A weekend visiting old storehouses doesn’t sound that interesting, but when the storehouses contain sake breweries with tasting opportunities, things look a whole lot brighter. It also helps that the storehouses are traditional old structures with a lot of character. Aizu Wakamatsu and neighbouring Kitakata, north of Tokyo in Fukushima Prefecture, have lots of old kura (storehouses), samurai… Continue reading Sake & mama-chari samurai
Category: Cycling
Two wheels
GEKISAKA hill race – Tour de Utsukushigahara
The Tour de France? No, the real tough hill climbing cycle event is the Tour de Utsukushigahara, with its gekisaka (檄坂 – severe slope). The race is only 22km in distance, but ascends 1,270 metres up to Utsukushigara from Asama Onsen (in Matsumoto) – the first few hundred metres of the race ascendup an 18%… Continue reading GEKISAKA hill race – Tour de Utsukushigahara
Tour de Utsukushigahara
A 22km bike ride in the mountains? No problems, put my name down. What, a 1,270 metre ascent up the mountain? What was I thinking? Japan’s “gekisaka” (severe slope) hill climb event – the Tour de Utsukushigahara. What a way to celebrate the first anniversary of my arrival in Japan. I haven’t had time to… Continue reading Tour de Utsukushigahara
Yamanote Line Circuit
Today’s excursion around the Yamanote Line reinforced that Tokyo is a great city to get around by bicycle. Phil and I had been thinking about doing this ride for a long time, and finally put the plan into implementation today. We met at the Marunouchi entrance to Tokyo Station this morning, and set out clockwise.
Marunouchi
No 30, Back to Tokyo Station. Departed at 10.15am. Returned 4.40pm. 40.93km ridden. Riding time 2.50. Rest of the time dodging cars, pedestrians and stopped at red lights.
Kanda
No 29, Last stop on the Yamanote Line circuit ride! Kanda Station.
Akihabara
No 28, Akihabara Station, in front of the Tsukuba Xpress line entrance. Our Yamanote Line circuit ride is nearly complete.
Okachimachi
No 27, Okachimachi Station. Another of the obscure Yamanote Line stations on our circuit ride.
Ueno
No 26, and back to one of the more major stations, Ueno Station. Our Yamanote Line circuit ride is nearly all the way around now.
Uguisudani
No 25, one of the more obscure Yamanote Line stations, Uguisudani – which translates as Nightingale Valley. The Yamanote Line circuit ride keeps on.