30/01/2020 / Last updated : 19/03/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Wakkanai to Asahikawa, Scenic Drive　　稚内から旭川

June 2019, Cold and windy night in Wakkanai, but warm enough in the car. By morning, the breeze is still chilly but the clouds are breaking up and the sun is making the effort to break through. By the time we are ready to leave, it is a warm, sunny day. Sarobetsu wetland by Ororon line We take the coast road – Ororon line (R.232) back towards Sarobetsu. This is a great road, following the coast with splendid views of Mt. Rishiri and with flowers busting through the sasa on either side. As we head south, we can see the array of wind turbines standing tall and hazy in the […]

06/01/2020 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Lake Kutcharo and Wakannai　クッチャロ湖から稚内

June 2019, Kutcharo Kohan Campsite The Kutcharo Kohan campsite stands the test of an overnight stay. In the morning, we look at the nature centre. This has a wide selection of stuffed bird and animals. Not hunter’s trophies, I hasten to add, but rescue animals that didn’t make it. From bears to weasels from Stella’s Sea Eagle to Goldcrest. It is the wrong time of year for most of these species, unfortunately. It was also the wrong time of year for the famous Lake Kutcharo swans. These throng the lake in spring and autumn. ＊Lake Kutcharo Waterfowl Observatory ; free Wakkanai From the campsite, we make our way to Wakkanai […]

01/01/2020 / Last updated : 20/03/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Yoichi Nikka Whiskey and Hamanasu no Oka Koen　余市ニッカウィスキー

June 2019, Yoichi Nikka Whisky Museum Being a Monday, the space museum is closed so we opt for the Nikka Whisky factory/museum instead. This is, surprisingly, busy quite early in the morning. The popularity of the place is probably due to an NHK drama based on Taketsuru Masataka. And his Scottish wife Rita. Taketsuru is the father of Japanese whisky. By chance, we stumbled upon his birthplace (also popular) Takehara in Hiroshima on a previous trip. I had expected to see a working factory as the Nikka Yoichi factory is operational, but the public viewing is confined to historical or replica buildings. Hamanasu no Oka Koen　　ハマナスの丘公園 From Yoichi we move […]

08/12/2019 / Last updated : 31/01/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Oyashirazu, where the Japan Alps meet the sea　親不知

May 2019, The trip begins as we set out after lunch and take the Chugoku expressway. We pull in to the Kasai service area at around 9pm, after a long, smooth drive. The Chugoku Expressway is almost always deserted. After dark, the insects were hitting the windscreen like rain. The second day is another long drive, in 32-degree heat, on the traffic free highway. For some inexplicable reason, the speed limit is 80k. sometimes, equally enigmatically, dropping to 60k. Oyashirazu Leaving the highway, we stop at Oyashirazu in Niigata prefecture. We park the car at Tenken community square, near the Oyashirazu Kanko Hotel and walk the community road to the […]

01/12/2019 / Last updated : 01/02/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Wakakusayama and Unkei statues　若草山

Resuty Karako・Kagi michi no eki Resuty Karako・Kagi, proves to be a good place to stay and with easy access to Nara. A look around the shop shows it offers a wide range of produce, vegetables, meat and a few bentos. It also has a bakery, a restaurant and sells clothes and trinkets. Also, within walking distance, are the Karako Kagi Remains, now a park featuring the Yayoi era. Wakakusayama　　若草山 We leave, and make for the Nara Okuyama Driveway. This is not what we expected at all and we find ourselves in a car park at the top of Wakakusayama overlooking Nara. This is a viewing spot but if you want […]

01/12/2019 / Last updated : 13/07/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Temples of Nara Park　奈良公園

November 2018, Udaji Ouda michi no eki is an early riser. Piped, tinkly music starts just before 7am. I am not sorry to leave, as we head off into Nara city. This is a pleasant drive along R. 370 and R. 80 that turns suddenly exciting. It becomes very narrow indeed for a very long stretch. So much so that, I was relieved to meet something coming the other way. Even though reversing was necessary to pass each other, at least it was reassuring to know there was a way out. Once in Nara, we wander through the deer, admiring the temples and traces of Koyo (colourful autumn leaves). The […]

29/09/2019 / Last updated : 02/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Kumano-kodo Nakahechi to Tsugizakura-oji　熊野古道中辺路

November 2018, Kumano-kodo Nakahechi from Chikatsuyu-oji to Tsugizakura-oji The target for the day is to walk part of the Nakahechi to Tsugizakura-oji. So, leaving Kuchi Kumano michi no eki we drive to Chikatsuyu-oji. Here, we park in a large, free car park and set off to find the entrance to the Nakahechi route. Nakahechi was one of the pilgrimage routes to Kumano Sanzan, the three main temples (Hongu, Shingu and Nachi) from Tanabe city. This was the official route for the nobility in Heian times. (We walked another part of this route, from Gyubadoji ( michinoeki Kumano Kodo Nakahechi) to Chikatsuyu-oji on a previous trip.) It is a wonderful, sunny […]

25/09/2019 / Last updated : 02/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Kumano-kodo Ohechi ; Nagaizaka　熊野古道大辺路；長井坂

November 2018、 A fine sunny morning with a strong, chill wind coming off the land not the sea. Susami michi no eki has a good view of the sea though this is not obvious from the car park. You must walk round to the other side of the building. Kumano-kodo Ohechi, Nagaizaka course from Mirozu station There are three sacred places in Kii peninsula, Yoshino, Koyasan and Kumano. These are linked by numerous pilgrimage route mostly for Shugendo, a mountain worshiping sect. The Kumano-kodo, however has been a very popular pilgrimage route for more than 1000 years. People, rich and poor, walked from Kyoto to Kumano Hongu Taisha, Kumano Hayatama […]