Yashimaru
06/05/2026 / Last updated : 06/05/2026 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Yashimaji Temple & Yashimaru　屋島寺、やしまーる

Nov. 9th. 2025 Osakajo Zanseki Kinen Koen A wet but warm night at Osakajo Zanseki Kinen Koen. The name stems from the blocks of stone that were surplus to requirements in the building of Osaka Castle. This being the area where they were quarried and dressed. I wonder if anyone got paid? This small michi no eki is very good for an overnight stay. Few visitors, good toilets, flat and quiet. It also has a small museum dedicated to quarrying. The best place to stay on Shodoshima, in my opinion.  Ferry to Takamatsu We set off for Tonosho and the ferry port. Here we take Shodoshima ferry to Takamatsu. We […]
15/03/2023 / Last updated : 17/04/2026 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Shodoshima, Hoshoin and Hishio no Sato　　醤の郷

Oct. 29th. 2022 & Nov.2025 Osaka Castle Memorial Stones Commemorative Plaza. Osaka Castle Memorial Stones Commemorative Plaza michi no eki provides a restful night. Morning brings the excitement of a lone monkey wandering across the empty car park and along the front of the not yet open michi no eki buildings. A little later, small children with grandparents arrive to wait for the school bus. Here there is a remnant of an earlier Triennale festival. Castle stones with plaques of an esoteric nature entitled “Dynamite Traverse Variations”. These depict the trajectory of shock waves from dynamite blasts traveling through rock, I think. Pulling out we make for Sakate Port, as […]
Place for Sea Dreamers
15/03/2023 / Last updated : 15/04/2026 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Teshima, Art from the spooky to the kitsch　　　　豊島

Oct. 28th. 2022 The Olive Park michi no eki lowest car park has to have a reappraisal. Arriving in the dark it seems a dismal, melancholy place but in the morning sunshine it is airy and right on a pleasant beach. The toilets though old and dilapidated were at least functional on this return visit. Start from Ieura port Today, we head to Tonosho Port to take the ferry to Teshima. We plan to cycle around, viewing the Triennale Artworks. Consequently, we take the ferry to Ieura as there are more bicycle rental places there. In the event, there were no bicycles to be had. All had been pre-booked, so […]
12/03/2023 / Last updated : 17/04/2026 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Kanka-kei and Kasaneiwa　　寒霞渓、重岩

Oct. 27th. 2022,　& Nov. 2025 Michi no eki Osakajo Zanseki Kinenkoen Michi no eki Osakajo Zanseki Kinenkoen (Osaka Castle Memorial Stones Commemorative Plaza) turns out to be an excellent place to stay. It is flat, quiet and with clean, modern facilities. The staff were also friendly. It has a small museum with explanations concerning the stone quarries in this area that provided stone for the repair of Osaka Castle about 400 years ago. The michi no eki is decorated with unused stones from the project. Known as the unlucky stones. There is a display of local festival figures – lucky gods, dragons that sort of thing. Left over from a […]
Daidara ultrabow
10/03/2023 / Last updated : 17/04/2026 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Shodoshima and the Setouchi Triennale Art Festival　小豆島

Oct. 26th. 2022, & Nov. 2025 The lowest car park, on the opposite side of the road from michi no eki Shodoshima olive park, is dark and quiet. A very dark night. I noted two shooting stars in quick succession. Shodoshima Olive Park We start the day at the michi no eki, up on the hill above. Here, there is a shop selling olive produce and an exhibition concerning the struggle to start olive production and, of course, olive ice cream. This proves to be little different from vanilla except for its light green colouring. As we wander the olive groves, thick with olives we watch other people take photos of […]