber roof of intricate rafters. The restaurant serves the usual suspects but is reasonably priced. The Yoneshirogawa (Yoneshiro River) flows behind it and there is a flight of broad steps […]

14/09/2018 / Last updated : 07/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Hiking Oirase Gorge to Lake Towada　奥入瀬

Day 43, October 2016, Awake well before the 6.30 alarm that D. set to be on the safe side, as we have to make an early start today. It is a cold, windy morning with patches of blue sky but ominous dark clouds racing overhead. We are in a hurry to leave, so a cold breakfast and canned coffee before we drive to the Oirase Gorge, pausing only to take yet more autumn leaf pictures. Oirase Gorge Arriving at Oirase Gorge, we mistake where to stop and as a U-turn is difficult on such a narrow windy road press on and finally stop in the mid-section of the gorge, Ishikedo. […]

21/05/2018 / Last updated : 19/05/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Nishiyama crater and Showa Shinzan at Lake Toya　西山クレーター

Day 32, October 2016, Takarada campground Morning brings a day of very changeable weather, heavy rain and bright, warm sunshine in quick succession. After breakfast we pack up in the intermittent rain. But when we are ready for the road, the bright sunshine encourages us to walk along the lakeshore of Takarada campground. The lake is beautifully serene as we follow the path through the trees along the shore. This path is made of bark or wood shavings, organic material that is soft and springy and with the moss growing on it and the sun shining through the leaves it is a magical, elfin path through an enchanted wood. The […]