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 […]
Oyasukyo
12/01/2023 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Oyasukyo Gorge　小安峡

Early October ’22 Michi no eki Misato and Jumonji Michi no eki Misato is OK for an overnight stay but parking is close to the main road or alternatively far from the facilities. We soon set off for the Oyasukyo gorge but pull into michi no eki Jumonji. This michi no eki is large and very busy as the vast selection of fresh vegetables on display were surprisingly cheap. There were all kinds of strange edibles for sale. I don’t think it would be good for an overnight. Oyasukyo Gorge Setting off again for Oyasukyo, it begins to rain and is soon a steady downpour. The drive through the mountains […]
Noboribetsu onsen Oyunuma
22/12/2022 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Lakes in Furano and Noboribetsu Onsen　登別温泉

Late September ’22 Lake Kanayama and Torinuma Koen　金山湖、鳥沼公園 Today we visited Lake Kanayama. This is accessible near a campsite and one or two other spots but offers no lakeside paths as far as we could see. It is a large lake with no particularly distinguishing features. From the lake we visit Torinuma Koen(park) in Furano. This a supposed bird sanctuary and as we wander through the dark woods, we note evidence of rotted bird houses clinging to trees as others lie mouldering in the undergrowth. There is pleasant pond of very clear water fed by an underground spring. Large Nijimasu (Rainbow trout?) glide about in the pristine environment. There were […]
Daisetsukogen Onsen
17/12/2022 / Last updated : 05/08/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Autumn Colours at Numameguri, Daisetsukogen Onsen　大雪高原温泉沼めぐり

September ’22 Shuttle Bus to Daisetsukogen Onsen Wake to a cool overcast morning. As usual, we are one of the last to leave from Sounkyo campsite as we set off on a 30-minute drive to a parking area called Lakesight (by Lake Taisetsu Dum) we are heading to Daisetsukogen to walk with the bears. Here there is a famous trail around marshy ponds for viewing Autumn colours. It is also bear habitat. To start the hike, it is necessary to take a shuttle bus from Lakesight car park to the beginning of the trail. A least, this is so during the peak autumn leaf viewing season. The bus ride of […]