2025 – Japan

Great day with friends

Posted on by helenhmk

We met up with our Tokyo friends near Tsukiji station, and happened across the Analogue Market. It featured records, cassettes tapes (yes you read that right), and a variety of second hand products, from kitchen wares, fabric, children toys, handmade ceramics… and of course food vans. While they did look appealing as we had planned to eat sushi… we kept on walking.

We wandered around to the Tsukiji outside market until we found a sushi place which looked good. The old Tsukiji Market moved to Toyasu… but the outer market still remains and there are large number of people visiting to experience some of the best seafood in the world (okay I’m probably biased).

… then we went to a croissant place called Tony Bake, from Sapporo, but is only in Tokyo for 100 days. Luckily our friends son is a karate competitor with their son… so an order was placed in advance, as the shop is open until they sell out each day.

We took them to a park, grabbed a coffee from Blue Bottle (in Toyasu) and enjoyed in the nearest park… and yes it was damn good .. but I really didn’t expect it to be anything but good!

After wandering around their local shopping place… we decided to look at the view of Mt Fuji from the 36th floor of a hotel. The weather today was around 19 degrees… and windy.. but the view was fantastic! 🗻

Dinner was had at a local beef restaurant… where the beef is cooked in an oven at 400 degrees and placed on a hot plate. It comes delivered to the table with the paper around the plate, and they pour sauce over the top in front of you it sizzles, and you hold up a large napkin to stop it from getting you in the face. It was a great experience and very tasty.

Afterwards we all enjoyed a tasty dessert… and Kym and Gaku’s are the ones with the message on the plate with he cartoon characters- かわいい　😍

It really was a fabulous day, and great to spend it with our long time friends. We appreciated the time spent with us (our very bad Japanese) and we hope to see you again!

Walked 17,231 steps

Plan B

Posted on by helenhmk

It’s always good to have a plan B – especially as today it is Cultural Day in Japan, which is a public holiday and opening times vary.

Dinner view..

Posted on by helenhmk

We are now on the Romancercar train back to Tokyo.. we followed our friends lead and turned the seat around. It was worth it so we could have a view of Mt Fuji as we ate our bento. Everyone wants to see Mt Fuji!

Art…

Posted on by helenhmk

When art expresses your feelings at the beginning of the holiday when you want to do it all… but start to talk about the next trip – and your on day one..

Train trip to Hakone

Posted on by helenhmk

Saturday morning we met up with longtime Tokyo friends and headed to Hakone, which is just over 1.5 hours by train outside of Tokyo.

First challenge – getting from one side of Shinjuku train station to another… not the easiest station to navigate to get to the meeting spot. Unlike previous times it didn’t take too long and we were able to met up buy bento for the train and get to the platform to take photos of the Romancecar train.

The name comes from the arms rests being omitted in between the seats… which was radical at the time of creation back in 1957. The cars also have large windows enabling passengers great views of the scenery. The train offers a fabulous opportunity to sit back enjoy passing of greater Tokyo as you head to Hakone and eat bento!

Flight time

Posted on by helenhmk

When you’ve got nine hours on a plane during the day there’s a variety of activities to keep yourself occupied… I stuck to watching movies… and Kym planned a couple of our rides in Tokyo.

Transiting with Bags..

Posted on by helenhmk

Unfortunately suitcases are a necessity when travelling to Japan, especially when taking our Bromptons. While packing last weekend Kym said ‘I just want to travel without this stuff..!’, but I highlighted we would not get the experiences of cycling in fabulous places without the Bromptons so we have to put up with a very short term problem for long term happiness. To be fair I think he would like someone else to do all the packing (don’t we all!).

The Brompton suitcases themselves are large, but small enough to fit within the size requirements for normal luggage by the airlines. They are easy to move… but annoying from the perspective of travelling from ADL to SYD collecting them, getting on a bus to the international terminal side to the hotel and the next day checking in for the international flight to Japan.

In lifts people look at our suitcases with a quizzical look on their face… and I usually pipe up ‘they’re folding bikes’… which is usually met with ‘ah that’s so wonderful… I did wonder what amount of clothing would be inside..’.

Transiting is a necessary part of the journey… but we are always pleased to have checked in… seen off the bags, got through the gates and made it to the lounge… oh and find a seat. With just enough time to ensure there are enough ebooks/audiobooks on my phone for the plane journey.

Ah… here we are – again!

Posted on by helenhmk

Holidays overseas are a wondrous thing, especially if you’re exploring new places. While we’ve visit Japan many times, we find ourselves returning… and continuing to search out places not yet visited on our bikes.

If you’re new here – welcome! You are either here to live vicariously through our holiday adventures (good and the wrong turns) as hopefully you’ve enjoyed our past adventures, or you’ve an interest in Brompton bicycles and keen to see where we ride in Japan once again.

Now if you’ve followed this blog for a number of years (… at least 20 years of holidays) you’ve probably recently been receiving additional posts about the Adelaide Bromptoneering rides… don’t panic we’re just maximising our online site. Those new to the blog had the opportunity to choose just Adelaide Bromptoneering posts or just Brompton or Bust holiday posts.. so thanks for signing up… and welcome all!