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#1
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Anyone has got experience on touring Japan?
Winter is coming and what best than planning my next tour! I was
considering Japan a country that fascinates me and I have always wanted to visit although it never crossed my mind that one day I would do it on a bike! Does anybody have some experience riding there? The main obstacle I can think of is the language. I can already imagine myself lost somewhere trying to make sense of a map and signs that might as well not be there! Also cost is often mentioned but I guess camping should be a good solution to reduce that. Any suggestions on routes, etc most welcome. Arigato Gianni |
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#2
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"gianni" wrote in message
m... The main obstacle I can think of is the language. I can already imagine myself lost somewhere trying to make sense of a map and signs that might as well not be there! It would be helpful to you to learn a few simple characters -- the ones for men and women (so you get into the right toilet or public bath), the ones for exit, and so on. They really aren't that hard to recognize. My experience, many years ago now, was that the hostels were much stricter in Japan than they are in the US or Europe. If you were planning to ride from one hostel to the other, prepare yourself for strict curfews, baths/showers available only at certain times, being ejected out of bed in the morning by a multilingual loudspeaker broadcast, and so on. Still, it would be cushier than camping, and hostels are the cheapest lodging you can find in Japan. There are also a few traditional ryokan which can be relatively inexpensive, too. If you are planning to go in the winter -- well, it's going to be cold. Or do you mean you're making your plans this winter, and you're planning to go at a different time of the year? Summer is insufferable in Japan. I remember what they called "tropical nights" -- night after night where the low never got below 30 C, with high humidity such that you get off of your futon dripping in sweat. Both spring and fall are very, very nice. If you were planning, say, a fall tour, you'd want to start in the north, and go progressively further south as the season progressed (opposite, obviously, in the spring). -- Warm Regards, Claire Petersky please substitute yahoo for mousepotato to reply Home of the meditative cyclist: http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/ See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky |
#3
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"gianni" wrote in message
m... The main obstacle I can think of is the language. I can already imagine myself lost somewhere trying to make sense of a map and signs that might as well not be there! It would be helpful to you to learn a few simple characters -- the ones for men and women (so you get into the right toilet or public bath), the ones for exit, and so on. They really aren't that hard to recognize. My experience, many years ago now, was that the hostels were much stricter in Japan than they are in the US or Europe. If you were planning to ride from one hostel to the other, prepare yourself for strict curfews, baths/showers available only at certain times, being ejected out of bed in the morning by a multilingual loudspeaker broadcast, and so on. Still, it would be cushier than camping, and hostels are the cheapest lodging you can find in Japan. There are also a few traditional ryokan which can be relatively inexpensive, too. If you are planning to go in the winter -- well, it's going to be cold. Or do you mean you're making your plans this winter, and you're planning to go at a different time of the year? Summer is insufferable in Japan. I remember what they called "tropical nights" -- night after night where the low never got below 30 C, with high humidity such that you get off of your futon dripping in sweat. Both spring and fall are very, very nice. If you were planning, say, a fall tour, you'd want to start in the north, and go progressively further south as the season progressed (opposite, obviously, in the spring). -- Warm Regards, Claire Petersky please substitute yahoo for mousepotato to reply Home of the meditative cyclist: http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/ See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky |
#4
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"gianni" wrote in message
m... The main obstacle I can think of is the language. I can already imagine myself lost somewhere trying to make sense of a map and signs that might as well not be there! It would be helpful to you to learn a few simple characters -- the ones for men and women (so you get into the right toilet or public bath), the ones for exit, and so on. They really aren't that hard to recognize. My experience, many years ago now, was that the hostels were much stricter in Japan than they are in the US or Europe. If you were planning to ride from one hostel to the other, prepare yourself for strict curfews, baths/showers available only at certain times, being ejected out of bed in the morning by a multilingual loudspeaker broadcast, and so on. Still, it would be cushier than camping, and hostels are the cheapest lodging you can find in Japan. There are also a few traditional ryokan which can be relatively inexpensive, too. If you are planning to go in the winter -- well, it's going to be cold. Or do you mean you're making your plans this winter, and you're planning to go at a different time of the year? Summer is insufferable in Japan. I remember what they called "tropical nights" -- night after night where the low never got below 30 C, with high humidity such that you get off of your futon dripping in sweat. Both spring and fall are very, very nice. If you were planning, say, a fall tour, you'd want to start in the north, and go progressively further south as the season progressed (opposite, obviously, in the spring). -- Warm Regards, Claire Petersky please substitute yahoo for mousepotato to reply Home of the meditative cyclist: http://home.earthlink.net/~cpetersky/Welcome.htm Personal page: http://www.geocities.com/cpetersky/ See the books I've set free at: http://bookcrossing.com/referral/Cpetersky |
#5
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Hi there,
I was interested in your post in regarding touring in Japan, something I'd love to do as well. I have been to Japan 3 times over the past 10 yrs and love it emmensly. The best time to go would be Late October to Late November where the air is crisp but very comfortable. The Japanese maple trees start to lose their leaves and are of many beautiful colours. The weather is more stable as well.May & June is not too bad either but you could get some pre summer rainfalls. I've found a few websites that you can read, I hope you will enjoy them. http://www.t3.rim.or.jp/~sayori/read...o/WHOAMI-C.HTM http://www.ltolman.org/japan2000/contents.htm http://www.outdoorjapan.com/activiti...roduction.html http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/visitorsguide/chubu.html http://www.ease.com/~randyj/rjjapan7.htm excellent site http://www.japancycling.org/v2 DJ "gianni" wrote in message m... Winter is coming and what best than planning my next tour! I was considering Japan a country that fascinates me and I have always wanted to visit although it never crossed my mind that one day I would do it on a bike! Does anybody have some experience riding there? The main obstacle I can think of is the language. I can already imagine myself lost somewhere trying to make sense of a map and signs that might as well not be there! Also cost is often mentioned but I guess camping should be a good solution to reduce that. Any suggestions on routes, etc most welcome. Arigato Gianni |
#6
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Hi there,
I was interested in your post in regarding touring in Japan, something I'd love to do as well. I have been to Japan 3 times over the past 10 yrs and love it emmensly. The best time to go would be Late October to Late November where the air is crisp but very comfortable. The Japanese maple trees start to lose their leaves and are of many beautiful colours. The weather is more stable as well.May & June is not too bad either but you could get some pre summer rainfalls. I've found a few websites that you can read, I hope you will enjoy them. http://www.t3.rim.or.jp/~sayori/read...o/WHOAMI-C.HTM http://www.ltolman.org/japan2000/contents.htm http://www.outdoorjapan.com/activiti...roduction.html http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/visitorsguide/chubu.html http://www.ease.com/~randyj/rjjapan7.htm excellent site http://www.japancycling.org/v2 DJ "gianni" wrote in message m... Winter is coming and what best than planning my next tour! I was considering Japan a country that fascinates me and I have always wanted to visit although it never crossed my mind that one day I would do it on a bike! Does anybody have some experience riding there? The main obstacle I can think of is the language. I can already imagine myself lost somewhere trying to make sense of a map and signs that might as well not be there! Also cost is often mentioned but I guess camping should be a good solution to reduce that. Any suggestions on routes, etc most welcome. Arigato Gianni |
#7
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Hi there,
I was interested in your post in regarding touring in Japan, something I'd love to do as well. I have been to Japan 3 times over the past 10 yrs and love it emmensly. The best time to go would be Late October to Late November where the air is crisp but very comfortable. The Japanese maple trees start to lose their leaves and are of many beautiful colours. The weather is more stable as well.May & June is not too bad either but you could get some pre summer rainfalls. I've found a few websites that you can read, I hope you will enjoy them. http://www.t3.rim.or.jp/~sayori/read...o/WHOAMI-C.HTM http://www.ltolman.org/japan2000/contents.htm http://www.outdoorjapan.com/activiti...roduction.html http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/visitorsguide/chubu.html http://www.ease.com/~randyj/rjjapan7.htm excellent site http://www.japancycling.org/v2 DJ "gianni" wrote in message m... Winter is coming and what best than planning my next tour! I was considering Japan a country that fascinates me and I have always wanted to visit although it never crossed my mind that one day I would do it on a bike! Does anybody have some experience riding there? The main obstacle I can think of is the language. I can already imagine myself lost somewhere trying to make sense of a map and signs that might as well not be there! Also cost is often mentioned but I guess camping should be a good solution to reduce that. Any suggestions on routes, etc most welcome. Arigato Gianni |
#8
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Josie Dew has a new book out in the past year or two about touring
Japan. That'd be worth a look. |
#9
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Josie Dew has a new book out in the past year or two about touring
Japan. That'd be worth a look. |
#10
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Josie Dew has a new book out in the past year or two about touring
Japan. That'd be worth a look. |
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