Western Japan touring 2021 Day 12 Shimanami Sea Road

English | 日本語

I woke up in the dark. There was a convenience store nearby, so I thought I'd get a coffee and recharge my batteries while drying off my tents, but they didn't have an eat-in service in the morning...😭 Closing the eat-in for Corona is very troubling for travelers. Does it make sense? 🤔

I pulled myself together and had a cup of coffee while watching the sunrise on the beach. Well, this isn't so bad either😊.

When the tent is dry, I take it down and leave the beach.
As soon as I started cycling, I found a park where I could camp. I'd love to pitch a tent in a place like this.

I was allowed to wash my hair, face and laundry in the bathroom. Thanks🙏

When crossing the Kamo River, I was told to climb the stairs 😅 this bikepacking setup is easy to carry up ✌️The mobility of lightness and smallness always helps me.

Crossing the river

Through the paddy rice fields

Passing the port

I arrived at Imabari and found the Saishoku Restaurant at the roadside station.

I got a nice meal 😋.

Finally, I'm crossing the bridge I saw here and going on the Shimanami Kaido.

The slope to the bridge

The sea breeze was so nice that I felt like I was flying.

I had to go down to the islands along the way and had fun.

Not all bridges are the same.

Today I arrived at the Mitsuke Island Free Campground. It's well-equipped but free 😊
One after another, campers arrive, but they're all slow to set up their tents... it's taking them 10 times longer than me, but what are they doing?🤔

The ocean is so clean and cold, it's amazing! I would stay here for days if I could.

I'll do today's FB post while watching the sunset. It's still great!
90km today, and if I can keep this pace up, I'll be able in Kyushu before August as planned.

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The center of Shikoku〜Mitsuke Island 90km (total 1023km)

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Western Japan touring 2021 Day 11 Seto Inland Sea

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I stayed at my FB friend Yamada's guesthouse for two nights and rested up. He had his drive me up to the top of Goshikidai hill 😅 and I start the downhill 😊

Setouchi (Seto Inland Sea) from the top of Goshikidai hill. Many islands in a calm sea with no waves. This is a unique view in Japan.

Start ！

I went down a rather steep slope, looking at the Seto Ohashi Bridge through the trees.

I stopped at Shiramine Temple on the way. This is a temple and shrine. I wonder if it's only in Japan that two religions, Shinto and Buddhism, don't look so strange mixed together ?

I worship at Emperor Sutoku's Shiramine Mausoleum. This is the only emperor's mausoleum in Shikoku.

After about 10km, I arrived at a park at the base of the Seto Ohashi Bridge, which I could see in the distance. I wish they would make all the bridges open to bicycles...

Before I left Kagawa for Ehime, I went to a self-service Udon noodle stand that I often see around here. The system is the same as Marugame Seimen (famous Udon chain restaurants), but the cost and taste is much better! By the way, this is Marugame City 😁.

Udon and Tempura is a classic combination. Japanese people love them, don't they?

Today, I road along the coastline, but because it was the Seto Inland Sea, there were no waves and I could see the land on the other side of the sea, so I didn't feel like I was riding along the coast line 😅. Still, I stopped at the beach and ate some frozen oranges I like.

I came to Kotodan Park on Ariake Beach. Here there is a huge sand painting that resembles the Kan'ei Tsuho treasure made in the Edo period, but I have to go up the hill to the viewing platform to see the painting.

But I don't have the energy to climb it, so I'll show it by the link photo (©︎Kannonji City Hall)... 😅

Today I stay at the beach an overnight. It's been a long time since I stayed at the beach because this touring was mostly inland. The coast is quite shallow, and the sound of the waves is not at all shallow...

The setting sun is beautiful😊
I cycled 80km today. Tomorrow is the Shimanami Kaido !

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Takamatsu city〜Center of Shikoku 80km (total 933km)

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Western Japan touring 2021 Day 10 Crossing to Shikoku

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I couldn't sleep well last night because there were young people setting off fireworks in a nearby parking lot, a strange singing bird on the sandbar across the street, and it was hot in the tent, but I was glad to greet the morning with a beautiful sunrise😊

Today I also took the back road Route 250 instead of using Route 2. It's an uphill climb out of nowhere, but I'm still in good spirits, so I climb!💪

It was quite a bit more climbing than I expected, but I managed to reach the pass✌️

After this, the road was wide and easy to drive, connecting port towns. But of course, if the road is this good, the policemen were doing their job perfectly I saw here🤭(a speed trap commonly known as rat catcher in Japan). Be careful your speed with your car😅

I passed through the town of Bizen, famous for its pottery.

The Yoshii River embankment road. The road is not wide, but it is pleasant.

On the way, I found a magnificent temple. It was Saidaiji Temple of the Shingon sect🙏

I came to a park near the ocean and found a toilet and running water. First the laundry😁.

Next, I washed my hair, face, and shaved. I felt refreshed.

I took a break for a while, but because of the heat, everything dried up in about 30 minutes😁. When I used a hotel, I won't have this kind of fun and excitement...

Today I'm staying at a guesthouse in Takamatsu city, so I'm going to Takamatsu Station from Okayama Station with carrying my bicycle. This is where I arrived at Okayama station.

Put the bike & luggage in the bag. It's compact, but a bit heavy as I forgot to dump the water and it weighs 15kg.

The inside of the train. It's not that crowded, so I put my luggage on the seat next to me.

Crossing the Seto Ohashi Bridge. I really want to bike across it 🤔

When I arrived at Takamatsu station, Yamada-san, the owner of the guesthouse, was there to pick me up. He is a friend of mine on FB as well as a friend of mine on bicycles, kick scooters, and Uber Eats delivery work. We rode together to the guesthouse.

Tomorrow is the first full rest day of this touring. I road 85km today.
I posted an article for carrying bike with train in Japan to the Bicycle Travellers group on FB.

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Sensyu River〜Takamatsu City 85km (total 853km)

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Western Japan touring 2021 Day 9 Akashi Bridge To Akoh

English | 日本語

In fact, the pine forest park was quite noisy last night because of the railroad station behind it, and there were many people walking around in the morning. But I was able to sleep well. Thank you for the night🙏
Route 2 through Akashi is wide and well maintained.

Route 2 is easy to ride, but not very interesting. So today I decided to take the Akihi Green Road. This road is not only divided into a roadway, sidewalk, and bicycle path, but as the name implies, it is planted with trees and flowers and is very cool.

Actually, I hadn't been often to McDonald's before this touring. However, when touring in the field in the summer, it is important to avoid the heat and recharge my battery, and McDonald's is convenient for that. Moreover, they have a mobile ordering system where I can order with my smartphone and they will deliver it to my seat ! So I walk in, sit down, start charging, and order a drink and fries with my phone. Then the waitress will deliver it to my seat a few moments later. It's a great place to avoid Covid-19, and thanks to the various discounts, it's cheap. I would be coming there almost every day.

Following the Akihi Green Road, I took the Himeji-Akashi Bicycle Path. It runs all the way under the railroad tracks.

Thanks to the comfortable bike path, I arrived at Himeji Castle before noon. The castle tower is magnificent here too.
The park where the Shachihoko is located is called Shiromidai (castle seeing stage) Park, and is famous for this angle of the photo.

The crowds in the castle were not bad, due to the consecutive holidays. It's a good thing that most castles in Japan are free to enter.

After taking a rest at Himeji Castle, I headed for Akoh, hoping to take a dip in the ocean today. But on the way, I found a signpost for Saigoku Kaido again and decided to go that way. The atmosphere of the buildings was just right, and the Saigoku Kaido was still enjoyable.

After a while, I couldn't help but take a picture of a river with beautiful water, and to my surprise, this was the Ibo River, the name source of the famous Somen noodles, Ibo-no-ito.

I stocked up on ingredients for dinner just before Akoh Seaside Park and headed for the park. However, the park was closing in half an hour, and the shutters at the entrance would be closing... I had no choice but to go up the Chikusa River and set up my tent in a suitable place.

The water isn't clean enough to jump in, but the breeze feels super nice😊
ride 85km today, maybe Shikoku tomorrow.

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Akashi Bridge〜Sensyu River 85km (total 768km)

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