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

Fujisan – Mt.Fuji　　富士山

Day 67、November 2016, Leaving Tokyo Up around 7:30, to get our stuff together and repack the van after 2 nights in Tokyo. At first, we do well heading out of Tokyo but, after entering a long underground section of highway, the navi stops working. It takes a little while for this to become apparent by which time, although still underground, we now have absolutely no idea where we are. We have to surface to establish our whereabouts. It turns out we are around Aoyama and we join the Tomei highway. This was not the one we planned to use but, it is not so congested and soon we can see […]
gate of Zenkoji temple
30/12/2018 / Last updated : 16/03/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Togakushi to Zenkoji 　戸隠から善光寺

Day 62, November 2016 Numata River Terracing Yes, there is ice on the windscreen but the damp towels hanging on the wing mirrors are not frozen solid. The temperature did not drop that low. After breakfast, as this area is a famous example of river terracing, we walk across the carpark of michi-no-eki Shirasawa to an observation point. Unfortunately, as is the all too common with viewing points, the trees, planted as landscaping, have grown so as to completely obscure the view they were supposed to compliment. The viewing point is, as a result, pointless. As we drive out of Numata on R.120, however we get an idea of this […]
dragon
19/12/2018 / Last updated : 16/03/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Nikko, Senjogahara hiking　日光

Day 61, November 2016, The morning is cold in michi-no-eki Nikko. There is ice on the windscreen for the first time. The michi-no-eki (road station) is not very large but very busy as people visit the toilet and the convenience store. Toshogu, Tokugawa Ieyasu. It is time for us to pay our respects to Tokugawa Ieyasu, so we head out to his shrine, Toshogu. This shrine, where Tokugawa Ieyasu was enshrined as a god, was re-constructed in 1636 by his grandson the third Tokugawa shogun. We have some trouble finding the car park but, eventually, walk to the shrine. The entrance fee is an exorbitant 1300 yen, especially as most […]
Bandai Azuma Lakeline
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 […]
Nakanomiya at Mt.Gassan
13/12/2018 / Last updated : 22/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Mt. Gassan, hiking　月山

Summer 2018, Woken early by a combination of heat and noisy neighbours packing equipment. A pleasant breakfast but it is becoming too hot to linger in the sun. We pack everything in the car and set off for Mt.Gassan Eighth Station (Midagahara). Kyukamura Haguro campsite is well placed for easy access to Mt. Gassan. Easy access being a steep, narrow, winding road leading to a large car park that is already overflowing at 9.30 am. Mt. Gassan – Midagahara The bright sunshine of the campsite has already given way to low, drifting cloud at this altitude. We plan a short circular walk on the usual wooden walkway around Midagahara. When […]
Zao Okama
02/12/2018 / Last updated : 08/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Jionji – 12 Heavenly Generals, Yamadera to Zao　慈恩寺から蔵王

Day 53, October 2016, It is a cold, cloudy, rainy morning with the sun trying to break through at times. Local people are delivering produce to the shops in michi no eki Nishikawa. There are also some chairs set out in the car park. As time passes, more and more people arrive, bringing chairs, to sit wrapped up in warm clothing. They are clearly saving places for some event though quite what is not obvious. We leave after breakfast but there is still no sign of whatever it is they are waiting for. Jionji Temple　　慈恩寺 We drive to Jionji temple in Sagae city. We saw photographs of the Buddhist Images […]