Since we are stuck here, I have decided to post one of my bicycle trip done in 2018.
**Edited**
Just a brief explanation, the intention was to use our bicycle and trains for our trip, the bicycle used is the Brompton. We will pack our necessity into our front touring bags and send our luggage to the next hotel, my bag alone weights about 20kg. The ride was slow but manageable and the only obstacle was the first 2 days
**Edited**
Hiroshima > Imabari > Kyoto > Aomori > Lake Kawaguchi > Tokyo
Day 1, We landed in Hiroshima international airport in the morning, prep our bikes, there is locker rooms, bike tools and floor pump available near to the arrival hall, we then arranged for our luggage and bike bags to be delivered to Kyoto, then proceeded by limo bus to JR Hiroshima station to exchange our 7 days JR pass. From Hiroshima, we took a shinkansen to Okayama then change limited express train to Imabari, Shikoku where our first night accommodation just less than 5mins away from the station is located. We took our bikes and went hunting for our dinner, settled for ramen and gyoza.
Day 2, we started off having our breakfast at the hotel before riding off towards our first destination, Shimanami Kaido and our accommodation at Ikujima. There are road markers along to guide us to the right way, which makes navigation alot easier on us. The climb from Imabari to the first bridge, Kurushima Kaikyo was unexpected . We managed to reached our hotel early and had a nice onsen experience before our dinner. Then another round of onsen before we went to dreamland.
Day 3, Our plan was to complete the remaining part of the Shimanami Kaido and head to Onomichi for lunch, before another train ride to Kyoto. There was a long mountain pass after Ikuchi Bridge and the more memorable bridge has to be Innoshima bridge, where the bikes, motorcycles and pedestrain runs beneath the roadway. We took alittle longer than expected and had to change our plan to head to Nara for the evening to the next day. Dinner was at Kyoto station, followed by shopping.
Day 4, We started out on the wrong foot, with a wheel change, fortunately, it happened just before we were setting out, was mainly on the road with some section along the Katsura river towards Arashiyama and the Bamboo forest. The place was so crowded by the time we reached, had to do a chop chop stop and head back to Kyoto for Nara by train. Compared to the last time I was in Kyoto, there were alot more tourist in both Kyoto and Nara.
Day 5, made arrangement again to deliver our luggage to Lake Kawaguchi and check out to take a long train ride to Aomori (approx. 6.5hrs with a train change at Tokyo station), by the time we reached Aomori, it was already close to 4pm. Had a rest before we met up for dinner nearby.
Day 6, gloomy day as forecasted. But we were still determined to enjoy the sakura we traveled so far for and we weren't disappointed. Hirosaki castle held their 100 years anniversary Sakura Festival. It was fine until we had some photo taking fun just outside of Hirosaki park and it drizzled until we left the place in the afternoon.
Day 7, Checked out for another 3.5hrs ride back to Tokyo station, where we were supposed to catch the highway bus to Lake Kawaguchi. We cycled to our hotel from the station.
Day 8, Our plan was to cover the 5 lakes closest to kawaguchi, regretted big time, cos I under dress, berms and forgotten to bring along my leg warmer and jacket. We also made a last minute decision to visit the Fuji Shiba-Sakura festival at Fuji Motosuko Resort. The route to the place was quite scary, having to ride along the cross roads with heavy vehicle zooming past us. It was late afternoon when we finally reached the place and unfortunately, the organizers stopped us from rolling in our Bromptons, so we had to take turns to visit the festival. And because the sun was setting, temperature was also dropping fast, with only berms and no leg warmer nor jacket, I was freezing. So we did a fast one again and cycle back as fast as we could...... but the bridge between Lake Motosu and Lake Shoji was a killer for me, had to stopped a couple of times just to catch my breathe *faint*. I managed to cycle back and we did a final stop at Nagasaki park, before reaching back to our hotel. And did I mentioned the "slope" before our hotel. Crazy!!!!!
Day 9, The group part ways, me and my friend travel back to Tokyo while the other 2 stayed for another day and explore the other lake
Day 10, Departure from Haneda Airport.
**Edited**
Just a brief explanation, the intention was to use our bicycle and trains for our trip, the bicycle used is the Brompton. We will pack our necessity into our front touring bags and send our luggage to the next hotel, my bag alone weights about 20kg. The ride was slow but manageable and the only obstacle was the first 2 days
**Edited**
Hiroshima > Imabari > Kyoto > Aomori > Lake Kawaguchi > Tokyo
Day 1, We landed in Hiroshima international airport in the morning, prep our bikes, there is locker rooms, bike tools and floor pump available near to the arrival hall, we then arranged for our luggage and bike bags to be delivered to Kyoto, then proceeded by limo bus to JR Hiroshima station to exchange our 7 days JR pass. From Hiroshima, we took a shinkansen to Okayama then change limited express train to Imabari, Shikoku where our first night accommodation just less than 5mins away from the station is located. We took our bikes and went hunting for our dinner, settled for ramen and gyoza.
Day 2, we started off having our breakfast at the hotel before riding off towards our first destination, Shimanami Kaido and our accommodation at Ikujima. There are road markers along to guide us to the right way, which makes navigation alot easier on us. The climb from Imabari to the first bridge, Kurushima Kaikyo was unexpected . We managed to reached our hotel early and had a nice onsen experience before our dinner. Then another round of onsen before we went to dreamland.
Day 3, Our plan was to complete the remaining part of the Shimanami Kaido and head to Onomichi for lunch, before another train ride to Kyoto. There was a long mountain pass after Ikuchi Bridge and the more memorable bridge has to be Innoshima bridge, where the bikes, motorcycles and pedestrain runs beneath the roadway. We took alittle longer than expected and had to change our plan to head to Nara for the evening to the next day. Dinner was at Kyoto station, followed by shopping.
Day 4, We started out on the wrong foot, with a wheel change, fortunately, it happened just before we were setting out, was mainly on the road with some section along the Katsura river towards Arashiyama and the Bamboo forest. The place was so crowded by the time we reached, had to do a chop chop stop and head back to Kyoto for Nara by train. Compared to the last time I was in Kyoto, there were alot more tourist in both Kyoto and Nara.
Day 5, made arrangement again to deliver our luggage to Lake Kawaguchi and check out to take a long train ride to Aomori (approx. 6.5hrs with a train change at Tokyo station), by the time we reached Aomori, it was already close to 4pm. Had a rest before we met up for dinner nearby.
Day 6, gloomy day as forecasted. But we were still determined to enjoy the sakura we traveled so far for and we weren't disappointed. Hirosaki castle held their 100 years anniversary Sakura Festival. It was fine until we had some photo taking fun just outside of Hirosaki park and it drizzled until we left the place in the afternoon.
Day 7, Checked out for another 3.5hrs ride back to Tokyo station, where we were supposed to catch the highway bus to Lake Kawaguchi. We cycled to our hotel from the station.
Day 8, Our plan was to cover the 5 lakes closest to kawaguchi, regretted big time, cos I under dress, berms and forgotten to bring along my leg warmer and jacket. We also made a last minute decision to visit the Fuji Shiba-Sakura festival at Fuji Motosuko Resort. The route to the place was quite scary, having to ride along the cross roads with heavy vehicle zooming past us. It was late afternoon when we finally reached the place and unfortunately, the organizers stopped us from rolling in our Bromptons, so we had to take turns to visit the festival. And because the sun was setting, temperature was also dropping fast, with only berms and no leg warmer nor jacket, I was freezing. So we did a fast one again and cycle back as fast as we could...... but the bridge between Lake Motosu and Lake Shoji was a killer for me, had to stopped a couple of times just to catch my breathe *faint*. I managed to cycle back and we did a final stop at Nagasaki park, before reaching back to our hotel. And did I mentioned the "slope" before our hotel. Crazy!!!!!
Day 9, The group part ways, me and my friend travel back to Tokyo while the other 2 stayed for another day and explore the other lake
Day 10, Departure from Haneda Airport.
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