autumn leaves of beech forest
12/09/2018 / Last updated : 07/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Mt.Hakkoda, Sukayu and Tsuta Onsen　八甲田

Day 42, October 2016, Another beautiful morning, a little cold but bright and clear. There has been a slight frost.　After breakfast, we walk to the nearby Sukayu onsen shop and buy onigiri, boiled eggs and tea for lunch. Then start our climb to Kenashitai wetland on Mt.Hakkoda. Mt. Hakkoda Kenashitai Actually, the start is a little delayed as we are not sure where the start is. Sorted, we are on our way. The first kilometer or so is rather a scramble through beech woods but the tree leaves shining, golden brown against the bright blue sky is recompense enough. As we clear the trees, the going is smoother and the […]
Mt.Iwaki in autumn colour
08/09/2018 / Last updated : 07/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Mt. Iwaki and Jogakura Ohashi, Autumn leaves and orchards　岩木山

Day 41, October 2016, Ashino Koen(park) Wake to a beautiful morning in Ashino Koen(park). The truck gent has moved his parking spot for no obvious reason but the tent dispenses a youngish, obviously, homeless man who coughs and spits. Not the best of neighbors. We have forgotten to get bread so have no breakfast and have a spot of panic as I think I have lost my wallet but find it on the floor of the car. We go for a walk across the (apparently) famous bridges. The first, is a floating bridge which is passable but is in a distressing state. What repairs have been carried out are very […]
Lake Onuma
07/06/2018 / Last updated : 19/03/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Cycling Onuma park　大沼公園

Day 36, October 2016, A warm, sunny morning and we enjoy breakfast outside, more comfortably than last night’s dinner. Packed, we drive to Hakodate and D. buys warm socks in Shimamura. (A cheap clothing chain that, we discover, has a major presence throughout the Japanese archipelago. Well, I can’t vouch for Okinawa but I wouldn’t bet against it.) Cycling Lake Onuma Thus equipped, we head back to Lake Onuma and rent bicycles. After dropping into 7/11 to buy onigiri for lunch we set off cycling. A short distance later, in Onuma Park, we are obliged to ditch our bikes so recently acquired, as they are not allowed. Consequently, we walk […]
animal guard monkey
02/06/2018 / Last updated : 06/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Mt.Esan, Hakodate　恵山

Day 35, October 2016, Dry weather but D. is not in the best of health so we delay our departure. I discover I can view the geyser from a vantage point on the ridge behind the michi no eki without paying an entrance fee. Strangely, I feel no sense of guilt over this clandestine geyser viewing. Mt. Esan D. feeling better, we get under way along the coast heading back towards Hakodate. Here is the very active volcano, Mt. Esan, a very menacing affair. It looms over a fishing village which has its back, very much, to the mountain wall. A steep, narrow road winds to the viewing point for Esan. […]
28/05/2018 / Last updated : 06/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Hokkaido Komagatake　北海道駒ヶ岳

Day 34, October 2016, Kijihiki Height　　きじひき高原 It is a fine morning the rain having been blown away in the night. We drive from the campsite, on a gated road, higher up the mountain to a viewing point of Kijihiki Height that provides a panorama of Onuma Lake and Hokkaido Komagatake volcano. Having gazed from afar, it is now time to make a more detailed acquaintance with Komagatake so we drive down from our vantage point to the lake. Hokkaido Komagatake Skirting the lake shore, we find an unmade-up track heading volcanowards which we follow. This takes us up the lower slopes of the volcano, past signs that say no motor […]
Showa Shinzan
21/05/2018 / Last updated : 05/02/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Nishiyama crater and Showa Shinzan at Lake Toya　西山クレーター

Day 32, October 2016, Takarada campground Morning brings a day of very changeable weather, heavy rain and bright, warm sunshine in quick succession. After breakfast we pack up in the intermittent rain. But when we are ready for the road, the bright sunshine encourages us to walk along the lakeshore of Takarada campground. The lake is beautifully serene as we follow the path through the trees along the shore. This path is made of bark or wood shavings, organic material that is soft and springy and with the moss growing on it and the sun shining through the leaves it is a magical, elfin path through an enchanted wood. The […]
22/03/2018 / Last updated : 04/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Bihorotoge and Lake Mashu-Mt.Io　美幌峠、摩周湖

Day 17,  September 2016, Bihoro toge (pass) The weather is much improved, if fact it is a beautiful day. After a short walk along the river near the michi no eki Mashuonsen, we drive back to Bihoro toge (pass) and its famous panorama. Approaching the car park of Gurutto Panorama Bihoro toge, from the other direction this time, we see our first Kita Kitsune (Hokkaido fox). It is trotting along the side of the road towards us, but on the opposite side. It appears quite unconcerned by the, admittedly, light traffic or even by the work crew doing some road maintenance. Lake Kussharo　屈斜路湖 The panorama view of Lake Kussharo and […]