Brompton Owners Meeting in Shimanami 2024

On the May 19th Brompton and I were a part of the Brompton Owners Event, The 10th Brompton Lovers Meeting in Shimanami. Totalling 221 Bromptons assembled on the beach of Marin Oasis Hakata in the midst of Shimanami Kaido. 

[day 1]

route:  Setoda Bus Stop, Setoda Port, Marin Oasis Hakata, Imabari

distance: 54 km

[day 2]

route: Imabari, Marin Oasis Hakata (meeting), Setoda port

distance: 46 km

DAY 1

Joining the ride group from Onomichi, started toward Imabari.  

Before departure, enjoyed lunch at a local restaurant. 

Tasted nice tempura and sashimi.

And dessert of local orange taste.

Marin Oasis Hakata, venue of the Brompton Owners meeting tomorrow, on a day before. 

What a beautiful day!

Going to cross the last bridge.

A memorial shot after landing Shikoku main land.

DAY 2

121 Brompton got together in waterfront.

Tsukiji Fish Market

I happened to wake up early in the morning of last weekend. And I noticed that I was very hungry. All right, let's go to a Sushi restaurant in the Tsukiji Fish Market.

Tsukiji is the largest fish market in the world and the place where foreign travelers love to visit. Though I heard that the Tsukiji Market is recently full of travelers all day long, I thought that it must be less people this early in the morning and I was able to eat premium sushi without waiting.

Brompton and I started toward the Tsukiji Fish Market.

When I arrived in the Tsukiji Market at 6am, there were a lot of people working there for fish trade and portage.

Wow, I found three big tunas on a small vehicle. The price is estimated beyond $1,000 per fish. 

There were also a lot of foreign travelers taking photo!

It is the wholesale premises for the professional people.

Please note that only licensed members are allowed to enter the premises until 9 am. If you are travelers, please wait until then. After 9 am, you can go but do not disturb working people here. In addition, please pay enough attention to surroundings because there are too many vehicle working in the area. It is also said that some nationality people tend to touch everything in the market for curiosity but never do it because it causes bacterial infection. 

But if you really want to watch the famous Tuna Auction at the Tsukiji Fish Market, you should get there at around 4:00 am to get a ticket for it (free). There are two groups of 60 people each who are allowed to watch the action in the trading area; the first tour is allowed to watch the auction between 5:25 am and 5:45 am, the second tour is allowed to watch the auction between 5:50 am and 6:10 am.

More detailed info: http://www.shijou.metro.tokyo.jp/english/market/tsukiji.html

 Let's go to the retail and restaurant area in the market.

Wow, a lot of foreign people this early in the morning. What's up?

They were waiting their seats for popular Sushi restaurants. There are two most known Sushi restaurants, Sushi Dai （寿司大） and Daiwa（大和） in the area.

I supposed that more than 90% of visitors here were foreigners. I understood that I was too late to have breakfast here. I needed to come here before 5:30 am.

Then I changed my mind. Let's purchase a piece of Otoro Tuna and broiled eel at the Tsukiji Outside Market (adjacent to the Tsukiji Fish Market) and eat at home.

Sanuki Udon (Japanese noodle)

Brompton and I went to SANUKI, the Holy Land of UDON, Japanese traditional noodle, in order to visit the best UDON restaurants in Japan.

Sanuki is an area with long history in Shikoku Island, far from Tokyo but relatively near Osaka. Because Shikoku and Honshu are connected by railway bridge and road bridge and even by ferry, you can easily go. In my case, I got off a train at Sakaide Station and used Brompton for a ride to reach these restaurants.

[data]
route: Sakaide Station → Gamou → Tamura → Matsuoka → Nakamura → Marugame Station
distance: 29.4km
maximum difference of an elevation: 60m
average % of inclination: total -0.1% ascent 2.4% descent 2%
gained elevation: ascent 115m descent 99m

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zVh_vanqLQwc.kaphaAT04BSU&usp=sharing

First, Gamou Restaurant at 8 o'clock in the morning. It is very famous and has nation-wide reputation. Do not miss.

When I finished, see this. They know this good restaurant very well.

Next, Tamura. I came here for the first time.

Uncle Tamura was a jolly person.

Wow, delicious.

Then, moved on to Matsuoka, the best one in the area and where I really wanted to go today. There was no signboard or any other indication of the name "MATSUOKA" but the curtain only saying "UDON, best taste."

Well, it is impossible to discribe this heavenly taste and smooth feeling of UDON noodle going down my throat. You should come here to eat before you die.

It is a nice country view with a local train running in the meadow.

There was another legendary Udon restaurant, Nakamura. Unfortunately it was closed on that day. I need to come back another day!

I visit Sanuki every summer to eat wonderful UDON. If you have Brompton, please come to ride and eat Udon for all the day. Your satisfaction guaranteed!

What is "Sanuki Udon"
This chewy but smooth texture,white wheat noodle is always associated with this area of Shikoku, Japan’s fourth main island. They are traditionally served plain to be dipped in a soup stock made from fish and kelp and with toppings, such as fried fish meat, fried squid, and raw egg.

Kanda Yabu Soba

Yes, let's go to Kanda Yabu, a gem of a traditional Soba parlar established in Meiji era.

It is said that a first Yabu Soba started during early Edo years. In the mid Edo era, there were a dozen of Soba parlers with the name "Yabu Soma" all around Edo, an old name of Tokyo.

Amongst all, Tsutaya (Ivy) Yabu Soba in Dango Zaka was the most renowned and prospered. One of the branches of Tsutaya was exactly in this location. Hotta Shichibei, an ancester of current owner family, was allowed to own it in 1880. In the mid Meiji era, the original "Tsutaya" faced a financial trouble and this parler succeeded "Yabu Soba" brand as a flag ship shop.

Kanda Yabu was unfortunately caught in a fire a year ago and closed for long time. I was very pleased to hear that the parler reopened just a week ago and immediately visited this weekend. I miss the previous structure last for more than 100 years but new premises is still traditional enough with good atmosphere. I hope it continues to operate forever as a benchmark of Soba restaurants in Tokyo.

Kanda Yabu Soba
2-10 Kanda-Awajichō Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Telephone +81 3251 0287