Cheers Muk!
Which one is the eject button?
Foot massage/torture in the park
Our new drunken friend
Park camping.
Up and over to Hagi
Typical country houses
Convenience in every layby
Traditional merchant’s home in Hagi old town
Beach side camping in Hagi
Adela and Kris from Poland
Sushi, glorious sushi!
Route 187 towards Iwakumi
Refreshing river swim
Riverside picnic
There are dozens of very tame dears on Miyajima
The path up Mount Missen
Figurine on Mount Missen
Peace sign on Miyajima
Great Torii, Myajima
Great Torii, Myajima
Shrine
Itsukushima Shrine
Great Torii, Miyajima
Replica of the ‘Little Boy’ bomb. Modern hydrogen bombs are 3000 times more powerful.
The ‘A-bomb dome’. Just 150m from the hypocentre of the atomic blast
A tree that survived the bomb
Oyster farm, Etijima
Kure naval port
Ondocho ferry
Blue lines and bridges
Ferry to
Innoshima Bridge
Shimanami Kaido – One of the finest places to ride in Japan
Luxury bus shelter
Accommodation with great transport links
View from the ferry to Iwagi
Yoshiumicho Fusuma Bridge
Cycle path up onto Yoshiumicho Fusuma Bridge
Yoshiumicho Fusuma Bridge across to Shikoku
Our hosts in Imibari: Tsuneto, Akiko, Fumitso. Jeffrey and Linda from France were also staying having found them through Air B&B
A suitable house name
Shikoku Pilgrim
Soggy moggy
Aojima – Otherwise known as Cat Island
Temple cat
Feeding frenzy
Playtime on cat island
There are Tsunami escape routes along the entire coast. These signs tell you how far above sea level you are.
Tunnels aplenty. This was one just for bikes.
Misty coast road on Shikoku
Near Yawatahma, Shikoku
Coast road south from Yawatahama
Fruit collecting trolley
Keep Japan tidy, if you can
This guy was riding his scooter from Tokyo to Kyushu, only marginally faster than us.
Samurai statues
Terraced tea plantation
Even the road signs bow in apology when there are roadworks
Iya (Hidden) Valley
Peeing boy, Iya Valley
Vine bridge (with steel cables underneath)
Doll cyclist
Village of the dolls, Iya Valley
Village of the dolls, Iya Valley
Village of the dolls, Iya Valley
Vine bridge (with steel cables underneath)
Kirsty braves the Wild Monkey cable car
A well earned picnic spot at the head of the Iya Valley
Red light zone
Making roadworks more fun
At the home of the big S
Sakai Bicycle Museum. The Eddy Mercx belonged to a Texan called Lance. Whatever happened to him?
Into Osaka
Dōtonbori, Osaka
Preparing the Takiyaki
Preparing the Tokoyaki
Piping hot Takoyaki
Standing bar
Sumo paintings
Tiny Osaka houses
Audrey, our host in Osaka
Shinsekai, Osaka
The Great Buddha
Climbing through the pillar in The Great Buddha Hall, Nara
Great Buddha Hall, Nara
Basin for washing with holy water, with guardian dragon
Not climbing through the pillar in The Great Buddha Hall, Nara
A big bell, Nara
Deer ambush in Nara
Bright green macha tea, our beverage of choice at the moment
Fushimi Inari Shrine, Kyoto
Hand-deccorated, fox shaped good luck charms
Ancient history and modern convenience in Japan
Kizomizu Temple. People used to believe that if you jumped off the balcony and survived your wish would come true.
5 storied Pagodo, Kyoto
Crowds in Kyoto
Kimonos in Kyoto
Race the train
Camping by Lake Biwa without a penknife
Lake Biwa
Robotic salesman
Hills behind Lake Biwa
Illusive fish
Fishermen in the river
Moritodaimyojin
Shiragawa
Camping near Shiragawa
Shiragawa
Hot foot bath that later became a hot body bath
Log cabin accomodation
通行止め! (Road closed)
A perfect bike to ride up a mountain…..
Into the Japanese Alps
Komikotchi
Hiking up the mountain
Kamokotchi
Kamikotchi
Up at the snow line
Crossing a dam on the way to Matsumoto
Matsumoto castle
Long descents through the rain and the tunnels
We’re now on the Japanese Romantic Road
Wooden channels help cool the water before it goes to the onsens
Public onsen
Jizō statue in colourful bib
Hot river in
Hot foot bath in Kusatsu
Ski slopes in the summer
A perfect camping spot (if only it wasn’t private land)
Ryūzu Falls
On our way down from the pass at Higashiogawa
Guardians at the entrance to Nikko Temples
Nikko Toshu Gu
Monkeys on the sacred stable
Crying dragon on a temple ceiling
Shinkyō Bridge, Nikko
Cedar avenue of Nikko
Cedar avenue, Nikko
Travelling through one of the most densely populated areas of the world. Apparently.
Tokyo Sky Tree
Oak Hostel Cabin – Capsule Hotel
Capsule hotel
Shinjuku, Tokyo
Shinjuku, Tokyo
Shinjuku, Tokyo
Shinjuku, Tokyo
Cutting ice, Tsukiji Fish Market
Tsukiji Fish Market
Tuna on the move
Tsukiji
Oysters in Tsukiji
Tuna, Tsukiji
Camping in central Yokohama
Looking out from Hayama
Hayama
A happy meal, Kamakura
Zen garden, Engaku Ji, Kamakura
Zeniarai Benzaiten Ugafuku Shrine, Kamakura where you can literally wash money in the hope that it will then multiply
Hayama with Fuji-San behind
View of Mount Fuji from near Mark’s house in Hayama
Shinuya pedestrian crossing, the busiest in the worlds with up to 600 people stepping out when the lights turn
Tokyo tag
Pimped fixie, Cat Street, Tokyo
Harris tweed perches
http://www.riderzcafe.com/, Tokyo