Mononoke no mori
09/10/2025 / Last updated : 09/10/2025 d.d Hiking / Walking

Mishakaike and Shirakoma no ike　　御射鹿池、白駒の池

May 29th. 2025 Mishaka-ike　　御射鹿池  Michi no eki Tateshina gave us a peaceful night and an overcast morning. Not unusually, we are the last to leave as we set off for Mishakaike. This is an artificial reservoir constructed for agricultural irrigation. The high acidity of the water discourages aquatic life but adds vivid colour to the surrounding vegetation. As a consequence, it has proved popular with Japanese artists and attracts a constant stream of photographers. It is the subject of a famous painting Green Echoes by Nihonga artist Higashiyama Kaii. It really is worth seeing, the lake I mean. On this our second visit, it is still hard to stop taking […]
Mt. Fuji from Teppogi no atama
09/10/2025 / Last updated : 09/10/2025 d.d Hiking / Walking

Teppogi no Atama, view of Mt. Fuji 鉄砲木の頭

May 24th. & 27th. 2025 Doryu Waterfall　　　吐龍の滝 On the way to Kiyosato, we pay a visit to Doryu waterfall. This is reached by a short walk through delightful, deciduous woods resplendent in fresh foliage. Only the beware of bears sign put a damper on the stroll. The falls themselves are not spectacular but pretty enough with the odd patch of azalea adding colour. Michi no eki Tabayama　　道の駅たばやま Then a fine, mountain drive to our michi no eki for the night. Michi no eki Tabayama appears to be deep in the forest but we find unexpectedly that it has an onsen. As it is still early and the rain finally arrives, […]
Kurumayama shrine
07/10/2025 / Last updated : 07/10/2025 d.d Hiking / Walking

Climbing Kurumayama　　車山

May 23rd. 2025 Michi no eki Venus Line Tateshina　　道の駅ビーナスライン蓼科 Morning at Venus Line Tateshina michi no eki. This michi no eki, situated on the shore of Lake Tateshina, is a popular spot and preparation for the weekend tourist rush is underway. Stalls are being set up for food, cute things and arty stuff but, this early, things are still pretty quiet. The lake is not very large and provides an easy walk around its perimeter. There is a small sculpture garden (Tateshina highland Geijutsu no mori sculpture park) that has some interesting pieces but mostly a lake walk of trees, reeds, coots and watery reflection. We wandered it at dusk […]
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 […]
Kamikochi, Taisho-ike
28/02/2023 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Kamikochi, beyond Kappa Bashi　　上高地

Oct. 18th. 2022, Okuhidaonsengo Kamitakara michi no eki The second night at Okuhidaonsengo Kamitakara is different. It is not raining, and the morning promises fine so perhaps this is why it was much busier and rather noisy. Mostly chatter and car doors banging as, I suppose, people prepare to leave well before sunrise to scale high peaks. Shuttle bus to Kamikochi We were up before 6.30am but at least it was daylight. We drive the 10 or 15 kilometres back to Hirayu, Akandana car park for the shuttle bus to Kamikochi. Private vehicles are not permitted into Kamikochi beyond the Kama tunnel on R. 158, so the only options are […]
Mishakaike
24/02/2023 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Utsukushigahara, cows grazing above the cloud sea + Mishaka ike　美ヶ原

October 2022, Marumelo no eki Nagato Marumelo no eki Nagato is a good place to stay even though it is very busy and has no rubbish bins or vending machines. For this, you have to visit Lawsons. We leave early, waking before 6.30am. Very unusual but D. has a plan. This is to walk at Utsukushigahara, an open highland that is not a wetland. It is noted as a place to see a sea of cloud. The place is high enough to be above the cloud bank. Utsukushigahara We arrive at michi no eki Utsukushigahara Kogen and have no difficulty parking in the huge car park. Even from here, there […]
Tsugaike Shizen-en
20/02/2023 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Tsugaike Shinzen-en, great hike in mist and autumn colours　栂池

October 2022, Michi no eki Hakuba Michi no eki Hakuba was busy as expected and the facilities are small for such a popular place. However, new toilets were under construction. One group of overnighters with two vehicles had commandeered a third parking space and set up tables and chairs until a biker arrived and pointed out the error of their ways. At which, they contritely freed up the space that was quickly filled. Tsugaike Shizen-en We set off earlier than usual to drive to Tsugaike Shizen-en. Well, to the car park for the gondola which takes you to the ropeway. This combined ride is about 30 minutes. Quite thrilling, with […]
18/02/2023 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Hakuba Happo-one, Happoike hiking　八方池

October 2022, Despite its grim appearance, michi no eki Shinshushinmachi is fine from a shachuhaku point of view. There were very few other vehicles, the facilities large and clean and rubbish bins are provided. The road has very little traffic during the night. Hakuba Happo-one An early rise, and off to Hakuba Happo-one. Already busy when we arrive and parking at 1000 yen a bit shocking, plus the two chair lifts and gondola ride make this a pricy outing. The chair lift is an interesting ride in itself, and it is clear some people ride it for its own sake and do not venture further up the mountain. The lift […]