Met fellow Canadians in a Ryokan

May 10, 2023

…and they are cyclists too! On to Kobayashi…

Last night we were struggling to find a place to stay. Being hot and tired, we kept getting turned around and losing our way when we stumbled upon a gem of a Ryokan on a quiet residential street. Walking in we could feel the serenity and sense of history this Ryokan offered and luckily they have room available. Somehow we got one of their larger suites with a tatami-mat room for dining or relaxing, a huge bedroom, a closet room and a bathroom. The best part though was that we were given access to a private Onsen, just for the two of us. When we were planning this trip at home, we promised ourselves that we would pamper ourselves with a stay in a Ryokan such as this…and this is the day.
The staff at Kyomachi Kanto raced around taking care of our needs….a big wagon for transporting our bags to our room, setting up a time for our breakfast in the dining room, showing us the Onsen, etc. Recognizing that Barry is very tall, a fellow appeared with an assortment of special kimonos that would fit him. It was quite a moment.

After unpacking, the first thing we did was to put on our kimonos and head to the Onsen.

All of our accommodation in Japan, regardless of how humble it may be, we provides kimonos and slippers for our stay. It is so relaxing to slip into a kimono after a long day. Barry enjoyed wearing this kimono… the first one that fit him.

Breakfast was lovely. We were offered a raw egg or one that was cooked, over easy. What a treat…our first since being away.

It was a pleasure meeting Mark and Josie. We have so much in common..a mutual passion for all things bike and Japan plus we ‘re fellow Canadians. They are from Sherbrooke Quebec, the home of our beloved Arkel Panniers. Mark also keeps a journal on Crazy Guy, as we used to do before we happily switched to Cycle Blaze.

When we came in for breakfast, we were told that a Canadian couple, who are also cycling, would be coming by to introduce themselves. How unexpected as we have not encountered any cyclists touring at all. However, we did have a suspicion that Canadians must be here as we noticed two touring bikes, a Marinoni made in Quebec and a Surly Kutra when we parked our trikes.

Koi are in this pond which is adjacent to the lobby. We will be feeding them while we have our morning coffee.

The Koi certainly have a good life at this hotel. The hotel has cups of food ready to give to guests who want to feed the fish.

We have had a great time at this Ryokan/Hotel. Pampered, well fed and excellent staff who make it all possible. Another unforgettable moment we will treasure.

This woman, Megumi truly made our stay more special…from organizing a visit with the Canadian couple, to taking care of us at breakfast, to covering our bikes, offering us food for the Koi. She has a wonderful sense of humour, laughs easily and made us feel at home. Thanks Megumi.

We like these illuminated signs at the entrance to streets in neighbourhood highlighting a special area. We saw many like this in Osaka and Kagoshima. Barry liked the reference to BB King

Barry’s phone mount for his trike needed some TLC and Tsukasa at the local bike shop took care of it for us before heading out.

Our ride today has been wonderful so far. We are riding along the Sendaigawa River and the countryside is a lush rural landscape.

Our ride is cutting through an area of rice fields and grain on the land side of the dyke. We imagine that this little guy is protective of the work of the farmers.

We are in cow country and this bull looks quite natty with his neck scarf and looming presence. Japanese beef is delicious, flavourful and tender.

In this area, as you go over a bridge there are often interesting sculptures at each end which relate to the area.

This photo is typical of the scenery we are riding through.

We love coming acoss Michi no ekis. They are special places worthy of a stop as they feature great bathrooms (available 24 hr a day), free wifi,a place to charge your electronic devices, tourist info and shops featuring local crafts, artisans and food. we have read that some cycle tourists Wild camp on these grounds…bathrooms and electrical charging possibilities make it a sweet spot to camp.

As we have experienced during our time in Japan, convenience stores are a lifeline for cyclists as they offer very good, cheap food, ATM’s that will dispense money to foreigners (banks don’t offer this), etc. Mochi no Eki (translates as Road side station) offer an ideal way to recharge your batteries and learn about the area you are passing thru on your journey.

They are more than a 1000 Mochi no ekis across Japan. These are government designated rest stops designed to make life easier for those heading out on the road.

Award winning meat - it all looked so tempting.

Daikon is such a staple in the meals we eat…often marinated and used as a side dish.

Young bamboo stalks which are still brown on the exterior.

Bamboo is safe to eat if it has been boiled.

This huge store at the Michi no eki was full of interesting things. The food was very impressive. We bought a meal to share and some sushi.

There is a huge section of sweets and baked goods. We are trying these soft delectable treats.

Vanilla and kumquat ice cream. Barry decided not to get the one which was flavoured with Shrimp.

The statue of this Samurai warrior dominated the parking area but I was unable to translate the info…sorry.

A beautiful ride today. Clear skies, yet it is quite hot. These volcanic hills have a distinctive shape. We notice that elementary aged children all wear the same type of peaked cap to school with a hard hat over it to protect them in case of volcanic activity. The head scratcher (pardon the pun) of this situation is that we rarely see kids wearing helmets on a bike.

In this rural valley of rice fields there are two tori gates at each end of a path with a small shrine.

The verdant hills are our constant companions on this day.

We never imagined a Coca-Cola Plant being such a scenic sight, but somehow it is.

Stopped at this farm stand as we could smell the strawberries from across the street.

We will stop in Kobayashi tonight. It has been a full day with interesting stops and we have saved the strawberries for a treat in our room. Delicious.

Today's ride: 48 km (30 miles)
Total: 506 km (314 miles)

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Yumi NakamuraI'm glad you arrived safely at Ebino City (*^^*) Did you go to Kobayashi City next? In Kobayashi, you can see the Kirishima Mountains called Ikoma Kogen, tourist attractions called Nojirikopia, and tourist attractions with a very large pond called Miike. If you have a chance, please go and see it. The weather is going to get worse the day after tomorrow, so please be careful during your trip. I sent you an email on the 9th. Did it arrive safely? I'm typing using a translation app, so I'm sorry if it's a misunderstood sentence.
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