Sarobetsu wetland
30/01/2020 / Last updated : 19/03/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Wakkanai to Asahikawa, Scenic Drive　　稚内から旭川

June 2019, Cold and windy night in Wakkanai, but warm enough in the car. By morning, the breeze is still chilly but the clouds are breaking up and the sun is making the effort to break through. By the time we are ready to leave, it is a warm, sunny day. Sarobetsu wetland by Ororon line We take the coast road – Ororon line (R.232) back towards Sarobetsu. This is a great road, following the coast with splendid views of Mt. Rishiri and with flowers busting through the sasa on either side. As we head south, we can see the array of wind turbines standing tall and hazy in the […]
Cape Gorota
19/01/2020 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Cape Sukoton Hiking Course in Rebun 礼文島スコトン岬ハイキングコース

June 2019, A little rain in the night but the morning is dry, if overcast. Cape Sukoton　　スコトン岬 We take the bus from Rebun-so Hotel to Cape Sukoton, the start of the Cape Tour hiking course . This is a hike of some 12 kilometres. The bus is very expensive, so the day passes that are available are probably a good idea if you are likely to take the bus more than once. Arriving at Cape Sukoton we join the bus tour groups gazing across the water to Todo Island. This is a wintering spot for sea lions, but they left in April. It is also the location of the most […]
06/01/2020 / Last updated : 18/03/2023 d.d Hiking / Walking

Shosanbetsu, Sarobetsu and Lake Kutcharo　初山別、サロベツ

June 2019, Shosanbetsu – michi no eki, Onsen and Campsite Cloudy morning and quite cold in Shosanbetsu. This is a good place to stay either down by the onsen hotel or up on the headland by the observatory and camp site. From the headland there are wonderful sea views and a choice of campsites. The onsen has left no particular impression, though I have been there twice. It is definitely not bad, I would have remembered that. We spend time watching a couple of hares that are not so timid, so it is possible to get fairly close to them. Ororon Line, Otonrui Wind turbines　オロロン・ライン From Shosanbetsu we stop at […]
Udo Shrine
15/08/2019 / Last updated : 02/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Cape Toi, Udo Shrine and Aoshima　都井岬、鵜戸神社、青島

December 2017, Cape Toi We set off for Toi-misaki(Cape Toi), which has good views, a lighthouse and wild horses(Misaki-uma). We visited this place on a motorcycle trip 30 plus years ago and had fond memories of it. Especially the minshuku, or B&B. This place, despite our initial reservations, (it looked like a very tacky café) provided superb sea views, opera on the radio and excellent food. We were surprised to find you now have to pay 400 yen to enter the cape and a further 200 yen to view the lighthouse. The cape does offer a spacious area of short, horse nibbled grass and wonderful seascapes on all sides. Then […]
Sakurajima
14/08/2019 / Last updated : 02/02/2023 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Arimura lava field and Cape Sata　有村溶岩展望所、佐多岬

December 2017, Arimura Lava Field A clear morning and a good view of Sakurajima. We can see the active crater which is on this side i.e. the landward side not the ferry port side. We head back towards the ferry port, however, as we want to walk around the Arimura lava field. This is an easy walk as the whole route is tarmac and the circuit takes only about 20 minutes. It is interesting to wander through these contorted rocks and wonder at the fact that these were molten flows. Sometimes this area is thick with fumes depending on the wind direction and the volcanic activity. I have also experienced […]
Izumo Taisha
19/05/2019 / Last updated : 12/02/2023 d.d Temple / Shrine

Izumo-taisha, stone rabbits　出雲大社

Day 93,  December 2016, A night marked by heavy rain and thunder but the morning brings pale sunshine, even if the thunder is still rumbling around and the western sky fantastically dark. I make a trip to the toilet, thinking I have time before any serious rain arrives. As I emerge, the hail is sheeting down. This doesn’t last long and, after a short chat to the lady cleaner, I make it back to the car. We drive across the road to a Lawson car park for breakfast as, uniquely, this michi no eki has no vending machine for coffee. Izumo-taisha　　出雲大社 Our next stop is Izumo-taisha. Its big hall, immediately, […]
01/03/2019 / Last updated : 07/09/2024 d.d Scenic Drive / Spots

Izushi – stork revival 出石

Summer 2018, Tajimarakuza, michi no eki, does not improve with familiarity. In mitigation, I should mention that the old building is undergoing refurbishment. So, it may be better in a few months, say Spring 2019. Izushi – stork revival From Tajimarakuza, we take a look around the nearby town of Izushi, famous for porcelain, sara-soba, an old clock tower ‘Shinkoro’ and storks. Here, some traditional buildings remain plus the foundations of the castle. These castle foundations are jumbled with an Inari (fox) shrine. Interesting enough. Izushi is only a half hour drive from the famous Kinosaki hot spring, and 2 hours from Himeji and its famous castle.   As we […]
snow monkeys
31/12/2018 / Last updated : 16/03/2023 d.d Arts / Places of interest

Hokusaikan in Obuse with added Snow Monkeys　小布施北斎館、野猿公園

Day 63, November 2016, Hokusai Museum in Obuse On a cold morning of chill rain and biting wind, we, wisely, decide to pay a visit to the Hokusai museum. This museum turns out to be an unexpected delight. I had no idea that Hokusai, in his later years, visited and worked in Obuse, with the help of a local patron. The variations of style exhibited here are truly stunning. The work of a genius or an “old man mad about art”. I recommend a visit to this small wonder of a museum. ＊Hokusai museum ; 1000 yen/adult Snow Monkeys　野猿公苑 From Hokusai we turn our attention to the, almost as famous, […]