28/01/2019 / Last updated : 10/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Shirakawago　白川郷

Day 71, November 2016, This morning there is a thin layer of ice all over the car. I had expected the windscreen to be frozen but, not the whole car. Nor had I reckoned on ice on the inside of the windscreen. I think the temperature was -3 C. degrees. We had expected -6 C., as forecast, and were quite warm enough. We began our day with a short drive to Shirakawago but, the weather grows darker and darker. As we arrive, there is a steady drizzle and the temperature has risen only to 6 degrees, so a bit raw. Shirakawago Protected by numerous layers and rain suits we set […]

06/01/2019 / Last updated : 16/03/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Komoro – Castle, garden and town　小諸

Day 64, November 2016, Waking Nightmare I awoke to the realization that Trump was not just a nightmare but, a hard reality, on this bitter morning. The michi-no-eki ‘Raiden kurumi no sato‘ is surrounded by mountains but there is no significant snow on them. Komoro We decide to start the day with a walk in the gardens of Komoro castle ruins ‘Komoro Kaikoen’. The momiji is very pretty and some white plaster buildings make it all very picturesque but, I can’t help feeling how excited I would have been 30 plus years ago. I still appreciate it but, it doesn’t excite. There is not much of the castle to see […]

02/01/2019 / Last updated : 06/11/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Hiking to Ozenuma, Byobuiwa and Hinoemata Kabuki　尾瀬沼、檜枝岐村

Summer 2018, Ozenuma is our destination for today. We leave michi-no-eki Kirara 289 around 9am. It is a place I can recommend, with an adequate onsen, modern toilets plus, steps down to a picnic area, by a small river, that no one seems to notice and is sadly becoming overgrown. Byobuiwa　屏風岩 On our way to Oze National Park, or perhaps in it we stop, by chance, at Byobuiwa. Here is a splendid rushing ,rocky stream set against a sheer rock face precariously supporting quite large pines. A place well worth stopping to see. A hour or so later we reach Miike, where it is necessary to park and take a […]

31/12/2018 / Last updated : 16/03/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Hokusaikan in Obuse with added Snow Monkeys　小布施北斎館、野猿公園

Day 63, November 2016, Hokusai Museum in Obuse On a cold morning of chill rain and biting wind, we, wisely, decide to pay a visit to the Hokusai museum. This museum turns out to be an unexpected delight. I had no idea that Hokusai, in his later years, visited and worked in Obuse, with the help of a local patron. The variations of style exhibited here are truly stunning. The work of a genius or an “old man mad about art”. I recommend a visit to this small wonder of a museum. ＊Hokusai museum ; 1000 yen/adult Snow Monkeys　野猿公苑 From Hokusai we turn our attention to the, almost as famous, […]

18/12/2018 / Last updated : 16/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Ura-Bandai Nakasenuma hiking　裏磐梯中瀬沼

Day 59, November 2016, Michi no eki Bandai The locals are early, preparing for Mochitsuki (rice cake making) on a bright chilly morning at michi-no-eki Bandai. As we breakfast, the mist comes rolling in and we can see almost nothing. We wait around, delaying our departure. When the sun shows signs of breaking through the mists, we set off for some small lakes. Nakasenuma There is a walking trail around these lakes. It is not very long, but we make sure we have a picnic with us. The walk is very easy, mostly flat with broad paths but it affords a view that, I felt, was unprecedented – just […]

10/12/2018 / Last updated : 22/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Akita Komagatake hiking　秋田駒ケ岳

Summer 2018, The night, at michi-no-eki ‘Shizukuishi Anekko‘, was much cooler than expected. I found it necessary to put on a sweater around 4 am. The morning is bright and clear as we arrive at Alpa Komakusa. Here we leave the car and take the bus to Mt. Komagatake Eighth Station, to begin our walk. Our plan is to walk to Amidaike, a small pond/lake between two fairly accessible peaks. Amidaike pond The climb to this point is quite steep, the path bordered by thick bushes and sasa grasses. It is like walking through jungle especially as the day is hot and oppressive. There is relief from this as, every […]

06/12/2018 / Last updated : 08/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Matsushima – Zuiganji　松島瑞巌寺

Day 56, November 2016, Jyobon no Sato Noisy morning, as michi no eki – Jyobon no sato – serves as a rendezvous for construction workers, trucks and machinery. The toilet is vast and, like the whole of the road station, uses a lot of timber in its design. Its walls, due to the lattice design of heavy timber, are a series of square recesses, some of these are decorated with vases of flowers and one has a rather nice sumi-e of Dharma. Time to head to Matsushima, as D. is determined to visit Zuiganji; a temple she visited on a solo trip as a high school girl and has never […]

25/10/2018 / Last updated : 16/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Mt. Haguro, Dewa Sanzan Jinjya, by way of the stairs　羽黒山

Day 52, October 2016, We spend a very wet night, with the car rocking in the wind, but the morning rain is intermittent. The toilet in this road station has a notice requesting visitors to keep the place clean and there is a picture of a cute, cartoon lady with a big, smile happily cleaning the bowl. In reality, the elderly lady cleaning the facility is a sour faced, harridan. She looks daggers at a youngish woman, from a large camper van, who comes out of the Ladies with a dog litter tray. This sort of thing is, understandably, frowned on by local road station personnel and should be avoided […]

onsen ( hotspring)