“It’s the largest event of its kind in Japan and the only one where participants ride on a highway,” announced Governor Tokihiro Nakamura of Ehime Prefecture. With his opening remarks, the starting horn sounded. Around 1,750 riders set off in waves from the Imabari Highway Interchange (Ehime Prefecture) toward Onomichi City (Hiroshima Prefecture). At the same time, an equal number of riders began their journey from the Mukai Island Interchange in Onomichi, aiming for Imabari. Sunday, October 27, 8:08 AM, under cloudy skies. This joint cycling event between the two prefectures is globally recognized as Japan’s largest cycling event, celebrated for showcasing the natural beauty, tourism resour […]

The Shimanami Kaido isn’t the only bike route in Ehime for serious cyclists and bicycling explorers alike. This weekend we venture south from the entrance to the most famous biking route of the prefecture, in the city of Imabari, to the capital of Matsuyama, ending at the oldest bath house in Japan and possibly the most famous in the world. This route is called the Imabari-Dogo Hamakaze (Sea Breeze) Cycling Road.Although this course is mostly utilitarian, with views of the coast for only about half the way, it is a vital path between many great historical sites, quaint and quirky lunch spots and a good night on the town. Table of Contents 　1. Scouting Expedition and Imabari Castle　2. Lunch a […]

In the final installment of the Hokusai bicycle stroll, I trace the peak of Hokusai’s life and career. From manga and art performances to the “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji” and fascination with Mount Fuji, I’ll explore the areas from Honjo to Asakusa, searching for traces of his legacy. Table of Contents 　1. The Day “Manga” Was Born (50s)　2. The Eccentric Man (60s)　3. The Great Wave (70s)　4. The Man Who Traveled with picture (80s)　5. The buried Giant (90s) The manga artist Akira Toriyama, known for creating “Dragon Ball” and “Dr. Slump,” passed away in 2024, and his death was mourned worldwide. “Manga&#82 […]

When it comes to cycling across Japan, Ehime prefecture should be part of anybody’s bucket list. From mountain to inland sea, there is plenty to see and do while cruising along one of the multitudes of well-planned routes crisscrossing the island of Shikoku’s northwestern side. First let’s take a ride through one of the most sought-after destinations for cyclists across the world over, the Shimanami Kaido. For hardcore folk, the entire ride is about 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) but for the purposes of this article we’ll only be going as far as the border to Hiroshima prefecture on the Honshu-side of the Setouchi sea, split between two relatively leisurely afternoons. Table of Contents 　1 […]

Aomori Prefecture, located at the northernmost tip of Honshu(the main island of Japan), offers food of the sea and mountains, and rich nature throughout the year. Its cherry blossom spots come alive in spring. This cherry blossom ride explores Hirosaki City, a castle town that flourished since the Edo period. Enjoy the cherry blossoms at Hirosaki Castle, soothe your soul, and conclude the ride at the 800-year-old Owani Onsen for a relaxing finale. Indulge in the rich culinary offerings of spring in Aomori, from fruits and vegetables to seafood. Embark on a journey through spring in Aomori, where nature, culture, and cuisine blend harmoniously. Table of Contents 　1. Starting from Aomori Airpo […]

Have you ever been to Ehime Prefecture? It’s a place known as a cycling paradise. Ehime is blessed with a mild climate overlooking the Seto Inland Sea with a rich natural environment. There are many cycling routes, through sea and mountain, including the Shimanami Kaido, which was selected by CNN as one of the seven best cycling routes in the world. Ehime Prefecture is located in the northwestern part of Shikoku on the Seto Inland Sea side and has the largest population of the four prefectures in Shikoku. It is famous for its production of “mikan” oranges and is surrounded by nature, both ocean and mountain. There are also many historical sites such as Matsuyama Castle and Dogo H […]

In Japan, there are numerous shrines and temples. Among them, Ise Grand Shrine in Mie Prefecture holds significant importance. This time, we will introduce a route of about 20 kilometers that revolves around Ise Grand Shrine, deeply intertwined with history and culture. Starting from Chubu Centrair International Airport, we’ll cross to Mie Prefecture by ferry, pass through Ise Grand Shrine, and reach the goal at Toba Station. Ise is often called the Land of the Gods. Along the way, you’ll encounter several torii gates. Torii gates signify the boundary between the world of gods and humans. When passing through a torii gate, stop just before and bow in reverence. Now, let’s e […]

Tracing the footsteps of Katsushika Hokusai by bicycle – Part 2 of the short series. This time, we will start with Hokusai in his twenties, when he entered the Katsukawa school and plunged into the world of ukiyo-e. Table of Contents 　1. In the Sumo Town (Ages 20~)　2. Man of the North Star (Ages 30~)　3. Becoming Hokusai, Katsushika Hokusai (Ages 40~) 1. In the Sumo Town (Ages 20~) Hokusai was allowed to use the name Katsukawa Shunro within just one year of entering the Katsukawa school, where he produced ukiyo-e prints (note that he changed his art name over 30 times in his lifetime, but this column will consistently use “Hokusai”).At that time, the motifs of ukiyo-e prints […]