07/04/2018 / Last updated : 05/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Shiretoko 5 Lakes Ground Pathways-Brown Bears　知床五湖

Day 20, September 2016, Breakfast in the sunshine. Our folding camping table (Camper’s Collection) has proved itself perfect for our purpose. It folds neatly, to slip under the seat during the day; outside it is a good height and size to cook on or eat off and it fits easily inside the car to serve as a reading table or more importantly, a bar. Once all is packed, a daily task that takes about 30 minutes, we head for the Shiretoko 5 Lakes. Shiretoko-Goko Lakes Field House Our aim is to walk in the natural forest and enjoy the scenery around the lakes. To enter the heritage forest, it is […]

22/03/2018 / Last updated : 04/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Bihorotoge and Lake Mashu-Mt.Io　美幌峠、摩周湖

Day 17, September 2016, Bihoro toge (pass) The weather is much improved, if fact it is a beautiful day. After a short walk along the river near the michi no eki Mashuonsen, we drive back to Bihoro toge (pass) and its famous panorama. Approaching the car park of Gurutto Panorama Bihoro toge, from the other direction this time, we see our first Kita Kitsune (Hokkaido fox). It is trotting along the side of the road towards us, but on the opposite side. It appears quite unconcerned by the, admittedly, light traffic or even by the work crew doing some road maintenance. Lake Kussharo　屈斜路湖 The panorama view of Lake Kussharo and […]

20/03/2018 / Last updated : 04/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Lake Kussharo 屈斜路湖

Day 16, September 2016, Kitami Wake to a wet day, so wet we are at a bit of a loss. We abandon plans to climb, well walk up, Kurodake and instead head for Kitami. This proves to be a much larger town than we anticipated. We go to a huge Aeon supermarket and wander around, keeping out of the rain until lunch. We move on to Nitori (furniture shop) and buy a duvet as, from now on, it is only going to get colder. I was surprised to note that the Nitori car park had a charging point for electric cars. Bihoro Pass (Toge)　美幌峠 Equipped with our new warm bedding, […]

11/03/2018 / Last updated : 03/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Lake Saroma sunsets – Kimuaneppu　サロマ湖、キムアネップ

Day 13, September 2016, A day we spend driving down the coast, heading for Lake Saroma. We pass various seafood processing factories and marvel at the huge piles of scallop shells. There are long, long beaches strewn with driftwood and fishing paraphernalia. In some places, small, temporary communities of salmon anglers have developed. There are also many derelict buildings concerned with the fishing industry in one way or another. This coast is desolate but somehow less interestingly desolate or less majestic than the Sea of Japan coast. Perhaps it is just too much of the same, kilometre after kilometre. Kimuaneppu We stop, for the night, at Lake Saroma, a free […]

27/02/2018 / Last updated : 03/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Wakkanai, Cape Souya the Northern Most Point of Japan　稚内、宗谷岬

Day 11, September 2016 On our way to Wakkanai we visit Cape Noshappu, to say we have been there and there appeared to be no other reason to go. Wakkanai In the fish market of Wakkanai, whole salmon, very large fish were on sale for 3000 or 4000 yen. I was surprised to see street signs in Japanese, English and Russian but apparently there are a lot of Russian fishing boats trading on this coast. We take the opportunity to have a bath in a large onsen (hot spring) by the port. The bath is on the second floor and is busy with families as it is the weekend. ＊ […]

25/02/2018 / Last updated : 03/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Sarobetsu Wetland to Kabutonuma　サロベツ湿原、兜沼

Day 10, September 2016, The morning breaks bright and windy. Breakfast in our picnic spot, overlooking the bay of Shosanbetsu. We have a sort of sandwich toasting device which allows us to toast bread over the gas burner. This is very useful as it renders edible the shokupan (Japanese white sliced bread) that is all that is available in many places. On this toast, we spread a little mayonnaise, in lieu of butter (butter does not travel well), add a plastic, cheese slice, some ham, cucumber and/or lettuce, black pepper and mustard and even shokupan can be eaten with equanimity. Given coffee, yogurt and plenty of fresh air, a very […]

06/02/2018 / Last updated : 03/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Shosanbetsu- Obsevatory- Salmon fishing　初山別

Day 8, September 2016, As we moved on up Hokkaido’s Japan Sea coast, we checked a couple of michi no eki with a view to staying. The first was rubbish, second one had a big onsen (hot spring) and a rose garden but the parking spot was not good. We were a bit spoilt by 21 Century Forest. So, we pushed on to the next possibility. this was Shosanbetsu, which has an onsen and a free campsite, near an observatory. This turned out to be a lucky choice. Shosanbetsu At the Michi no eki ‘Shosanbetsu’ (R.232) we are directed to the top of the headland and there, sure enough, is […]

03/02/2018 / Last updated : 16/02/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Ororon Line scenic road – Obira Banya　オロロンライン

Day 8, September 2016, Leaving the 21st. Century Forest campsite, with some reluctance, we head through and around Asahikawa which gives the impression of being a dull place. It is very flat with wide streets and uninteresting buildings; utterly desolate in the winter, one imagines. We head out towards the coast and Wakkanai via Rumoi along R.232 (Ororon Line – Hokkaido west coast scenic road). The illuminated street signs, as we wind our way up the coast, warn of lightening and the weather is very unsettled with sunshine and frequent showers. Obira Nishin Banya We stop to visit Old Hanada House Banya next to the michi-no-eki (road station) ‘Obira Nishin […]