Tag Archives: driving in Japan
Landscapes by road in Tohoku II
Rice fields soon to be ready for harvest, farmhouses and homesteads, patches of vegetable plots, the occasional dormant volcano, gorges with rivers penciled through in grey. And lots of fluffy white puffs of cloud in a deep blue sky. Green … Continue reading
Landscapes by road in Tohoku
The landscape is Tohoku is pretty. Dominated by large swatches of rice fields, there are small villages, the occasional sight of hills, rivers and once in a while, a bright red torii gate! This trip has lots of travel by … Continue reading
Matsumoto, Tsumago and basashi!
Said a reluctant goodbye to Yarimikan and its tantalising baths this morning. But not before a typically filling generous Japanese breakfast and a mochi-pounding performance at which KH also sportingly had a go. The slippery smooth onsen tamago is one … Continue reading
Yarimikan: Hidden Onsen
What’s your idea of paradise? Mine varies. Sometimes its a white sand beach with glass-clear waters. Sometimes its just home with hours of uninterrupted Korean dramas on video. But here, in Japan, there is a really special spot that comes … Continue reading
Up on the roof of Japan
Right out of a Christmas postcard right? Up here at the observation deck of the Nishihotakaguchi station of the Shin Hotaka Ropeway, the view takes the breath away. Except for another 15 people, we have the place to ourselves.
Ogimachi
The plan was to drive from Shirakawago back towards Takayama, bypassing it and taking route 158 deeper into the mountains to Okuhida where we would spend the night. We thought we’d finish most of the sights in Ogimachi by 10am … Continue reading
Ainokura
Wouldn’t you like to live here? I don’t know whose house this is but I sure wish it were mine! Imagine this in summer when the fields are green and the doors thrown open, a light breeze wafting through the … Continue reading
Snow fields and a sky full of stars in Ogimachi
Driving from Takayama into the hamlets of Shirakawago is like leaving the back of the cupboard in Narnia. One minute it was grey skies, a light drizzle, a long tunnel and then as the dimness blazed into light, we found … Continue reading
Takayama – a day out in the old town
What I remember best about Takayama are the warmth of the people we met, the stately houses we visited all dark old beams and worn steps, the weave of the tatami, the flavour of salty tea, red and faded sarubobo … Continue reading
Big On Trips 