Wednesday, 29 April 2026

Japan, almost done, Asia goodbye

 So after spending a couple of days photographing Mount Fuji from every angle we set off in the pouring rain for Fiona's tour of the more Northern or central part of Japan. It worked well in the postie pat car especially when it was pouring but as soon as we got a good day we were thinking the bike would be good . We were very lucky to see so much of the real Japan so we could get a feel of how people lived. we visited some stunning lakes on our grand tour, much like Scotland , the bikes were everywhere as long as the sun was shining. We basically did a loop back round via the Honda Museum and back to Tokyo.

The Honda experience was very corporate but good to see, once again surprised at what bikes were not on display which seemed to be a theme. There was a car race on the circuit and in a other part of the complex a car meeting and what looked like an autojumble.

Back into Tokyo, 34 million people and all queuing at the same traffic light, it takes forever in the big towns to get around which is why everybody uses the Trains but in my opinion if you are coming to Japan driving a car gets you into the rural areas and away from the bulk of the tourists so just bear with the traffic, eventually you will get good roads.

Some things to note, the locals although reserved are polite, the rules are obeyed and there is no graffiti. Kids walk the streets in safety unlike the UK because the punishments are harsh in Japan and people have respect. 

Asia has been difficult, living in a different Hotel every night for 5 Months is a mental challenge and not being sure what you are going to eat is also stressful, and can anyone tell me why anybody thought it was a good idea to eat food with two sticks instead of a knife , fork and spoon, answers on a postcard please .

We will both be glad to get home for a rest until the next part of the tour begins, Photos as always tell the story better.

Keep on Keeping on!




This  triumph Rocket 3 and sidecar was outside the Honda place
Postie Pat Van
A rainy day
Colourful
Fi and Budda
A nice day
Fiona exercising
Big Hills
Big Hairpins
Any mail Postie
Loch Earn
Nice
Snow on the hills
Brake Brake
Funny, the tyres make a sound on the road surface
Rural Japan
Very Nice
Snow ahead
No we didnt
Bikers having a break
Brewery
Good view
This made my Day
The Boys are back in town
See ya
This is about 5km from the massive Honda complex
Car Race
OK back to Honda
Surprised to see this, they acknowledged that MV were so far ahead that Honda had to learn from them
The Innards of the oval piston bike, amazing
Fellow Scot Alex George gets a mention
A Beast

Cool, a cafe just outside the Honda Complex
Night time Tokyo
Our neighbour
Orderly
This is a kids play park, they teach them road rules on their bicycles, including traffic lights, and if you go crazy there's a park ranger to slow you down 
The Play park, nothing destroyed
And again
Police Pushbikes

11 comments:

  1. "No, we didn't" Bet you did. Great photos and update again, can't believe the number of things you just would not expect to see in Japan. Enjoy what time you have left. Budge.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ha ha, no we didn't, it costs money and we are miserable , thanks for the comment mate

    ReplyDelete
  3. Amazing museum motorcycle pictures! And the Triton riders is a big plus, those bikers are in every continent. It is probably a lot of fun to ride a big motorcycle in Japan.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Too busy really and the speed limits are a bit low but plenty motorcyclists here

      Delete
  4. Brilliant, yince again... Noticed the Nae Front m/guard on the 2 local bikers...jist guessin' thirs nae sudden rain. Whit kinda folk don't destroy things,dae the car windaes no' open? Widnae work here, yid need tae take yir rubbish hame. Fish or Pie suppers...noo yir talkin'. Back tae auld claise an' purrich soon. Yis huvnae wasted ony minutes. Stay safe

    ReplyDelete
  5. Cheers George, looking forward to a wee blether ( or maybe a long blether ) soon

    ReplyDelete
  6. Great finale pics, particularly the cafe racer pic, enjoy the remainder of the trip, Italy is it? Eric

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheers ERic, glad to be back in Perth again.

      Delete
  7. Thank you for the update. The Honda display appeared less bland than the others, but then I'm a Philistine, as you know and the 59 Club impersonators look more our kindred spirits. Mount Fuji images came out well and some of the other landscapes in the rain hit the spot. As for the boots, as suggested, need to be sold in Japan afore leaving, with such provenence. Suggest Altberg's as replacements, I have never had water let in by the two pairs that I have owned. My old Lewis leather, rear zip ones, where like colanders through the rear zip! Weather has been wall to wall blue the past couple of days, but with a nagging easterly requiring another layer handy and night frost. Be warned it's going to get cooler next week, with maybe a wee touchy snow on the tops and frost for ourselves. As for the food, I thought you'd be into your kimchi and wagyu, although I know the spicy stuff wouldn't pass muster. You're supposed to just slurp and shovel, with the sticks and bowl, noodles are no different from spaghetti. Anyway, there is a Oxheart tomato plant with your name on it for when you get home. Big fleshy fruit with few seeds! Safe home and good health, Bill and Kat. P.S. what model was Fiona's Honda, please? B

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Bill, thanks for the comments, back in Perth now but still jetlagged after a crap experience with BA. The beef and burgers were nice but the rest , no much
      .it is different from proper Spaghetti I can assure you. Hopefully get out to see you in the next few days. The honda was a 400 twin a sleeved down version of the 500 we had in Thailand, Fiona wasn't that impressed the BMW was also non inspiring !
      See you soon
      Gino

      Delete
    2. Hi Bill, thanks for the comments, back in Perth now but still jetlagged after a crap experience with BA. The beef and burgers were nice but the rest , no much
      .it is different from proper Spaghetti I can assure you. Hopefully get out to see you in the next few days. The honda was a 400 twin a sleeved down version of the 500 we had in Thailand, Fiona wasn't that impressed the BMW was also non inspiring !
      See you soon
      Gino

      Delete