22/10/2020 / Last updated : 22/10/2020 d.d Extra Edition-Okinawa

Ruined Shuri castle and izakaya 首里城

January 2020 Shuri Castle From the Naha airport, we take the monorail to Shuri Station and, after dropping our bags in a coin locker, walk to the famous castle. On the way we have a Family Mart. Picnic in a small park by a pond with many demanding ducks, snapping turtles, a mongoose? And a cat. It is hot, in January, much hotter than we expected but when we get to the castle hill there is a pleasant breeze. Even though it is not really tourist season and the main building recently burnt down, there are a surprising number of people at the castle but not crowded by any means. […]

18/08/2020 / Last updated : 24/08/2020 d.d Drive Shikoku Area

Yusuhara – Architectural wonders in the mountains – and Yasui Gorge 梼原、安居渓谷

October 30th. Yusuhara michi no eki Yusuhara michi no eki , against expectations, transpires to be a good shachuhaku spot. The upper part of the onsen car park, just below the hotel, is quiet and dark and not really so far from the toilet. A good night, with a very beautiful, starry sky. The stars are one of the pluses of getting up in the night. No, there aren’t any others. Yusuhara Town In the morning, we drop down the hill into Yusuhara town to look around. Yusuhara is an interesting place due to the number of unusual buildings designed by Kuma Kengo, of Tokyo Olympic Stadium fame. In addition […]

30/04/2020 / Last updated : 07/09/2020 d.d Drive Chubu Area

Nishi-Izu, Matsuzaki and Dogashima　西伊豆

July 3rd. Shimogamo Onsen Yunohana is not a bad place to stay but it is low lying, backs on to a river and is surrounded by foliage. In the rainy season it is hot and full of mosquitoes. Our night was not as bad as I make this sound and we both slept well. The dismal weather is a problem. This area is famous for views of Mt. Fuji and that is out of the question. As we drive the coast road R.136, the glimpses of the cliffs and coastline urge us to stop and admire the scenery. However, as in many areas like this, where the land drops abruptly […]

11/09/2019 / Last updated : 24/08/2020 d.d Drive Shikoku Area

Naoshima-Benesse House Museum 　直島

November 9th. Naoshima The rain in the night causes us no problem and we are awake early to catch the Shikoku Kisen ferry from Takamatsu to Naoshima. We arrive in good time for the 10 am sailing. It is a sunny morning, after the overnight rain, and the short boat ride to the island is very pleasant. ＊Takamatsu – Naoshima (Miyanoura) ; 990 yen / adult (return) On arrival at Naoshima, we have a picnic lunch at the ferry port with a view of Kusama Yayoi’s red pumpkin. We then take the 100-yen bus to the Chichu Museum but, rather than enter, we walk along the road devoid of cars, […]

07/09/2019 / Last updated : 24/08/2020 d.d Drive Shikoku Area

Oboke, Iya and Mima in Tokushima　大歩危、祖谷、美馬

November 6th. Oboke Valley 　大歩危 Our plan for the morning is to climb Mt. Tsurugi but, the forecast is cloud and we can see the mist hanging over the peaks in the distance. So, we postpone the climb for a day. As an alternative, we decide to drive the Oboke valley. This is a disappointment, as the valley is difficult to appreciate from the road and the only access points appear to be boat tour stations. Boat tours are popular, perhaps, the only way to view this valley. Iya no Kazurabashi We continue on to visit the famous vine bridge at Iya no Kazurabashi. On arrival, we decide we don’t […]

04/09/2019 / Last updated : 24/08/2020 d.d Drive Shikoku Area

Kochi Sunday Market, Cape Muroto and Awa no Dochu　高知、室戸岬

November 4th. Leaving the michi-no-eki we drive into Kochi city and park in the castle car park. We want to explore the Sunday Market. This, D. informs me, is the largest in Japan with a history of more than 300 years. Kochi Sunday Market The stalls run down one side of the street but, Kochi has wide streets and a lot of open space. This means there is room for a double row of stalls and the punters to stroll down the middle. On display are antiques and junk, mostly junk. A large number of stalls are offering all manner of knives, saws, hatchets and scissors, any kind of sharp […]

06/08/2019 / Last updated : 24/08/2020 d.d Drive Chugoku Area

Iwami Ginzan, an old silver mining village 　石見銀山

October 29th. Relentless rain all night and no let up this morning. We are planning a trip to Iwami Ginzan, a pre-Edo era silver mine that was still operating in the early Showa period. We know this involves a 45-minute walk, so are reluctant to go there until the weather improves; as the forecast promises. Finally, we set off in the opposite direction and drive along the coast towards Izumo Taisha though we have no intent to visit that place again. We just want to view the coastline. Reaching the Taisha, we turn around and head back the same way we have come. The sky, out over the sea, is […]

11/06/2019 / Last updated : 24/08/2020 d.d Drive Chubu Area

Gujo Hachiman town walk　郡上八幡

October 15th. D. complains that Ikeda Onsen michi no eki was noisy. The local kids dashing about in their cars but, I confess, I slept like a baby. The morning is damp not actually raining or a least not very much. The michi no eki has several shops selling cakes, soft creams, oysters, fish on sticks and other miscellaneous merchandise. It also has a foot bath, electric bicycles for rental and a reasonable view over somewhere. There are decorative pot plants in the toilets which is always a good sign. Gujo Hachiman Today we are bound for Gujo Hachiman, a drive that takes us initially through a flat unimpressive landscape […]