11/09/2019 / Last updated : 04/11/2024 d.d Temple / Shrine

Konpira Shrine and Zentsuji　金比羅宮、善通寺

November 2018, Konpira Shrine (Kotohira-gu)　金刀比羅宮 We park in a Times parking lot. It has a maximum charge of 500 yen plus easy access to Konpira Shrine precincts by cutting through the sake brewery ‘Kinryu Museum’ area. The official name of this shrine is Kotohira-gu but it is generally known as Konpira. The street leading up to the shrine steps is lined with udon restaurants and tourist shops. Some of these are selling seriously expensive, tourist tat. Wood carvings are favourite, from frogs to Bodhisattva and all stations in between. There is, we note a sedan chair station and, on the way down we see a couple being carried up. I […]

08/09/2019 / Last updated : 02/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Tsurugisan – Climbing Mount Tsurugi　剣山

November 7th. 2018 Tsurugisan 剣山 A clear, pink dawn as we set off for Tsurugisan (Mt.Tsurugi). We drive about 40 kilometres along R.438. and arrive at the chair lift station, ‘Minokoshi’, before 10 am. under a blue, blue sky in warm sunshine. The chair lift ticket is 1860-yen return, but it whisks you up from 1,420 metres to 1,750 metres in 15 mins. The summit is 1,955 metres. There are 4 courses to the top from the chair lift station ‘Nishijima’. We avoid the Ridge course – it being the shortest and most popular – and take the Yuhodo course. This is longer about 2km and, as we later discover, […]

04/09/2019 / Last updated : 02/02/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Kochi Sunday Market, Cape Muroto and Awa no Dochu　

November 2018, Leaving the michi-no-eki we drive into Kochi city and park in the castle car park. We want to explore the Sunday Market. This, D. informs me, is the largest in Japan with a history of more than 300 years. Kochi Sunday Market. 高知日曜市 The stalls run down one side of the street but, Kochi has wide streets and a lot of open space. This means there is room for a double row of stalls and the punters to stroll down the middle. On display are antiques and junk, mostly junk. A large number of stalls are offering all manner of knives, saws, hatchets and scissors, any […]

02/09/2019 / Last updated : 05/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Nakatsu Gorge – Niyodo Blue　中津渓谷

November 2018, Bios Ogata michi-no-eki It is a national holiday and Bios Ogata is busy very early. We go for a short walk and watch the surfers, far away as the beach is very wide. There is also a flotilla of fishing boats arrayed with banners moving slowly, line astern. Suddenly the lead craft breaks away, very fast, and turns around to head back towards the port. All the rest of the boats follow suit, turning in opposite directions alternately and heading back the way they had come towards the port. Clearly some kind of festival but too far away to figure out what it was all about. Leaving the […]

02/09/2019 / Last updated : 05/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Shikoku Karst Road, Godan and Tengu Highlands　四国カルスト

November 2018, Mikawa michi-no-eki Leaving Tenku no Sato Sanan, we take R. 33 along the river valley towards Kouchi. We stop to look at Mikawa michi-no-eki. This would be an excellent place to stay. It has access to the river which flows blue. As we progress, the valley becomes increasingly spectacular. Just beyond Mikawa michi-no-eki is a huge crag, sitting in the river reminiscent of Gunkanjima (Mitsukejima) in Noto Hanto. (Gunkan is battleship, and the island resembles a ship heading directly for the beach.) Later the road takes us higher and higher and the valley becomes so steep and narrow that it is impossible to see the river in the […]

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

Climbing Mt. Ishizuchi　石鎚山

November 1st. 2018, Tenku no sato San san michi-no-eki. Tenku no sato San san is a good michi-no-eki to spend the night. It is quiet, and the toilet is ok. There is a village loud speaker announcement at 6.30 am but we were up early anyway to set off for Ishizuchisan. We pick up onigiri for lunch at the Lawson across the road and follow Route 12 to the Ishizuchi skyline. Tsuchigoya　土小屋 There are a few climbing routes to Mt.Ishizuchi. One of route (Omotesando) requires a Ropeway and Lift to reach the starting point at 1280m. Tsuchigoya route’s starting point is at 1492m and probably an hour shorter walk than […]

31/08/2019 / Last updated : 02/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Omogo Gorge and Iwaya-ji 面河渓、岩屋寺

October 2018, Imabari Yunoura Onsen michi no eki Imabari Yunoura onsen michi no eki is noisy, being on the main road, but I sleep well regardless. In the morning, I discover it doesn’t have an onsen, but it does have a Fog Machine. This is a dome of large, rough stones that intermittently puffs out steam. To invoke the spirit of an onsen, perhaps? Omogo Gorge 面河渓 Today our plan is to visit Iwaya-ji, a Henro Trail temple (no.45), but first we drive to Omogo-kei or Omogo Gorge. The gorge is very fine and it is an access point for climbing mountains. Consequently, it provides a walk as well as […]

29/08/2019 / Last updated : 02/02/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Tokoro Museum and Kirosan Observatory on Shimanami Kaido　しまなみ海道

October 2018, A very quiet night. Shimanami no eki Mishima is fine for an overnight stay. The toilet is basic and none too clean, but it is ok. Oyamazumi Shrine 　大山祇神社 We start the day with a wander around Oyamazumi shrine on Omishima island. This is next door to Shimanami no eki Mishima. The shrine is quite large with a fine Kusunoki (Camphor) tree. Some of the buildings are new, but these are in traditional style. A good example of a better than average shrine. Worth a visit. Tokoro Museum After a tour around Omishima island, we visit the Tokoro Museum. This is a small art museum, built as a […]