Unzen Fugen-dake
25/02/2025 / Last updated : 25/02/2025 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Unzen Nita Toge　雲仙仁田峠

November 27th. 2024 Michi no eki Ariake Perhaps 7 or 8 overnight visitors at michi no eki Ariake. The facilities are adequate but very draughty being open to the elements on both sides. But it does have a pleasant Onsen. It is an OK place. The weather which has been very kind on this trip has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. Very changeable with brief periods of sunshine and torrential showers. It is also very windy. Shimatetsu Ferry We take the usually sedate ferry, from Amakusa Oniike port to Shimabaru Kuchinotsu, that today pitches and plunges quite alarmingly, spray bursting over the bows. ＊Shimatetsu ferry ; 500 yen […]
Ikitsuki island
18/01/2021 / Last updated : 19/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Ikitsuki Island and Hirado 生月島、平戸

November 2020, Ikitsuki Ohashi michi no eki A mild night at Ikitsuki Ohashi michi no eki, which proved to be an excellent place to stay. The toilets are clean, if basic, but boast a heated seat washlet which was a surprise. The car park has a view of the bridge, you are almost underneath it, and the sea is next to you. There are benches and picnic tables if the weather allows outside dining. In season it is probably very busy but at this time of year, November, there were only a couple of other vehicles overnight. Obae Lighthouse and Shiodawara cliffs　大バエ灯台、塩俵の断崖 We set off for Oobae Lighthouse on the […]
Chimachibou
09/01/2021 / Last updated : 23/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Chimachibou to Ikitsuki Island　乳待房、生月島

November. 2020 Yamabushi The middle of a pandemic, despite the government’s urging “Go To Travel” is not the ideal time to set out on a trip. The government’s campaign may be an economic success in the short term but, perhaps, also a super spreader event. Shachuhaku, we reason, is different in that you can almost completely isolate yourself traveling in your own bubble. So we set off on a short trip to explore Chimachibou. This is a small but rugged mountain in Saga Prefecture. It features perpendicular crags – like those in Chinese sumi-e paintings – that are much sought after by Yamabushi. This religious sect venerate mountains and favour […]