We often get asked about riding Bromptons in Japan. We always recommend riding the Shimanami Kaido. We’ve ridden it three times.
Recently Brompton Junction Melbourne organised a tour to Japan for the Shimanami Kaido. They wrote an excellent tour report. It is available from the Brompton Junction Melbourne website.
We’ve shared our posts about riding the Shimanami Kaido, Tobishima Kaido and Hiroshima below.
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.
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.
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 –
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.
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.
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.
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.
… 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.
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 😉
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…
In Kobe there are so many things to do and a short time… so we
We will be making a brief stop in Kobe, please be ready to exit the carriage.
