11/05/2026 / Last updated : 11/05/2026 d.d Temple / Shrine

Chikurinji & The Makino Botanical Garden 　竹林寺、牧野植物園

Nov. 10th. 2025 Michi no eki Mima no sato　みまの里 Mima no Sato is a good place to stay. Parking is flat and the toilets are modern if a little small for the size of the place. A lot of available space is taken up with special kids’ toilets and so on. There is also a dog run but it is not free which surprised me. There are no rubbish bins which no longer does. Chikurinji We leave heading for Kochi to visit a temple or two. In the event we visit Chikurinji. Henro number 31. This is high on a mountain, Godaisan, and a twisty, one way road leads to […]

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 […]

14/04/2026 / Last updated : 14/04/2026 d.d Temple / Shrine

Kyoto Takao (Sanbi meguri)　京都高雄　三尾巡り

Nov. 5th. 2025 Michi no eki Miyama　道の駅美山 Unsurprisingly, michi no eki Miyama provided a very quiet night. We were probably the only shachuhaku vehicle. The large space was very dark and the filthy toilets only one step up from a hole in the ground. Not to be recommended. To give it its due it does have rubbish bins. We set off for Kyoto. There are three temples in the north west of the city that D. wants to visit. Saimyoji　槇尾西明寺 Arriving in Takao, we park by the river next to the entrance to Saimyoji just by the orange bridge. The parking is an exorbitant 1000 yen but we can […]

21/01/2026 / Last updated : 21/01/2026 d.d Tohoku region

Takkoku no Iwaya and Motsu-ji　達谷窟、毛越寺

Oct. 23rd. 2025 A cold night at michi no eki Genbikei, which provided a magnificent display of stars. Such an array I had not experienced for, perhaps, years. Genbikei Gorge　　厳美渓 From the michi no eki Genbikei, we walk for 10 minutes or so to Genbikei Gorge. This gorge is famous and on the tourist itinerary. Mainly because of a novel dango shop that dispenses its wares by way of a rope pulley system. The dango, soft rice balls, are delivered in a basket across the gorge. A gimmick I can do without, but I’m a miserable old sod. The gorge itself is rocky and steep-sided. It is not very long […]

17/10/2025 / Last updated : 17/10/2025 d.d Temple / Shrine

Omihachiman, Kyorinbou　　近江八幡　教林坊

2025 june 1 Come the morning Oribe no sato Motosu springs to life. There is a queue waiting for the shop to open at 8.30am. This, we discover, is for a morning set breakfast for 500 yen. I suspect it is a good deal. So, despite the poor facilities, it is perhaps a good spot for an overnight stay after all. We leave, to take the long drive to Omihachiman by Lake Biwa. The morning broke bright and clear but by the time we are skirting Lake Biwa the opposite shore is wreathed in cloud and there is a stiff wind off the water. Omihachiman In Omihachiman, we met the […]

18/09/2024 / Last updated : 18/09/2024 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Kinojo, the demon castle?　　鬼ノ城

April 14th. 2024 Michi no eki Muraoka Farm Garden Michi no eki Muraoka Farm Garden is a good place to stay and may be good place for the people want eat high quality beef ‘Tajima Beef’. It does, on first impression, look tacky, just an ill lit, run down yard but the facilities are in fact excellent, and it is generous in rubbish bin provision. It is dark. The weather may provide you with a splendid star bonus, but you have to watch your step. I also recommended you not park next to or behind the adjacent ramen shop as the kitchen duct blows into the car park. Daisen-ji to […]

26/08/2024 / Last updated : 26/08/2024 d.d Temple / Shrine

Gifu Daibutsu to Gujo Hachiman　岐阜大仏

April 10th. 2024 Michi no eki Fujihashi is recommended for an overnight stay at least on a weekday at this time of year. Others have experienced Bosozoku groups making a lot of noise on summer weekends. It has ample parking, good to excellent toilets and an onsen. Today we make our way to Gifu city. We plan to see the Bamboo Buddha. Last time we passed this way we did not find it and this time it was almost as elusive. Gifu Daibutsu Our navi. Steers us through one-way systems and directs us down very narrow two-way streets that have no right to such distinction. Eventually, we see the temple […]

26/08/2024 / Last updated : 26/08/2024 d.d Temple / Shrine

Ishiyamadera　石山寺

April 9th. 2024 Ayama michi no eki appears modern, at first, but is basic in the toilet department. On a very wet night, it is possible to park close to the facilities so exposure to the unkind elements is limited. Probably due to its basic nature, it is not popular in the morning and few cars drop in. Its only redeeming feature is that it is generous with rubbish bins. Leaving Ayama, we head for Lake Biwa but by chance notice Ishiyamadera. This name rings bells with D. so we stop and are pleased we did. Ishiyamadera The temple dates from the Heian era 1096 CE. and we realize as […]