2024 – Japan

20 years and counting…

Posted on by kymdt

This blog started more than twenty years ago with our 2004 trip to the United Stated and Canada. This holiday was a turning point in our lives – we came back knowing that we needed to get fitter. It was, in some ways, the true genesis of our riding life and ultimately our life and travels with Brompton Bikes.

As I looked back over our first blog, I recall what it was like trying to blog without an iPhone. We had to rush into local internet hotspots in libraries and such. The big issue was whether we could even get the photos off our camera to upload. There were plenty of promises to upload photos later. 20 years later, I have now uploaded the missing photos and corrected some spelling mistakes! If you are interested, you can revisit our 2004 holiday. See our 33-year-old selves by following this link > https://bromptoneering.blog/category/bromptoneering-or-bust/2004-usa/?order=asc

Since the first post about our itinerary in 2004, we posted 979 other posts (including this one) from all over the world. Our first trip had a total of 54 posts.

In 2025 and beyond we will continue with our travel blogging. We are, however, going to add some posts about riding in Adelaide both with and without Brompton Bikes. So if you have already subscribed to this blog you will receive all of the posts. If you would like to change that, visit the blog site. You can select the sort of posts you want to get.

Thank-you non Brompton friends…

Posted on by helenhmk

When visiting Tokyo, we always catch up with our ‘non-Brompton owning’ friends – who we’ve known since 2009.

As we’re in Japan for a month we were able to see them a few times. Firstly they took us to their local popular Izakaya. The food was as fabulous as the company – as it was great to catch up with them after 12 months.

They also spent time with us taking us to places in Tokyo.

.. and on our last day we were able to catchup with them again before taking the plane home. We enjoyed the local speciality of Sendai (tongue) and went to the fish art museum. Let’s face it they are impressive when you get an opportunity to see them up close and well lit).

Afterwards they took the time to come to the airport, enjoy one last meal together at the airport before we took the plane home.

Being from Australia we don’t necessarily value the large number of leave provision days we can take off. Japanese get much fewer days off – so when our friends let us know they are taking a day for us – it’s very special and we value their time… and can’t wait to see you again – hopefully next year.

Thank-you Brompton friends!

Posted on by helenhmk

There are many things which go into making holidays great. Often it’s a combination of deciding where to go, what to experience with the time you have available, navigating your way around and being prepared to be opened minded for what you might experience. This is often our experience in Japan.

Fabulous fish restaurant

We recognise we are fortunate to have Brompton cycling friends in Japan – it was really great to see them again – and we have a very enjoyable time in their company.

These holidays we got to spend time with them –

  • Cycling Oshima island over the first weekend- off the coast of Honshu, Japan
  • Catching up over a couple of dinners in their city (Tokyo & Kobe) – which were great experiences (…it’s not all about the Bromptons)
  • Spending the day cycling the Tama and Arakawa river in Tokyo and going to the summit of Mt Takao
  • Attending the ‘Brompton In Palace’ Christmas event (inc. food and all you can drink) in Tokyo
I won the badge on the right as a door prize at the Brompton Christmas Dinner (thank you 🙌)

Because we have known them since 2016.. we have learnt more about them, their culture, and as a bonus it’s helped us learn the best ways to get around Japan by Brompton. Through this friendship we also hope what we experience inspires them to visit the places in Japan we visit with our Bromptons – as they inspire us to cycle different places in Japan.

Mayumi, the leader of Brompton in Palace also does her own blog of cycling with her Brompton and about the events. If you are interested in reading the blog – I recommend you take a look. If you don’t read Japanese, don’t panic as there is a translate button in your internet browser.

ありがとうご座います… and we look forward to seeing you again next holiday.

Parking bikes at Mt Takao
Doughnuts at Mt Takao – simple things which were tasty!

Back home

Posted on by helenhmk

Adventure no more. We managed to finally get home today. I mean that as the flight to ADL from SYD decided to take another loop around Adelaide plains and hills as the first attempt to land was aborted.

Two weeks ago Takero, our Brompton friend lead a ride to a park to watch planes from Haneda take off. That day there were a lot of planes taking off and landing. However there was this one that tried to land a couple of times… and I remember saying at the time “I would hate being on that plane…”. Well today that was my experience. 😞

The pilot attempted to land from the sea approach due to the winds, and unfortunately the wind was change direction so we got an extra loop ride no one wanted. I was glad when we landed.

Somewhere between SYD and ADL

Transiting…

Posted on by helenhmk

I know some people like flying… but I’m not one. As I’ve said the only part I like is the taxi-ing before take off and landing. But enough talking about the actual flying experience.

Over the years we’ve gotten transiting to the airport with luggage in Japan to a fine art. When travelling internationally we use hard cases for our Bromptons as we know Australian airlines do not enable bikes to be transported in an open courier box like they do domestically in Japan. In addition to bike suitcases.. we have one mid-size luggage and a small carry on case which transitions to checked luggage home.

Moving via the train to either Haneda or Narita is the best option – but not with bicycle cases. Platform transitioning is too hard (based on where we stay), so now we take a taxi – and my arms are happier for the experience. below shows the luggage as we left the hotel in Tokyo.

Food on the plane from Japan is a delight – we were able to order a special meal – which was fabulous. Last Japanese style fish dish for me for awhile…

… and the breakfast was pretty good too.

Did I manage to sleep on the plane – a small bit (I tried, I really did), so I’m asking for your understanding if you interact with me today.

We will be doing a few posts over the next couple of days about cycling our Bromptons in Japan, details on trip planning for the avid Brompton owner and what we did over the last few days.

Haneda- before we left…

But first coffee

Posted on by helenhmk

… as always morning priorities after the bags are packed! At the beginning of our trip we found a great new coffee place near the hotel… great beans and great breakfast. so we went for the last time.

They also do a great hand-drip coffee style too which was enjoyable today.

Bags are packed…

Posted on by helenhmk

It’s always an interesting experience – packing the suitcase at the end of the trip. It’s a realisation of the amount you’ve bought (… oh I don’t remember that..!) and how it all manages to fit together. We have the added weight of the cycling gear – which really isn’t too much. What is frustrating is having to move the suitcases… and remembering what it will be like when we get to the other side.

..yes those are our bags, and two of the lockers have hand luggage.

But enough of that – today is a crisp 11 degrees and is a blue sky day. For those of you en Adelaide, commiserations on the forecast but we will will enjoy this while we can.

Last full day..

Posted on by helenhmk

… so there is time for one last bike ride before we pack the bike away.

We used our free breakfast tickets this morning, which were due to staying at the hotel previously… and it was quite enjoyable.

The weather is going to be a very cool 12 degrees, but the sky is perfectly blue. Great cycling conditions… looking forward to seeing what today brings.

Back in Tokyo

Posted on by helenhmk

We made it back..!

Nothing like the feeling of arriving back… knowing you successfully navigated all trains and ferries! Yeah.. us! after this photo we cycled a short 5km back to the hotel – just in time for Friday night shopping.

In case you are wondering – what you see in the picture is everything weve had with us for the past 12 days. Cycling with it is easier than carrying through train stations. A post will be written on how we get around – eventually 😉

Luck…

Posted on by helenhmk

Sometimes you can be completely lucky…

Seeing Mt Fuji is not always guaranteed when you come to Japan.

Even if you plan it… first trip we saw it for 3 seconds and had to wait another 3-4 trips before we saw it longer than a blink.

This time it was nice to be rewarded again seeing Mt Fuji while on the Shinkansen travelling on our way back to Tokyo from Kobe. When booking we ensured we sat on the correct side… and the weather was kind. Yeah! 🗻 🙌 🍁. Added bonus there was also a lot of autumn colour. Ah…