Fukiya
21/07/2023 / Last updated : 21/07/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Fukiya, Red Iron Oxide Village 　　吹屋

April 20th. 2023 Michi no eki Kayou Waking in a still misty michi no eki Kayou we slowly discover it’s secrets. The facilities are reasonable as the place has few overnighters but it does become a little overrun in the morning rush. We are surprised to discover a hidden Lawsons, open from 9am to 6pm. There is a shop selling Bonsai and other plants. The bonsai are elementary but are selling for less than the usual price of the ceramic pot containing them. It also boasts a non-functioning water wheel and a picnic area on a grassy knoll that was closed off. I had the impression the place had seen […]
24/06/2023 / Last updated : 27/06/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Climbing Mount Tsukuba　筑波山

April 11th. 2023 Michi no eki Hakko no Sato Kozaki Hakko no Sato Kozaki is a reasonable place to stay. It is large with a lot of overnight visitors, but the facilities are large enough to cope and the rubbish bins are emptied regularly. Very busy and rather noisy in the morning due to the convenience store. There is a vegetable stall with exceptionally cheap produce sadly of no use to us. There is also a shop selling all manner of fermented things. Heavy on the miso. Climbing Mt. Tsukuba On leaving we drive to Mt. Tsukuba (877m) where from the shrine, we opt to take the Shirakumobashi course. There […]
10/05/2023 / Last updated : 16/05/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Yusumizugaura and Sotodomari, stone wall scenery in Ehime　遊子水荷浦、外泊

2023 spring trip. March 25th. & 26th. Houyo Strait　　豊予海峡 From Saganoseki, Kyushu to Misaki Port, Shikoku by Kokudo Kyushi ferry. This is a 70-minute, drive on/drive off, trip across the Houyo Strait. This strait is famous for its strong current and the resulting delicious fish. The current I can vouch for, the changes in the surface of the sea are very apparent. The fish, not so much. Once in Shikoku, we head for Tsushima Yasuragi no Sato for the night. This michi no eki is good on this very wet night, being flat and with a covered walkway to approach the facilities. But the bath and the restaurant have closed […]
08/03/2023 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Asuka, temples and Cosmos flowers　　飛鳥

Oct. 24th. 25th. 2022, Michi no eki Kudoyama is very good with easy access to Koya san. This, of course, means it will be very busy at weekends. From the michi no eki, we set off for Nara and, prosaically, a coin laundry. Okadera temple In the afternoon we visit Okadera, founded about 1300 years ago. More recently, an enterprising person has set up a car park on the approach to the temple. When we arrive, we assume this is the temple car park, usually free, and are surprised to be charged 500 yen. Walking up to the temple proper, we see a notice informing us that the car park […]
04/03/2023 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Dorogawa Onsen, and the wild road to the demon coast　　洞川温泉

Oct. 22nd. 2022, Good night at michi no eki Resti Karako-kagi on the outskirts of Nara. The number of overnight vehicles seems to have increased since our last visit. On leaving, the first thing we do is fill up with fuel. Nara is significantly cheaper than Nagoya. Why should that be? Dorogawa Onsen Full tank, we set off into the mountains to Dorogawa onsen at Tenkawa-mura. This village is the gateway to Ominesan Temple. Well, gateway for males, women are forbidden to approach too close. The onsen village is crowded into a narrow valley so charging for parking is a local industry. We park at Ryusenji Temple, and D. collects a […]
01/03/2023 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Yoro Park, Falls and Reversible Destiny　養老天命反転地

Oct. 21st. 2022, Yoro Falls We start the day with a visit to Yoro falls. This is one of the best 100 waterfalls in Japan. There is a 500-yen car park at the top from which you walk down some steps the falls. Alternatively, there is a free car park at the bottom, and you can hike up to the falls. The Yoro waterfall is nice enough though I am not sure it warrants a 20-kilometre drive and 500-yen parking. As a goal for a hike from the bottom car park it is reasonable enough. I suspect it is included in the 100 best falls in Japan because Emperor Gensho […]
Lake Tateshina
26/02/2023 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Lake Tateshina, Art in the morning and Bijyogaike　蓼科湖

October 2022, Miichi no eki Venus Line Tateshinako Michi no eki Venus Line Tateshinako is an excellent place for an overnight stay. When we arrived, it was busy with Sunday excursionists but by 8pm it was very quiet with only a handful of shachuhaku vehicles. The facilities are excellent, very modern and clean. They are in a stand-alone rectangular building, but the main doors are closed at night, access being through small doors at either end of the building. This can be confusing. Lake Tateshina The small lake offers a fine walk which we enjoyed in the evening and again, in the opposite direction, in the morning. There is also […]
Mt. Kurikoma
19/01/2023 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Climbing Kurikoma Mountain on an Autumn weekend　栗駒山

Early October ’22 A good night at Genbikei michi no eki. The rain eased by midnight and the morning was bright and clear. The michi no eki has rubbish bins and reasonable if not flashy facilities. As the weather is fine and the forecast for tomorrow is less good, we decide to climb Kurikoma mountain though we had planned to put it off for a day. This was a good decision as the day proved fine until late afternoon. Parking and Shuttle Bus The mountain has 6 different hiking courses originating in three separate prefectures. We decided on the central course which is said to be the easiest. The starting […]