13/10/2019 / Last updated : 01/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Koya Ryujin Skyline; Gomadansan, Koyasan Okuno-in　高野龍神スカイライン

November 2018, Koya Ryujin Skyline Obviously, Ryujin michi no eki is silent as the grave with only a little more light. The 24 hour toilet is terrible. The door to the handicapped facility is broken and does not close. I cannot recommend the place for shachuhaku. Of course, it is possible to stay, just lower your expectations Koyasan is our destination for the day and we drive the Koya Ryujin skyline (R.371). This is a good road, of sweeping views, from Ryujin to Koyasan Okunoin. Gomadansan (Mt.Gomadan) 護摩壇山 Along the skyline, at Gomadansan, the second highest mountain in Wakayama, we stop to take a short walk through the beech woods […]

02/09/2019 / Last updated : 05/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Nakatsu Gorge – Niyodo Blue　中津渓谷

November 2018, Bios Ogata michi-no-eki It is a national holiday and Bios Ogata is busy very early. We go for a short walk and watch the surfers, far away as the beach is very wide. There is also a flotilla of fishing boats arrayed with banners moving slowly, line astern. Suddenly the lead craft breaks away, very fast, and turns around to head back towards the port. All the rest of the boats follow suit, turning in opposite directions alternately and heading back the way they had come towards the port. Clearly some kind of festival but too far away to figure out what it was all about. Leaving the […]

02/09/2019 / Last updated : 05/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Shikoku Karst Road, Godan and Tengu Highlands　四国カルスト

November 2018, Mikawa michi-no-eki Leaving Tenku no Sato Sanan, we take R. 33 along the river valley towards Kouchi. We stop to look at Mikawa michi-no-eki. This would be an excellent place to stay. It has access to the river which flows blue. As we progress, the valley becomes increasingly spectacular. Just beyond Mikawa michi-no-eki is a huge crag, sitting in the river reminiscent of Gunkanjima (Mitsukejima) in Noto Hanto. (Gunkan is battleship, and the island resembles a ship heading directly for the beach.) Later the road takes us higher and higher and the valley becomes so steep and narrow that it is impossible to see the river in the […]

02/09/2019 / Last updated : 02/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Climbing Mt. Ishizuchi　石鎚山

November 1st. 2018, Tenku no sato San san michi-no-eki. Tenku no sato San san is a good michi-no-eki to spend the night. It is quiet, and the toilet is ok. There is a village loud speaker announcement at 6.30 am but we were up early anyway to set off for Ishizuchisan. We pick up onigiri for lunch at the Lawson across the road and follow Route 12 to the Ishizuchi skyline. Tsuchigoya　土小屋 There are a few climbing routes to Mt.Ishizuchi. One of route (Omotesando) requires a Ropeway and Lift to reach the starting point at 1280m. Tsuchigoya route’s starting point is at 1492m and probably an hour shorter walk than […]

29/08/2019 / Last updated : 02/02/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Tokoro Museum and Kirosan Observatory on Shimanami Kaido　しまなみ海道

October 2018, A very quiet night. Shimanami no eki Mishima is fine for an overnight stay. The toilet is basic and none too clean, but it is ok. Oyamazumi Shrine 　大山祇神社 We start the day with a wander around Oyamazumi shrine on Omishima island. This is next door to Shimanami no eki Mishima. The shrine is quite large with a fine Kusunoki (Camphor) tree. Some of the buildings are new, but these are in traditional style. A good example of a better than average shrine. Worth a visit. Tokoro Museum After a tour around Omishima island, we visit the Tokoro Museum. This is a small art museum, built as a […]

27/08/2019 / Last updated : 02/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Takehara to Shimanami Kaido　竹原、しまなみ海道

October 2018, A little rain in the night at Mito SA. The morning is aglow with misty sunshine that rapidly becomes more shine than mist. The cleaners are abroad in the car park with their yellow balloons attached to their helmets. We follow the Chugoku Expressway but, sadly, only as far as Ogori where we pick up the Sanyo Expressway. This is not such a good road as far as I am concerned, more traffic, more tunnels, less undulation and fewer curves. Takehara – Taketsuru Masataka Coming off the Sanyo, we take Route 185 to Takehara. This town has an area of Meiji era houses; just one street really, overlooked […]

11/08/2019 / Last updated : 02/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Ariake Sea 　有明海

December 2017, Fukuoka to Ariake -Sweeping curves to a blow-dried rectum Just after 11am we leave Fukuoka and head for Susenj to cross the mountains (pref.R.56) via the Mitsuse Tunnel. After crossing R. 202, the road up towards the tunnel is wide with smooth curves sweeping upwards. I recall coming down this road, 30 years ago, when it was a dirt track that became increasingly impassable as the gully erosion in the centre became wider and wider. We were too far down to reverse and there was no possibility of turning round; we had to press on. I unloaded the family and eased the 4WD Honda Street down the crumbling […]

03/08/2019 / Last updated : 07/09/2024 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Mikata-goko to Ine boat houses　三方五湖、伊根

October 2017, 2024 Mikata-goko Wet night and a wet morning. We leave michi-no-eki Nishiyama Koen, which is very new and clean and head for Tsuruga, Mikata-goko (five lakes) and three nuclear power stations. The Rainbow Skyline toll road did not provide a rainbow due no doubt to the total absence of sunshine. For some reason, the toll road is half price perhaps because of the typhoon, the effects which are everywhere evident. It is a pleasant drive with good views and we eat lunch looking out over the sea, high on a headland, in a deserted car park. At our next stop to admire the scenery, we spot a large […]

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