13/06/2023 / Last updated : 13/06/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Motohakone, Lake, Old Trail and Mt.Fuji 　　元箱根

April 3rd. 2023 The Tokaido (The Old Hakone Highway)　東海道 Today we must drive into Tokyo, but first we make for Motohakone. Once there we walk some of the Tokaido, the old road to Edo. This is the route that all the south and western Daimyo (feudal lord) and their families were forced to travel every 3 years to pay homage to the Shogun. This system consumed their resources rendering them less able to develop too much independent strength. From Lake Ashi(Ashinoko), we walk as far as a famous tough stretch of the Tokaido and understand why it would have been so. The road plunging relentlessly down, we realize if we […]

20/03/2023 / Last updated : 20/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Aso Eboshidake, butterflies and a frog　阿蘇烏帽子岳

Nov. 1st. 2022, Nakatosa michi no eki Nakatosa michi no eki proves to be a fine place to stay. It is flat, has good modern facilities, a dog run, provides plenty of rubbish bins and clearly marked evacuation routes in case of a tsunami. This being the Pacific coast of Koichi, something to keep in mind. It is adjacent to a small port, busy with fishing boats unloading. Misaki to Saganoseki Ferry There was a little light rain in the night but by the time we set off for the ferry port at Misaki this has stopped. We follow last night’s baffling road of wide metalled road, tunnels and narrow […]

18/02/2023 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Kusatsu Shiranesan, after the volcano to Shibu pass　草津白根山

October 2022, Michi no eki Kawaba Daisen Plaza Kawaba Daisen Plaza in daylight, is very large for a michi no eki. There are various restaurants, a farmers’ market, a pottery class, a large, covered area with picnic tables, a small rice field with rice stalks drying in traditional stoops, a children’s playground, a slide, geese on a pond, stray cats but no water in the wash basins of the toilets in number 2 car park. This quibble aside, it is shachuhaku friendly with rubbish bins and space. Parking in numbers 1 to 3 is close to the road but traffic is light. The day is grey, and the mountains covered […]

01/12/2022 / Last updated : 16/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Daisetsuzan National Park – Tokachidake Area　大雪山国立公園十勝岳

September ’22 Michi-no-eki Biei Shirogane Biruke　道の駅美瑛白金ビルケ Here, the car park is adjacent to the michi-no-eki ’Biei Shirogane Biruke’ proper, so appears to be almost a shachuhaku annex. Certainly, there were overnighters in double figures. The facilities are adequate, but no rubbish bins are provided. Even though there are vending machines there are no bins for bottles and cans. This irresponsible trend seems to be widespread since our last visit to Hokkaido. Even convenient store ‘Seicomart’ have stopped providing bins outside their stores. Blue Pool　青い池 We start the day by visiting the nearby Blue Pool/pond (Aoi Ike). This is a mineral-rich, probably acidic, pool that has killed the trees where it […]

26/06/2022 / Last updated : 19/03/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Cape Kamui and Shimamui Beach　神威岬と島武意海岸

June 2019, You Yu Mori michi no eki You yu mori michi no eki is a reasonable place to overnight. The facilities are basic and somewhat odorous but adequate. There is a large car park with mature cherry trees and the odd shaped building offers a view of Hokkaido Komagatake. From the michi no eki we took route 5 for Oshamanbe. This is mostly a long, wide, straight road with low speed limits and numerous Potemkin patrol cars. A boring drive. The tedium was relieved by the impressive and unmistakable presence of Mt. Yotei. Niseko Oyunuma, volcanic pool　　ニセコ大湯沼 At Niseko, we took Niseko Panorama Line (R. 66) and at Niseko […]

30/03/2022 / Last updated : 18/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Mt. Aso, Climbing Kishima-dake and Hourei no yu　阿蘇杵島岳

December 2021, Minami Aso, Kugino michi no eki Waking in Minami Aso on a frosty, misty morning that promises a fine day, we walk around the large, flat area that comprises this michi no eki. We note the dog run and the large Christmas illuminations that are unilluminated at this time of the morning. There is also an artificial, rectangular pond. It reflects the mountains and a series of cartoon figures in silhouette so I conclude it is for Instagram purposes. Nevertheless, the soft morning light, the mist and the hazy blue mountains are an absolute delight. Mt. Aso From the road station we set off for Mt. Aso. As […]

26/03/2022 / Last updated : 18/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Ebino Plateau and the 3 Lake Course Hiking　えびの高原

December, ’21 A bright full moon and a very cold night. Ebino Plateau We set off on a beautiful morning for the Ebino Plateau, making sure to buy supplies on the way before getting into the mountains. It is often difficult to buy food in very rural areas. Around midday, we arrived at a large car park of Ebino Eco Museum Centre. From here we could see the snow on Mount Io and Karakunidake glistening in the bright sunshine, there was, however, a bitterly cold wind whipping across the open space. The 3 Lakes Course　池めぐりコース We had planned to hike around the three crater lakes, but part of the route […]

10/08/2021 / Last updated : 19/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Yamanami Highway, Daikanpo and Nabegataki　やまなみハイウェイ

July 2021, As the pandemic slithers on, long distance travel seems inappropriate, but some relatively local excursions can be excused as contact free. In this spirit we head for Aso. This volcanic vent in central Kyushu is really outstanding and the surrounding area is spectacular in different, calmer ways. Today, we skirt the edge of the Aso caldera and visit Daikanpo. This is a viewing spot on the edge of the caldera that provides a view of the active volcano that is the centre of Mount Aso with all its attendant peaks. The most identifiable being the ragged skyline of Neko-dake. From this viewpoint, one can gain a clear idea […]