12/10/2018 / Last updated : 08/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Mt. Chokai　鳥海山

Day 50、October 2016, A lot of fast moving cloud this breezy morning but the sun breaks through now and again. The top of the mountain is in cloud and white horses crest the Nihonkai(Japan sea). The temperature is about 11°C but the wind is cold. It is well before 8am but 3 or 4 hardy Pokémon hunters are already absorbed at michi-no-eki Kisakata. Chokai Blue Line Finally we leave, and meander through the inland islands which we have to admit are not up to much when driven through. After picking up lunch supplies at a Max Value we head up Mt.Chokai. This is a drive from sea level to over […]

02/05/2018 / Last updated : 05/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Lake Akan – Ainu art　阿寒湖

Day 26, October 2016, We return to Tsuruimura , there is no action at the bridge, but we can hear activity in the fields a bit further down the road. We drive a little and stop to take pictures of about 60 tsuru(Japanese crane) in a field just for the record. They are too far away for a real photo; just dots like sheep on a hillside. Tsuru viewed, we are off to Lake Akan having had enough wetlands. However, Lake Akan proves to be a big disappointment given its fame. Lake Akan & Ainu Kotan The dismay begins with eating a lunchtime sandwich, on a damp bench, looking out over […]

05/04/2018 / Last updated : 05/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Shiretoko Cruise-Kamuiwakka Hot Falls　知床クルーズ

Day 19, September 20016, Shiretoko Cruise Warm weather and we breakfast under the trees. I am happy to see a black, red headed woodpecker. We drive down to Utoro port and book a long cruise to the end of the peninsular. The boat is more crowded than expected as lots of bus tour people arrive just before we sail. I find the cruise itself disappointing as this was supposed to be one of the highlights of this part of the trip. We cruise some way from the shore so the chance of spotting a bear is remote. I scourer the coastline with binoculars but see little in the way of […]

28/03/2018 / Last updated : 05/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Sunayu-Oshinkoshin Falls　砂湯、オシンコシンの滝

Day 18, September 2016, Sleep well, as usual, and eat outside. Still not too cold for outdoor life, in fact, it is T shirt weather… Sakuragaoka Koen auto-campsite is very good but due to close for the winter the next day. ＊Sakuragaoka Koen auto-campsite changed to ‘RECAMP Mashu’ Sunayu campsite by Lake Kussharo Once more we find ourselves driving along another side of Lake Kussharo. We stop to walk along the lake but the lakeside is a campsite; that too is closing and people are busy cleaning and packing up. The lake shore boasts an onsen(Sunayu hot spring) availability which means you can dig the lake shore shingle to create […]

18/03/2018 / Last updated : 04/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Coral Grass at Kimuaneppu-Sounkyo Gorge　キムアネップから層雲峡

Day 15, September 2016, Coral grass Up at 6.30 and, after breakfast, we explore the nearby, marshy area that features, at this time of year, the famous red grasses (Coral grass). We see the same elderly watercolourist, who was busy painting the lake where we ate our lunch yesterday. D. envies his talent. Sounkyo Gorge Time to leave the coast for a bit, so we bid farewell to the Sea of Okhotsk and head inland towards the mountains and the famous Sounkyo gorge. We find a campsite in the trees that is fine but, it must be said, has gone somewhat to seed. Having decided our campsite, we drive to […]

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