Land of Squid, Shrines, and Tunnels Hokkaido

[Brad Young]

I'll choose Japanese food 9 out of 10 times if going out to eat.

Part of the reason your posts make me hungry.

[NOAL]

You were wondering what you were going to do for backpacking after you finish the PCT.  Browse through that Hokkaido Wilds site. Lots of great hikes to the top of volcanoes. You can rent a camper van there to ride around in.

[clink]

You were wondering what you were going to do for backpacking after you finish the PCT.  Browse through that Hokkaido Wilds site. Lots of great hikes to the top of volcanoes. You can rent a camper van there to ride around in.

  A list of volcanoes with mostly X'd boxes next to them in his future? ^=X

 

 

[clink]

 Speaking of volcanoes Noal, there is one that is over 6,800 ft closer to the stars than Everest. Chimborazo.

 

[JC w KC redux]

I had to look up quite a few Japanese terms with the trip report.
That just added to the fun of reading it.

Here is clink's link - https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/highestpoint.html
I've been to the summit of Mauna Kea. That will have to do.



High above the clouds on the summit of Mauna Kea - December 2004





Shadow of Mauna Kea's summit pyramid cast on the clouds as the sun set.





I considered doing trip reports for our month-long journeys going east and west across the country this summer.

I think it would pale in comparison to Noal's adventure - even though his was a week and ours was 2 months.

Your efforts are much appreciated Noal and it makes me feel good to know you had such a good time - since I have an inkling of how hard you work at stuff.

Just to try and add to the fun a little - Here is one more photo of my dad at what was then referred to as the Red China border (February 7th, 1967)

[NOAL]

Nice photos John!  Glad you enjoyed reading.  My main drive to write this TR was because it was a bike trip.  It's nice to contribute something to the bike part of the forum. I think we forget sometimes this is also a bicycle site. Hey can you believe I posted all those photos? Wish I could figure out how to do it with my phone.

[JC w KC redux]

Nice photos John!

Thanks! - I used to enjoy showing those Hawaii photos in my Volcanos lecture. My students seemed to like them too.

I think we forget sometimes this is also a bicycle site.

I've heard that cycling is the new climbing.

Hey can you believe I posted all those photos? Wish I could figure out how to do it with my phone.

I can believe it and appreciate it since I know you prefer the phast phone over the clunky computer.
Sorry - can't help with that. Maybe somebody on here can enlighten us all.

[clink]

 My new washing machine has multiple cycling options. I’m thinking of using more delicate than permanent press or heavy duty. Normal no longer is an honest option.

 I remember when kayaking became the “new climbing” alternative for some climbers.

[NOAL]

Climbers that also ride bikes is not some kind of new trend.   It's good to have other outdoor activities besides climbing.  Climbers tend to get obsessed with climbing and become one dimensional. I think most of us on here have other interests.  Brad/backpacking, john/unicycling, Mr mud, mudworm, f4 cycling scuba diving , Mungie snowmobiling.  Gavin Alacia backpacking,  clink romantic walks on the beach......

[JC w KC redux]

clink romantic walks on the beach......

You forgot knuckle dragging, driving slower than grandma and taking bubble baths 

[mynameismud]

Super cool trip report.  I have been offline for a while and I am just now getting caught up.

[BAP]

Noal,

I really enjoyed reading your travel report.

 I went to Japan in August with my daughter, only to Tokyo though  (because we only went for a week).  I definitely want to go back to visit more places, and riding a bike may be a great way to do it.

[NOAL]

Thanks!

How was Tokyo? Looked like it was pretty hot there in August!

Yeah, you should totally take a bike trip there! It's easier than it seems to take a bike on a plane. The train system is so good there you could ride for a bit in one area take a train to another area and ride there too.  They also have some really nice ferries. 

[BAP]

Tokyo is great.  People are very polite, streets are clean.  We walked every where even though it was hot.  We bought umbrellas for walking in the sun like the locals.  That helped a lot.
 
We each got a card that we can load money and use it for convenient stores and all public transportations including railroad trains. (Although I am not sure if the card will work outside of Tokyo.)

Next time I will go back and try some bike tours.  I am not be brave enough to solo,  perhaps I can do it through a bike tour outfitter.

[NOAL]

Those cards are really handy.  I think one is called Suica and the other is PASMO.  You can use them in vending machines too. 

I took out the max at the ATM in the airport which was 50,000 yen or around $330.00.  That was more than enough cash for the whole trip.  Most of the lodging I used a credit card.  Total I spent with airfare was less was than $2000 for 10 days. 

I think you could plan out a trip without taking a tour.  There's a trip report on the Hokkaido wilds site that overlaps with the route that I took. The couple used folding bikes and had really leisurely rides around 30 kilometers a day. Folding bikes are also easier to take on trains.

  In other areas of Japan you could create a route with less miles per day and still be able to book hotels because the cities are closer together.  If you know that you only need to ride 20 or so miles a day there's no question you will get to your destination.  If you have a couple or few weeks you could see a lot things.