Botanical garden at michi no eki Nango
29/01/2025 / Last updated : 29/01/2025 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Michi no eki Nango, Botanical Garden　道の駅なんごう

November 22nd. 2024 Michi no eki Nango and Botanical garden Michi no eki Nango is, I think, an excellent place to stay. Yes, most of the parking is on a bit of a slope but there are places that are flat. The toilets are small, clean and 50% modern. They also feature potted plants and posies. Any negative points are outweighed by the splendid location; overlooking the sea and adjacent to a large, free botanical garden few michi no eki come close. In the botanical garden there is a tropical area, a rock plant area and Jacaranda woods. There are various trails and wooden boardwalks wandering through a large area. […]
19/01/2025 / Last updated : 19/01/2025 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Ameushi Waterfall and Bamboo Lantern Festival　黄牛の滝、竹楽

November 17th. 2024 Michi no eki Kugino Wake in michi no eki Kugino. The morning reveals an unbelievable number of overnight stay vehicles. The car park here can accommodate 230 to 250 cars and it must be almost full. Camping cars seem to have taken over from the Hi-ace van as the vehicle of choice. The number of dogs is also astounding till we discover the the michi no eki is the venue for a dog festival. We spend a lot of time absorbed in the dog run. The interactions between the various individuals is very interesting. Lots of dogs from the odd mutt and Shiba to Old English Sheepdogs, […]
Nabekama waterfall
17/01/2025 / Last updated : 18/01/2025 d.d Hiking / Walking

Shimojo Ginko tree and Aso Oguni　下城の大銀杏と阿蘇小国

November 16th. 2024 Michi no eki Oguni　道の駅小国 Wake early in michi no eki Oguni. Very damp and misty morning, very warm too. We were too hot during the night. Michi no eki Oguni we have visited many times but this was the first time to overnight. The parking adjacent to the toilets is limited for such a popular spot. Most of it given over to spaces for large vehicles. However we note an increase in the number of camper vans, especially the oversized ones. The toilets are modern and clean, though rather too small for the amount of traffic. No rubbish bins are provided except for cans and pet bottles. […]
Matsuyama castle
17/07/2024 / Last updated : 14/08/2024 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Matsuyama Castle, an original castle tower. 松山城

March 30th. 2024 Michi no eki Nakayama is very busy from early morning. I can only ascribe this to the excellent facilities. The day is warm and hazy as we set off for Matsuyama Castle by way of Unozaki Toge (Pass) and Tobe town(PR53). The pass provides an interesting, narrow, winding drive with typical Shikoku steep mountainsides and narrow valleys. We were hoping for spectacular views from the top of the pass but were hemmed in by trees. Nevertheless, a good route to choose. Dropping down into Tobe town we were expecting a village, but it is quite a substantial place warranting a dual carriageway. The central meridian decorated with […]
A view of Aso area
12/07/2024 / Last updated : 12/07/2024 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Scenic Drive R. 442 from Yame to Aso　八女から阿蘇へ

March 26, 2024 A leisurely start to this trip – the first for a year – in that we don’t leave until around mid-day. It is cold, windy and there is persistent drizzle. Soon, before we hit the highway, we stop for lunch at Ohsho. This gyoza chain had it’s origins in Kansai and I remember it as very down market, tin tables, plastic table covers and the staff skating in white gum boots on the greasy floor. It has cleaned up it’s act and is now a very reasonable lunch spot. Cost/performance excellent and the menu extends beyond gyoza and ramen. Cherry blossoms at Hyugami Dam　日向神ダム Soon we are […]
Sandankyo
30/07/2023 / Last updated : 30/07/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Sandankyo Hiking　三段峡

April 22nd. 2023 Michi no eki San Eight Mito Michi no eki San Eight Mito provides us with a good night. There are no other guests, and the facilities are reasonable. Although very close to the road, there is no traffic so this is not an issue. It is not a popular shachuhaku (sleep in a car) spot but it is a possibility. Sandankyo From the michi no eki we set off for Sandankyo. This gorge has been a very famous tourist attraction from perhaps Taisho times. We were debating whether to climb Mt. Shinnyu or walk the gorge, both start from essentially the same place. The weather is bright […]
Sugaya Tatara Sannai
24/07/2023 / Last updated : 24/07/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Sugaya Tatara Sannai, Princess Mononoke’s world 　菅谷たたら山内

April 21st. 2023 Michi no eki Sakagura Okuizumo and Orochi no sato Michi no eki Sakagura Okuizumo Koryukan is a dead place. It is flat and has good toilets so for an overnight stay it is fine. Except that the signs tell you not to do that. As a michi no eki it has nothing except the sake products that it wishes to sell as it is basically a sake brewery. There is not even a drink vending machine, so we set off before breakfast in search of coffee. This we find at michi no eki Onochi no sato about 14 kilometres away. This is a much more pleasant place […]
Matsumoto City Museum of Art
09/07/2023 / Last updated : 09/07/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Matsumoto City Museum of Art 　松本市美術館

April 15th. 2023 Shinshu Tsutakijuku provided a reasonable night, even in the rain that started around midnight. There were quite a number of overnight guests. Come the morning all vehicles converged on the parking spaces nearest the toilets. Michi no eki Kobuchizawa We leave, in relentless rain and drive a few kilometres to michi no eki Kobuchizawa to take a look as, we have heard, it has a bakery.  It does have a large prominent chain bakery which specializes in fancy, expensive, sweet things but does not really sell bread. Inside the michi no eki building is a much more modest, real bakery. This offers serious bread, baguettes and crusty […]