26/06/2023 / Last updated : 02/07/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Fukuroda Waterfall and Furumine Shrine　袋田の滝、古峯神社

April 12th. 2023 Michi no eki Mashiko gave us an unexpectedly quiet night. The toilet was a problem as expected. The morning rush was complicated by the shortage of paper as well as space as the facilities were much in demand. Fukuroda no Taki (Waterfall) Though not a huge fan of waterfalls, we opt to visit Fukuroda no Taki, as it ranks as one of the top 3 falls in Japan. We are visiting clearly out of season as the numerous car parks are empty and unattended. Autumn is the optimum time to visit as the maple trees are evident everywhere. Now they are a sheen of fresh, delicate green. […]

22/06/2023 / Last updated : 22/06/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Nomizo Waterfall and Naritasan Shinsho-ji　濃溝の滝、成田山新勝寺

April 10th. 2023 Very good quiet night at Rosemary Park. In the morning we walk around the other section of the michi no eki. This is the, now abandoned, Shakespeare Park. This consists of a few replica Elizabethan buildings and a small formal garden in a state of some decay. Nomizo waterfall and Kameiwa cave From the michi no eki we drive to Nomizo waterfall and cave. From the parking area there is a short walk and then some steps down to a stream that less than cascades through a natural arch. This forms a pleasing and photogenic scene. Apparently, in the early morning at the equinox you can see […]

01/03/2023 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Yoro Park, Falls and Reversible Destiny　養老天命反転地

Oct. 21st. 2022, Yoro Falls We start the day with a visit to Yoro falls. This is one of the best 100 waterfalls in Japan. There is a 500-yen car park at the top from which you walk down some steps the falls. Alternatively, there is a free car park at the bottom, and you can hike up to the falls. The Yoro waterfall is nice enough though I am not sure it warrants a 20-kilometre drive and 500-yen parking. As a goal for a hike from the bottom car park it is reasonable enough. I suspect it is included in the 100 best falls in Japan because Emperor Gensho […]

05/01/2023 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Oirase Gorge from Lake Towada 十和田湖、奥入瀬

October ’22 Oirase hiking Michi no eki Towada was a better experience than expected. The rain ceased completely before the necessary toilet trips so a dry and peaceful night. The place has rubbish bins so, presumably, Aomori has different regulations from Hokkaido. We had planned to hike Mt. Hakkoda, but the weather forecast for the summit was cold, cloudy and foggy. With little point to slogging up a mountain, we head for Lake Towada and the Oirase gorge We park at Nenokuchi by the lakeside where there is a bus station and a lake cruise boat dock. From the point where the stream leaves the lake to start its journey […]

28/02/2022 / Last updated : 19/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Tamatebako Onsen and Kirishima 　玉手箱温泉、霧島

December 2021, Tamatebako Onsen 　玉手箱温泉 Woke in Yamakawa-ko michi no eki. This is an unspectacular place down in the fish docks, but it is quiet, the toilets are surprisingly reasonable and there is an izakaya next door. More importantly, it is only 12 to 15 minutes’ drive from Tamatebako onsen. This is probably the reason there were 6 to 8 other shachuhaku vehicles in the place on a cold December night. We make straight for the onsen and arrive just as it is opening at 9:30 am. There is only one other person in the bath as I enjoy the morning sun over the sea, the bleak massifs of Takeyama […]

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 […]

28/12/2020 / Last updated : 23/02/2023 d.d Extra Edition-Okinawa

Kura River canoeing, Iriomote Island クーラ川、西表島

Jan. 2020 Breakfast at 8, again heavy on fish but it is fine. After breakfast, those who are going canoeing assemble at 9. The sky is overcast but it is not raining. The young lady, who doubles as a waitress, drives us a couple of kilometers to the canoeing spot. I was surprised that we had to climb over a fence and scramble down a bank into the mangroves in order to reach the stashed canoes. Canoe Trip on Kura river There are only two other people for this jaunt, but the young lady has, unfortunately, brought one set too few paddles. D. and I therefore have a double canoe […]

24/12/2020 / Last updated : 23/02/2023 d.d Extra Edition-Okinawa

Urauchi River Cruise and Hiking, Iriomote island　浦内川クルーズ、西表島

Jan. 2020 Up around 7 am and start the day with a quick convenience store breakfast in our hotel room. This is a concrete box, even on the inside. Taking the ferry to Iriomote island After checking out, we walk to the ferry terminal to take the ferry to Uehara on Iriomote Island. However, as we had been warned, due to inclement weather the ferry to Uehara is not running. The route of the Uehara ferry is outside the shelter of the islands, so the sea is too rough when the wind is from the north, especially in winter. Passengers for this ferry are then, routinely, transferred to the Ohara […]