28/02/2023 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Mino, traditional town and paper creations　　美濃

Oct. 20th. 2022, Michi no eki, Nanamori Kiyomi The night at Nanamori Kiyomi was a wonderful one for stars but very cold. For the first time this trip, the car was encased in ice. We have stayed in this michi no eki before, it is notable for easy access to Takayama and fresh flowers in the toilets. We set off for Gujo Hachiman. This is a trip along one of my favourite roads ‘Seseragi kaido’. It sweeps up and down the mountains in wide graceful curves with pretty scenery most of the way. Pascal Kiyomi michi no eki We stop at Pascal Kiyomi michi no eki, a place clearly run […]
Merchant's house at Tsuyama
02/02/2023 / Last updated : 08/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Tsuyama, old castle town　　津山

November 2018, Hirafuku　平福 Michi no eki Syukuba Machi Hirafuku was busy with trucks pulling in and out during the night. However, the truck parking is a little separate so no real problem. In the morning we wander around Hirafuku. The town is set in a picturesque spot and has castle ruins, visible on the top of a hill. The occasional ray of sunshine catches the autumn colours on the hillside, but it is a cold, grey morning for the most part. Our circuit of Hirafuku complete, we head off to Tsuyama. Tsuyama In Tsuyama we walk around the Joto area with its preserved, traditional buildings. There is an old merchant’s […]
Taikodani Inari Jinjya
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 […]
Kurayoshi
10/07/2022 / Last updated : 30/01/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Kurayoshi-White wall warehouse　倉吉

April 2022, The morning in Nishi Inaba Kirari is overcast with the sun trying to break through the clouds but it has abandoned the project by 9am. Kurayoshi We had planned to hike on Daisen, but the rain is forecast to begin before we reach the mountain, so we wander around Kurayoshi. This has an area of preserved houses and white plaster walled warehouses (Kura). These run along a shallow canal crossed by stone slab bridges. It is not as picturesque as Hida Furukawa nor as interesting a place in itself but pleasant enough for a wander. By the time we leave Kurayoshi and head towards Daisen, the weather is […]
Kanazawa
26/05/2022 / Last updated : 18/02/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Kanazawa Walk in cherry blossoms　金沢歩き

7th. April, 2022 Kenrokuen　　兼六園 A beautiful, fine morning as we walk a few hundred metres to Kenrokuen a large park in the city centre. It is adjacent to City hall and a large, modern art museum ‘Kanazawa 21century Museum’. Kenrokuen is one of three famous Japanese gardens (The other two are in Mito and Okayama), it was created in the Edo era by a Daimyo in Kaga. There is as a rule an entrance fee to Kenrokuen but, unusually, in cherry blossom season this fee is waived. There are various paths to follow, a couple ponds and blossoms everywhere. In a separate area there is a plum grove, but these […]
Daigo temple
26/05/2022 / Last updated : 18/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Daigo Temple Cherry Blossom　醍醐寺の桜

5th. April. 2022 Daigo Temple Cherry Blossom　醍醐の桜 This is Kyoto day, so we take the Keihan train from Hama-Otsu to Daigo Station on the Tozai (subway line). Daigo Temple is a world heritage site. Its garden has been famous for cherry blossom, at least, since Toyotomi Hideyoshi held a sakura viewing party here in 1598. There is a 1500-yen entrance fee, that I thought a bit steep, but it gives you entrance to 3 sites. I was amused to note two men with padded ladders carefully holding weeping cherry branches clear to allow a couple of large trucks to edge past without disturbing the blossoms. Diago Temple is large and […]
Kabira Bay
17/12/2020 / Last updated : 23/02/2023 d.d Extra Edition-Okinawa

Ishigaki island, glass bottomed boat trip 石垣島

Jan. 2020 We have the complimentary breakfast. D enjoys this and says I shouldn’t complain as it is free. She is right, of course, but I can’t really enjoy miso soup in the morning, free or not. Pottery Street 　壺屋やちむん通り We have some time to fill before our flight to Ishigaki-jima. Not enough to do very much, but too much to ignore. We opt to wander, with laden rucksacks, and visit the pottery street ‘Tsuboya Yachimun Street’. This is, obviously, located not far from where we were staying. The street is cobblestones with old shops and houses, good for wandering. It is still too early for most of the shops, […]
Shureimon
22/10/2020 / Last updated : 23/02/2023 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. […]