13/06/2023 / Last updated : 13/06/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Motohakone, Lake, Old Trail and Mt.Fuji 　　元箱根

April 3rd. 2023 The Tokaido (The Old Hakone Highway)　東海道 Today we must drive into Tokyo, but first we make for Motohakone. Once there we walk some of the Tokaido, the old road to Edo. This is the route that all the south and western Daimyo (feudal lord) and their families were forced to travel every 3 years to pay homage to the Shogun. This system consumed their resources rendering them less able to develop too much independent strength. From Lake Ashi(Ashinoko), we walk as far as a famous tough stretch of the Tokaido and understand why it would have been so. The road plunging relentlessly down, we realize if we […]

13/07/2021 / Last updated : 23/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Takasu Shrine and Koshin-zuka　　高須神社、庚申塚

April 2021, Takasu Shrine　高祖神社 One of these is Takasu shrine located in Takasu, Itoshima Kyushu. This place is not particularly famous or spectacular, but it is worth a visit. I say it is not famous, but it has an historical record dating back to 1197. Its origins are, as they say, lost in the mists of time, The shrine is related to Takasu Castle the remains of which we did not explore as they appeared to be lost in the tangles of undergrowth. It also has a special stage for shrine dances. These are held, at night, twice a year in April and October. Because of this, perhaps, the shrine […]

16/09/2020 / Last updated : 01/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Yagyu Kaido Takisaka-no-michi　柳生街道　滝坂の道

November 2019, Bus to Enjoji-temple　圓成寺 We leave michi no eki Resti Karako Kagi early. We have to catch a bus to Ishiuchi from in front of Nara Kintetsu station at 9.15. This bus will take us to Ninnikusan bus stop. A fare of 660 yen. This stop is next to Enjoji Temple which has a splendid garden, a pond and a very famous statue by Unkei. On this occasion, we do not visit the temple but cross the road in front of it and take the Yagyu Kaido Takisaka no Michi back to Nara where we have parked the car. This is a walk of about 12 kilometres. At this […]

11/05/2020 / Last updated : 31/01/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Nakasendo from Magome to Tsumago 馬籠から妻籠

June 2019, Kisomura michi no eki is fine for shachuhaku. The traffic did not prove to be a problem. The toilet is modern but does smell a bit. It has no natural ventilation and the automatic fan is not effective enough. That’s my diagnosis – for what it’s worth. Nakasendo from Magome 馬籠 to Tsumago 妻籠 From the michi no eki we drive Route 19 towards Nagoya but branch off and travel through Tsumago and on up to Magome to walk the famous section of the Nakasendo. This is the old Edo era road from Kyoto to Edo, today’s Tokyo. Along this route were numerous – 69 in fact […]

10/05/2020 / Last updated : 31/01/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Togakushi Kodo and Okusha, Lake Kizaki　戸隠古道、木崎湖

July 2019, Otari michi no eki Otari michi no eki is a noisy place, even on a Sunday night. It is on a straight stretch of road at the bottom of a long hill so the trucks, of which there are many, really get up speed, sweeping down or taking a run up for the climb. They roar past very close to the parking. The morning is bright, hot and sunny so we think we will grab the chance to walk Happo-One and see the view. It is only a 10 or 15-minute drive but during that short period the cloud has rolled in and the nearby hilltops are lost […]

19/10/2019 / Last updated : 01/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Hiking Yamanobe no michi – an ancient road　山の辺の道

November 2018、 Yamanobe no michi Busy, early on a Sunday morning, Kudoyama michi-no-eki was quiet during the night. An excellent place to stay with good facilities and rubbish bins provided. Our plan today is to walk half of Yamanobe no michi. So, we take the Keinawa Highway, as it is toll free, to Sakurai Station to park our car. From Sakurai we take the JR line three stations to Yanagimoto Station. From this station it is about a 10 min. walk to join the Yamanobe no michi. We plan to walk back along this route to Sakurai. The Yamanobe no michi is an ancient route dating from the 7th. Century. […]

05/10/2019 / Last updated : 01/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Kumano-kodo Kohechi, Hatenashi settlement　熊野古道小辺路　

November 2018, Entrance to Kohechi at Yanagimoto Bridge Today we plan to walk a section of the Kumano Kodo Kohechi, pilgrim trail. Kohechi is the oldest and shortest pilgrim trail from Koyasan to Kumano Hongu Taisha. A distance of about 70 km., through elevations of over 1000m., in the mountains of the Kii peninsula. So, from Mizunosato Hidaka River michi no eki we make for Yanagimoto Bridge on R.168. If you use the bus, the nearest bus stop is ‘Warabio’, or you can stay at Totsugawa onsen the previous night and walk to the Kohechi entrance. To reach the entrance to this section of the Kumano Kodo, pilgrim trail, you […]

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 […]

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