Sashimi, yakitori, gyoza and a few glasses of Yebisu – now that’s how you top off a long but rewarding day in the land of the rising sun
It’s a view I won’t be forgetting anytime soon: clear blue skies, 360-degree sea vistas, and thousands of cyclists riding across a gigantic suspension bridge, supporting towers stretching a hundred metresplus into the air. A marvel of Japanese engineering.
It would have been impressive enough as a casual bystander, but I was lucky enough to be part of the crowd myself, the pink number pinned to my back (and less stylishly, stuck to the front of my helmet) marking me out as one of 7,000 participants in the 2022 Cycling Shimanami event.
As Esjay, photographer, friend and my companion on today’s ride, jumped ahead to take a picture, I looked down at my Wahoo and grinned: there was still more than 90km to go. The road – as to be expected in this part of the world – was smoother than silk, the legs felt good, and the prospect of a day spent exploring picturesque Japanese islands on two wheels had me buzzing.
Today was going to be a good day.
Shipbuilding, towels and yakitori
Touchdown in Tokyo at 5:25am. Sushi for breakfast. NH673 to Hiroshima – with a jawdropping view of Mount Fuji from seat 36A. International travel is back, and damn it feels good.
We meet one of our guides, Akira, at Hiroshima Airport, and after a smooth bus transfer through Japanese suburbia, we’re enjoying octopus curry and a cold brew at a homely roadside cafe by midday, with a panoramic view of the Seto Inland Sea whetting our appetites for what’s to come. We only left Sydney around 16 hours ago, but here in Japan’s south, Australia couldn’t feel further away.
Our bikes have arrived safe and sound, and Esjay and I build them and get
