This is where we met in Asahikawa, how incredible that we will see each other in the southernmost part of Japan after 6 months. I was walking to JR Station to recording the scene for my new born channel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WivF3jpjlH4&t=940s

Oh gosh - - yuck, having to smell the trucks' exhaust and trying to get to your trikes on the ferry!

Hi Bruce,
Shipping your own battery is possible. However , there is a lot of red tape and it can be quite expensive.
We have never been questioned about the size of the motor. Yoshi did say that anything over 250 watts is not legal. Grin technologies, from Vancouver used to sell batteries that you could legally fly with. They are called Ligo batteries . Each battery is below the legal 100w/h . You stack them together to form the size of battery you want. (36 volt motors only).
On All Nippon Airwys you are given 100 lbs of baggage allowance . However, each piece of baggage has to be no more than 50lbs. The first trip we shipped our trikes in very large e-bike boxes. The trikes were totally dismantled to fit in the boxes. We were not charged for overweight baggage, even though we we clearly overweight. Twice now we have folded the trikes and didn’t use a box. We were both charged $200 for our trikes. You could say that your trike is a mobility device and perhaps you won’t be charged. The Japanese authorities have never requested any registration for our trikes or the batteries.
Cheers,
Barry

I have read books by Josie Dew (British author) of her biking in Japan, and she had similar gifts from people who would stop and give her lots of beverages and fruits, etc. :) Japanese people are very kind!

Interesting -- I've never seen a new bamboo shoot growing.

I would guess the water in the Maruike Spring Water Pond comes from underground springs?

Interesting how the mechanism on the tractor goes back and forth and grabs a rice plant to put in. :)

How nice to have a microwave on every floor - not as handy as having it in your hotel room, but next best thing!

Wonderful that the laundry facilities were free!

An umbrella helps SOME, but I would think the rest of your clothes would get wet....

Yikes - that's way too tight and scary to go through with a wide trike!

I am planning to cycle the Shikoku Henro (88 Buddhist Temple Pilgimage) next fall (2024). From what I can gather, the Japanese authorities are pretty strict on e-bike motors, with a max power of 250W. Beyond that they are considered motorcycles. Did you find this to be any problem? Also batteries. I cannot find any way to ship my own e-bike battery, they seem to be much bigger than regulations allow. Is that why you had HC-Works doing a battery for you? I am assuming that I will have to buy a battery in Japan and leave it there when I return home. My plan is to study Japanese in Osaka for 3 months, mainly because of HC works, then return home for a few months and then go back for the Henro. I am interested in the logistics of getting your trike to Japan and managing betteries and registration. Thanks! And enjoy your current trip!

Very helpful maps that Tomo gave you, showing the elevations. :)

Oh yuck re the hoarding at the place you stayed... :/

Gyoza - looks like dumplings?