30/05/2023 / Last updated : 18/06/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Nihondaira and Kunozan Toshogu　日本平、久能山

April 1st. 2023 Akabane Loko Park When we went to sleep at Akabane Loko Park we were far from the michi no eki, out along the sea front. We were also alone. In the morning there are 20 or 30 vehicles stretched out along the beach. These are surfers who have arrived during a Friday night. Before breakfast, we move to the michi no eki Akabane Loko Station itself for the facilities and availability of coffee. Our eventual departure sets us up for a day of driving as we head for Nihondaira. First, along a lengthy stretch of Route 42 following the beach to Hamanako. This an inlet from the […]

18/03/2023 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Zenigata Sunae and Takaya Jinja, Torii in the sky　銭形砂絵、高屋神社

Oct. 30th. 2022, In the event, Genpei no Sato Mure was no problem but has little to recommend it. On a weekday it is probably reasonable enough but it’s busy at weekends. Zenigata Sunae On leaving, we take a long drive to Kannonji to see Zenigata Sunae. From Kotohiki Park the final stretch is up a steep narrow road that is thankfully one-way traffic. At the top, is a small car park and a viewing point of a sand sculpture. This is large and can be seen clearly from the top of the hill. Back from the strip of sand beach, in a clearing in the pine trees, is a […]

12/03/2023 / Last updated : 06/05/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Kanka-kei and Kasaneiwa　　寒霞渓、重岩

Oct. 27th. 2022, 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. 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 previous Triennial art festival, there is […]

13/07/2022 / Last updated : 18/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Omijima to Akiyoshidai　青海島、秋吉台

April 2022, Michi no eki Senza Kitchen proves to be an OK place to stay. Even on a wet night the distance from the parking to the covered roofing is not so far. We leave and take a short drive to Omijima island. Omijima Omijima is very popular with scuba divers and when we arrive, in the 300-yen car park, there are various dive school groups preparing to take to the water. We are here to ramble along the Omijima nature coast path. This is an easy (approx. 3.5kilo) walk on a concrete path along the fabulous cliff tops. You can stop at the various viewing points to take stereotypical […]

13/07/2022 / Last updated : 18/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Tsuwano to Hagi　津和野、萩

April 2022, From michi no eki Goutsu we drive to Tsuwano. Even on a weekend, these Shimanae/Yamaguchi roads winding through mountains are an empty delight. Tsuwano Tsuwano, we wander without real enthusiasm. Years ago, I was impressed by this place with its whitewashed buildings and carp filled drains but now it just seems lifeless. Perhaps I am just jaded. We find ourselves eating a convenience store lunch a railway bridge close-by on our right. There is another person hanging around, whom we suspect to be a railway buff, waiting for a train to cross the perhaps Meiji era bridge. D. checks the timetable, but the next train is not due […]

13/07/2022 / Last updated : 18/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Cape Izumo-Hinomisaki　出雲日御碕

April 2022, Izumo-Hinomisaki Lighthouse　出雲日御碕灯台 The morning is bright and clear as we wander the beach at michi no eki Kirara Taki before taking the coast road up towards Izumo Taisha. Having visited this major shrine before we have no intention of going there again. We do make a second visit to Izumo Hino Misaki lighthouse on Cape Izumo-Hinomisaki. This place has been upgraded since we were last here. There are flashy new toilets in the car park. Already appropriated by enterprising swallows. The red rumped variety. There are helpful signposts and a new concrete footpath around the cape, past the lighthouse and down to the Hinomisaki shrine. The cape and […]

26/06/2022 / Last updated : 21/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Bense wetlands-yellow Nikko Kisuge and Takayama Inari Shrine　ベンセ湿原、高山稲荷

May 2019, Bense Wetlands and Nikko Kisuge We leave michi no eki Namioka on a cloudy but dry morning, heading for the Bense Wetlands. On arrival, we are pleasantly surprised to find, that the Nikko Kisuge are in bloom. D. thought it would be too early in the year. Nikko Kisuge are a yellow, wetland flower that romantically bloom at dawn and die at day’s close; to be replaced by another bloom the following morning. They are June /July flowers but were well established and beginning to form an expanse of yellow here at the end of May. They are normally followed by irises that change the carpet from yellow […]

18/06/2022 / Last updated : 18/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Achi-mura, Peach flower village　阿智村

16th April 2022 Oshiba Kogen　大芝高原 At michi no eki Oshiba kogen we spend a wet night in a large desolate car park. The toilets are good but would not be adequate if the car park were any less deserted. Our plan for the day is to visit an old wooden school building with a famous cherry tree, but first we wander around the lake at Oshiba koen. This is a very artificial landscape with severely manicured spherical bushes. The pond area is surrounded by pine woods and there are various paths through these woods, but I don’t think they extend more than a couple of hundred metres. There are kids […]