Hida Furukawa
22/06/2022 / Last updated : 18/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Hida Asahi village and Hida Furukawa Walk　　飛騨古川

17th April 2022 Hida Asahi Cherry Tree tour　飛騨朝日村 This morning we wander around Hida Ashahi-mura to see the, at least locally, famous cherry trees. We walk around the village and visit 4~5 cherry trees at shrines and temple. These are a little disappointing as they are either past their prime or yet to shine. So, we drive a short distance to visit another Shinmei shrine (Aoya district). Here the cherry blossom is reflected in a handily flooded rice field. At night it is clear that this is very special but in daylight with a stiff breeze rippling the water it is beautiful but not outstanding. Hida Furukawa Having had our […]
Kanazawa
26/05/2022 / Last updated : 18/02/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Kanazawa Walk in cherry blossoms　金沢歩き

7th. April, 2022 Kenrokuen　　兼六園 A beautiful, fine morning as we walk a few hundred metres to Kenrokuen a large park in the city centre. It is adjacent to City hall and a large, modern art museum ‘Kanazawa 21century Museum’. Kenrokuen is one of three famous Japanese gardens (The other two are in Mito and Okayama), it was created in the Edo era by a Daimyo in Kaga. There is as a rule an entrance fee to Kenrokuen but, unusually, in cherry blossom season this fee is waived. There are various paths to follow, a couple ponds and blossoms everywhere. In a separate area there is a plum grove, but these […]
Bandokorobana Park
16/02/2022 / Last updated : 18/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

South West Kagoshima Drive　南西鹿児島

December. 2021 Kiire michi no eki　　喜入 Our first shachuhaku night in a long time and we choose a very cold and windy one. Driving down on the west coast of Kagoshima prefecture, we stop for lunch at Izumi. Here, car rocking in the strong wind, we watch tsuru (common and hooded cranes) banking as they come in to land. We planed to visit Fukiagehama to see the longest dunes in Japan but the gale means it is not the right weather for sand. So we just try to find the place for the night. Our first choice of michi no eki, Kinpo Konohanakan, proves to be very open and exposed […]
Matama beach
19/02/2021 / Last updated : 23/02/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Kunisaki Peninsula – Antony Gormley　国東半島

December 2020 Kunimi michi no eki was a very peaceful place to stay. We were the only vehicle staying overnight and the road itself was almost as silent as the bright, cold night, stars and half-moon hanging overhead. Itsutsuji Fudoson – Antony Gormley 　五辻不動尊 Our first stop of the day is to be Itsutsuji Fudoson. This is a shrine clinging to a rugged crag high in the Kunisaki Peninsula. Since the 2016 Kunisaki Art Project, the shrine has shared this outcrop with an Antony Gormley figure “Another Time XX”. The figure stands on a rocky ledge, just below the shrine, staring out over a magnificent view of the surrounding landscape […]
Kouri-jima
08/12/2020 / Last updated : 23/02/2023 d.d Extra Edition-Okinawa

Bise, Kouri Island and Manzamo 備瀬、古宇利島、万座毛

Jan.2020 Very comfortable night in our accommodation on Sesoko. I told D. the foam mattress was a “True Sleeper”, but she did not believe me. After our complimentary breakfast coffee, we set off to walk on the famous Sesoko island beach nearby. Sadly, access was denied as construction of a huge hotel had taken over the entire area. So, we visited the only other beach on this island which turned out to be a poor affair under the bridge that links it to the mainland. We made use of it for a U-turn and set off for Bise. Bise Bise is a very old settlement, laid out on a grid […]
Uchiko-za
06/08/2020 / Last updated : 01/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Uchiko and Shikoku Karst 内子、四国カルスト

October 2019, Tenku no sato Sansan and Uchiko Fresh Park Karari michi no eki Tenku no sato Sansan michi no eki is a good place to stay. It is not the first time for us to stay here so it holds up on a second visit. This, despite the torrential rain all night that remains solid in the morning. There is extremely heavy, low cloud all around. Absolutely no chance of climbing Mt. Ishizuchi today, though the weather is forecast to clear by the afternoon. We set off for Uchiko, a town with a preserved historical district. On arrival, we park at Uchiko Fresh Park Karari michi no eki. This […]
Tamba Sasayama
03/06/2020 / Last updated : 31/01/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Sasayama Castle and Okutsu Onsen　 篠山城 、奥津温泉

June 2019, Kyotamba Ajimu no Sato Kyotamba Ajimu no Sato is an excellent place for shachuhaku. It is one of those two faced affairs. One side is the  michi no eki and the other a SA on the highway. Being perched on a hill, there are good views of the sunset. After 8 pm there is only one, multi-purpose toilet. As we were the only people staying overnight, it was a personal bathroom. Once the michi no eki becomes popular, and it is very new, this could be a problem. The access to the  main restrooms on the SA side is open from 7 am so not a big deal. […]
03/06/2020 / Last updated : 31/01/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Ohara Sanzenin to Miyama 大原三千院、美山

June 2019, Leave Nanamori Kiyomi michi no eki with an end of trip feeling. We are definitely heading home. Nanamori Kiyomi michi no eki, however, deserves some recognition. It is a good place to stay. The toilets are clean and relatively modern, and the flowers are changed daily. (This is always an excellent sign.) The vegetable shop is cheap and popular. The michi no eki is also very convenient for Takayama, as a short, free highway leads directly into the town. We, on the other hand, now head for Gujo Hachiman on the Seseragi Kaido (R.257, R472). This is a good road to drive and far from busy in the […]