Born and raised in Kanda, Tokyo, I go by the name Shitamachi Kombu. It’s been nearly half a century since I came into this world. Today, I took a ride through the Kanda Matsuri—Kanda area’s largest festival, held once every two years—using a docomo share bike. This festival is one of the three great festivals of Edo, dating back to the Edo period, and is sometimes counted among Japan’s three major festivals. The sky today is a perfect May blue—ideal weather for cycling. If you have a moment, come along with me for the ride. Table of Contents Charging up that Edo spirit in NihonbashiSoaking in Meiji Era vibes at Tokyo StationA detour to Akihabara, the mecca of otaku cultureKanda, […]

トレンドはどんな業界やカテゴリにも存在している。中でもファッション業界は顕著で、トレンドなくして商品を語ることはできない。ムードや地域といった大きなパートから、カラーやテキスタイルなど細かい部分まで流行が及ぶ範囲は広い。

Here is the second part of Brisbane-based cyclist Ayaka’s ride report on the 2025 Tour de Brisbane. Last year, Ayaka and Yoshi, her partner, challenged the 80km course; this year, they enjoyed the 50km fun ride. From a local cyclist’s perspective, Ayaka shares her experience of this large-scale Australian cycling event, which takes over public roads and bus lanes usually used for everyday transport. Read the first part here: Table of Contents6  Riding Through Rain-Washed Brisbane7  Highlights of the 50km Course8  Atrractions of the 80km Course9  Diverse Participants and Their Unique Ways of Enjoying the Ride10  A Relaxed and Festive Atmosphere at the Finish11  Participating from Japan12  Att […]

Ayaka, a Brisbane local, took part in the Brisbane Cycling Festival with her partner Yoshi.She reports on the main ride event, Tour de Brisbane 2025, from the perspective of a local cyclist. Table of Contents 1 　What Is the Tour de Brisbane?2　Overview of Each Ride Category and Course3　A Surreal Experience on Fully Closed Highways and Bus Lanes4　Cyclists from 15 Countries Join the Event5　A New Starting Point and Growing Excitement 1 　What Is the Tour de Brisbane? The Tour de Brisbane, held in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland, Australia, is a large-scale urban cycling event that features full road closures, allowing everyone from beginners to serious cyclists to enjoy the ride. Held annuall […]

As early summer vibes start to make their way across Japan, I can’t help but think of Hawaii—especially after covering the Honolulu Century Ride.There’s just something about that place… Don’t you think Hawaii has a way of resetting you, just by being there? Sure, fancy restaurants and lively shopping can be fun, but one of Hawaii’s greatest charms is how simply spending a day there can lift your spirits and make you feel light and free. That said, I want to hike up mountains, swim in the ocean, go on a fun ride, and eat at delicious restaurants too.I mean, it is Hawaii, after all! (Can’t have it both ways, huh?) Registration is now open for the Honolulu Century Ride, which takes you through […]

*Check out Race Report #01 & #02 here.https://globalride.jp/trip-travel/ehimemonitortour24_01_en/https://globalride.jp/trip-travel/ehimemonitortour24_02_en/ Table of Contents 　1. Touring the Fishing Villages and Capes of Southern Ehime (Uwajima City)　2. Our Everyday Lives Become Someone’s Entertainment (Uwajima City – Matsuyama City) Already, the Ehime tour has reached its fifth morning. As we enjoy a homemade Japanese breakfast at Kokuriko, the cozy rural dormitory that has hosted us for the past two days in Uchiko, our conversation with the owners, spoken in the gentle lilt of the Ehime dialect, is just beginning to reach full bloom… Yet, it’s already time to say goodbye. Parting […]

The final installment of the Honolulu Century Ride 2024 rider interviews concludes with the experiences of advanced cyclists.What do veteran riders, who have participated in this event five, ten times, feel about it? What aspects keep drawing them back? We asked veteran participants about the allure and unique ways to enjoy the Honolulu Century Ride (HCR), often described as “the greatest ride event on Earth.”“Why do you keep coming back to cycle in Hawaii?” Table of Contents １. The Reason a New Employee Took on His First Ride / Keisuke-san２. A Goal Carried Over to 2025 / Kenji-san, Keiko-san３. Riding Solo, Yet Never Alone—A Story on the Road / Dankichi-san １. The Rea […]

Now that we have traversed almost the entirety of the northwest coastal roads, let’s take a look inland at one of the multitude of routes crisscrossing the heart the prefecture, Okuiyo-Hijikawa River Cycling Course. Since it is still summer and as hot as ever, I chose a relatively leisurely ride following a meandering river from the mountains near the border to Kochi Prefecture to a familiar port town I passed through during my last ride; an almost exclusively downhill valley cruise leading to the sea. If you’re looking for a little more exercise, simply start at Nagahama Port and make your way up the valley from there. Table of Contents 　1. Starting from Kishimojin（the Goddess of Childbirth […]