Yappari Kyushu 2021, part 3

                           Exploring Kyushu, a never ending story.

Yeahhh, when exploring by camper, there is no need for
" boondocking " like it is in the rest of the world.

Moondocking in Nippon: legal, free and safe,

 all over the place.

An amazing fun hike with friends.

This time we hiked Mt Waita in Oita..

It was crisp to say the least and the hot-spring afterwards was awesome.

Nope, we're not lost.
Just enjoying this amazing scenery.
Kuju & Aso National Park, in the heart of Kyushu.

We joined a tour around this very ancient village in Kumamoto Ken.

Of course a visit to the local shrine was top of the list.

For a JOB, we stayed 2 nights in a ryokan in Kumamoto.

 We had to evaluate the rooms, staff, food and bath.

All passed with flying colors.

Yes and wow, we did enjoy our stay....

( By the way, Billie Bee Bus was parked next to the ryokan. 

Nori had the castle all for himself).

We joined an e-bike cycling tour to the top of Mt Aso.

Going up was easy with these bicycles. 

Going down.... oops, take care with that speed.

Equipment and tour-guides were ace.

And look at the weather!

At the crater of Mt Aso.

Hmm, not much to see today.

Billie Bee seen here at the Spring Kurume Camping Car Show.

Like other years, my job was 2 nights playing for guardsman.

He-he, fun to do.

Billie Bee Bus is slightly long for ordinary car parking.

But there is always a slot to be found that accommodates us.

Could have backed-up a bit more, but I didn't want to disturb the young tree branches.

This is at one of Mt Hiko hiking parking areas

Mt Hiko forest is spectacular.

It was a snowy hike @ Mt Hiko san.

Bus stop at Akizuki, Fukuoka prefecture.

Plum blossom in the snow! 

Last snowy hike at 

Kanondake hiking trail in Imajuku.

At least once a week my stomping grounds. 

And yes, we are well looked after by our neighbors.

Guess who is most happy....

Gate at Sakurai Jinja in Itoshima.

Temple cat at work at Raizan Sennyoji Temple in Itoshima.

A visit to this place always brings zennnnn. 

In case your fancy some Japanese food....

Itadaki masu.....

Shopping for country style goods.

Buying from the rural honesty shop.

Best price and top quality.

Our life is being lived on Keel and Wheels.

Michi-no-eki Mt Aso Train Station.

One of the better of all the good ones.

Of course...

The end of the day is best celebrated in a steaming hot bath.

Salute.

Yappari Kyushu 2021, part 2

 

Today, here in Fukuoka it was 16 degree C.
This picture was taken at Mt Kuju 2 months ago.
Hard to believe.
The more magic it beams.

Ready for a game of Noughts & Crosses?
Drive your camper in Japan.

In wintery wonderland.
Be at the right place at the right moment to commence that very special snow-hike. In this case our campsite was at Chojabaru, Oita.

Just sit down and let your thoughts flow......

Well, the Vaccine Train is on its way.
The infrastructure might be rusty, so slowly-slowly does it, but the future of traveling around Nippon again looks sure promising.
Thinking about a Kyushu camper trip?

Spectacular vantage point to see the sunset.
With Mt Aso in the distance.
Explore by camper, way to go.

They are all super but this Michi No Eki 道の駅 is one of the even better ones.
Location: Kitagawa in Miyazaki.

Yappari Kyushu
Time for a coffee break.
Isn't it magic?
Explore by camper, way to go.

One of our favorites: morning market in Yobuko, Saga Prefecture.
A hint what Japan must have been decades ago.

Winter sunset over Ariaki Kai 有明海
One of the hotspots to visit if you like Kyushu for your campervan trip & scenery photography.

Yappari Kyushu
These wintery days looking back at pictures like this, keeps us going.
Won't be long now :-)
Are you too already making plans?
Explore by camper, way to go.

We have been in Japan now already for soo many years.
By times we forget ...... we are here.
And then suddenly..... Zzzzz.
Zen.
Campervan.

Surprising things and views you see when driving rural Kyushu.

Luff-luff, we luff it.

Spectacular Oita landmark in winter mode. A touristic location especially, as you can imagine, when dressed in autumn colors.
This was our camper possy for the night... couldn't have been better.

Follow the road into the sunset.

Magic Camper in Kyushu.

For Marijke's blog-posting about our winter trip,

zoofff to here:

http://wingsndthings.blogspot.com/2021/01/winter-2020-2021-part-1.html

 

Yappari Kyushu 2021, part 1

 

Yeahhh, we had the shortest daylight-day & the vaccine is on its way... 

Are we now heading to a brighter 202?
Meanwhile & especially during this pandemic, 

the better way to explore Japan is by camper. 

And that's what we have been doing.

Haha, so you think we did something illegally ??

Nope.  

This guy has been standing with this rock over his head already for zillion of years  :-)

In November we were ready to show-off our cowboy tricks....

Maybe we are good at it after 40 years as a team.

Good morning Kyushu.

Of course Nori is enjoying his bed-and-view-on-wheels as well.

View from the cockpit.

There is something called: Being-templed-out.

What means: Having seen & visited too many temples.

Nope, not for us.

We always find our zen-and-more, 

especially @ those temples that are off the beaten (tourist) track.

An other breakfast panorama from Billie

This and that pictures from a hike in our backyard here in Fukuoka.

Hopefully you will be able to travel to Japan again in 2021.

Meanwhile we keep on explore the sights for you.

Takachiho Gorge in Miyazaki.. 

Make sure this location is on your camper trip list.

Ask me for details if you are thinking about such a trip.

Salute.

 

Yappari Kyushu autumn Snaps 2020

♤ Pond on the Rocks ♤
As it was seen at Mifuneyama Koen in Takeo, Saga.

Indeed a cool place to wind down on a hot day.

Looking down from Oka Castle Ruins in Oita. Even the car-park is ahhhsome.
Can you spot Billie Bee?
Happy camper, way to go.

Good Morning.
A slightly different start if our Sunday. Luff it too.
Happy camper here at Mt Aso National Park.

Excuse me, do you have a moment to dream away... ?

File photo of camper customers from Israel.
Their 6 weeks camper trip started in Tokyo and finished in Fukuoka.
Can you guess what an amazing experience they had?

Time to wind down, stroll the alleys, take in the sights..... and dream away.
Oh, and of course go for a long soak in one of the many hotsprings.
As it happens in Kurokawa Onsen in Kumammoto.

Japan has many extremes.
Like: shinkansen & steam train. This one is the Yamaguchi Express.
To be able to see it chuck-chucking along the countryside is so exciting.

Guess why we like to roam the often narrow roads with our camper.
Bonus of course are the autumn colors.

This time of the year it's Ahhh & Ohh and More.
Be prepared for some jaw dropping.

A bit of this and a bit of that.
ゆ is the sign for sento (bath) or hotspring.
P in this case for parking, pizza and pasta (confused?).
The hotspring is a short walk down from the road, at the base of the cliffs.

Early-early morning. Best moment of the day.
Misty conditions makes it more magical at this perfect overnight stop we shared with 1 more camper.
Location: SE of Mt Aso.

Time for a break. Always plenty of rest areas available.

Undeniable, we had awesome autumn weather and spectacular colors all around us.
Now heading into more wintery weather... but that doesn't stop us from exploring Nippon by camper.

What to say?
Probably you say something like: Wish I was there !
Camper rental, way to go and enjoy Kyushu in autumn.
And winter.
And spring.

Magic in the Air. As seen in Sawaraku, Fukuoka.

Care for a snack?
How about a very tasty and amazingly fresh UNI, also known as sea-urchin.
Here for sale at the morning fish market in Yobuko, Saga Prefecture.