One Life Japan in July

Making mochi rice and fishing on the Japan Sea coast. The ride to get there is a bit challenging, but the reward is worth it.

Our assistant Yukari is especially excited about the fish she managed to catch, which were prepared by our inn-keepers that night after they hosted our sticky rice mochi pounding party.

Beautiful weather for a family hike up Mt Myoko, one of Japan’s famous 100.

We spent the night in a small hut near the top of the mountain, hiking down the next day to the bikes. After ditching the backpacks into the support van, we cruised down the rest of the way to a much deserved hot-spring bath.

When the rice fields look like this below, it is not good.

Well, not good for me if I have to weed it alone, but good for random strangers I find riding by on their bike.

He looked tired so I offered him a place to crash for a few nights. Little did he know he would be paying for it with his labor.

In the end, I think he enjoyed it. As do I.

All that green you see there is NOT GOOD. it should look like rows, but there are so many weeds it is almost impossible to tell them apart.

This was just a quick overnight into the remote mountain valley and back out, with the best weather imaginable – cool and enough clouds to make it beautiful, but no rain.

I might have overdone it on the distances and hills (mouse over the images to see satellite images, and click to see the interactive route map), but when planning the trip I tried to keep in mind that he is a triathlete, and I was actually worried that the course I had planned was too short and easy. I guess if I have to err, I am happier to err on the side of too long, as the bath always feels better and the bear-stew always tastes better when your tired. Here are the maps of the route we took. Highly recommended, and also possible to shorten if needed.

These are just a photos from the weekend. The route was a really straightforward ride up into the Akiyamago Valley, and back out into Tsunan. From there we loaded the bikes in the van and drove to Yutaki Onsen in Iiyama. Yutaki is the perfect place for loops, with plenty of beautiful rural scenery, small city conveniences, and optional challenging hills all within reach, ending at one of the best baths in the area. When I get around to it, I am planning to ask them to cooperate with me to offer short day bike trips to be advertised on their website.

If anyone happens to be in the area, give me a call. Even if I am not free to guide, I have maps, bikes, and plenty of recommendations. There are also bikes available for rent at Iiyama Station.