Why not to go to the beautiful Tohoku, Japan, with Brompton

Let's go to the beautiful Tohoku, Japan, with your Brompton. There are full of wonderful culture, beautiful nature and fantastic hot springs.

All of Tohoku has already recovered from the disaster. You can see beauty of Zao Ski Resort, a Lake Inawashiro, a modest factory of traditional red cow toys in Aizu, an atelier workshop of Mage-wappa lunch boxes in Akita, Nyuto Onsen hot springs and Sanriku Kaigan, all of where I frequently visited to be moved.


The following link shows you one of the best hot springs in Tohoku.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ONSEN IN JAPAN | Tsuru no Yu 

Related Brompton Anywhere articles:
Secret springs hunting before summer is over in Hachimantai (vol.2)
Secret springs hunting before summer is over in Hachimantai
Hot spring experience after a volcanic mount trail ride
Go over the ridge again: Tsuchiyu Pass
Nyuto Onsen Hot Spring
Ubayu Hot Spring - An ultimate onsen

Amazing Places

Have you ever been to Japan, a mystic but modern country with its long history and unique culture. Thanks to its perfect public transportation network, you can go to any place where you are interested in with your Brompton. 

I would like my dear Bromptoneers to visit those amazing places when you have a chance to visit Japan with your Brompton. I selected 10 wonderful destinations to go. Click the title or photo in order to go to the article.

1. Kamuiwakka Hot Waterfall (Shiretoko peninsular, Hokkaido)

Kamuiwakka Hot Waterfall is a hot spring river coming out from Iwo Mountain located in the mid of Shiretoko Peninslar. Shiretoko is UNESCO's World Heritage site because of its rich and beautiful nature. Meet a wild bear and fox there! (but please be careful.)

2. Kamikochi - You can watch the Best Autumn Tints Ever (Nagano)

Karasawa is getting to be known as a place of wonderful autumn tints of blazing yellow and red backdropped by high mountains with their ridges and moraine. Please enlarge the above photo!

3. Shimanami, a heavenly road over the sea (Ehime and Hiroshima)

If you want to go to the best road for cycling, I recommend you to go to SHIMANAMI KAIDO. The road has a cycling lane all the way from Onomichi to Imabari of about 70km. Each wonderful bridge has a bikeway. You might want to participate the great cycling event "CYCLING SHIMANAMI 2016" held at Japan's most beautiful cycling route over the sea.

4. The best Island hot springs ever in the world (Tokyo)

The setting of this onsen couldn’t be more dramatic: it’s located in a rocky cleft in the seashore of the tiny island Shikine-jima, an island only a few hours’ ride of high-speed jet ferry Seven Islands from Tokyo. The hot spring pools are formed by the seaside rocks. It’s one of those onsen that only works when the tide is right. 

5.Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route and Onsen (Toyama and Nagano)

Tateyama-Kurobe is one of the most scenic areas surrounded by dozen of 3000 meters-and-up mountains. Very popular among foreign travelers. I recommend you to start from Shinano-oomachi Station and get through a long tunnel which was originally built for hydro-electric power plant and dam construction. Shinano-oomachi Station is, by Azusa Express Train, about 3 and half hours away from Shinjuku Station

6. Ubayu Hot Spring - An ultimate onsen

Ubayu is a hot spring located in 250 km north of Tokyo. It is hidden by a deep mountain valley with an elevation of 1,250 meters. Ubayu was found 500 years ago by Lord Endo who started Masugata-ya, an only Onsen lodge there. Masugata-ya has been succeeded by Lord Endo's offsprings for seventeen generations since then.

7. Norikura Skyline Highway - a road to the skyline

Norikura Mount Skyline highway is famous for the highest point of the paved vehicle road in Japan. The road has an interesting history. It was completed in 1942. There was a hidden military facility for research and development of warplane engines. The place was thought to be the best place for jet engine experiment because of its high elevation with thin air.

8. Yari Onsen, the best hot spring above the clouds.

Yari Onsen is a hot spring above the clouds. Its hot spring, gushing out from the earth more than 700 litters per minute, is famous for its curing effect, wild location and incomparable panorama from the bath. The mountain path led to Yari Onsen never accepts any bike due to its rocky trail and dangerous snow ravines still existing in summer.

9. Jigokudani Onsen (Wild monkeys bathe.)

Do you know snow monkeys? A gourp of monkeys in Jigokudani Onsen Wild Monkey Park enjoys a hot spring in winter. If you have Brompton, you can easily go out for a day trip to the place from Tokyo with the combination of super express railways and Brompton.

10.Tsukiji Fish Market

Tsukiji Market is best known as one of the world's largest fish markets, handling over 2,000 tons of marine products per day.



Related articles:
Japan Travel Destinations for Bromptoneer (1) - Central Tokyo
Japan Travel Destinations for Bromptoneer (2) - Suburban Tokyo & Vicinity
Japan Travel Destinations for Bromptoneer (3) - Other special places to go
Tokyo Temples and Shrines to go
Japan travel tips with Brompton 2016

Brompton Urban Challenge Adelaide 2017

On January 15 Sunday, there was a great Brompton event in Adelaide, the Brompton Urban Challenge, a scavenger hunting with Brompton in the city, uncovering clues and hints supplied and discovering all of those related to Adelaide and the Tour Down Under.

Link: Adelaide BUC & Brompton Sprint

Heading to Treadly Bike Shop in the morning, we met lots of Bromptons there. 

We started the challenge ride. Owing to Helen and Kim, we strangers did not have any stray or disadvantage. We were the first groups to reach EcoCaddy, one of the most difficult check points to locate.

Hurrying for the next raid!

Santos Tour Down Under.

From the pinnacle of Adelaide, we were able to see a beautiful view with a backdrop of the Adelaide hills.

Hurry to the next point again!

We met a group of Bromptoneers looking for the points.

Take a rest on the wall.

The last stop was a micro Brewery. We were well hydrated at this fuel station for the last ride to home.

Our fuel...beer.

What a nice feel with nice wheels!

Other Australian articles:

The Trail to Port Fairy

Spring has come to Australia

Brompton goes to the Great Victorian Rail Trail (the Goulburn Valley rail trail)

Brompton goes to Lilydale Warburton Rail Trail

Popular Brompton Anywhere articles:
Japan travel tips with Brompton 2016 
Amazing Places
Kamikochi - You can watch the Best Autumn Tints Ever
Okukinu Kaniyu Hot Spring with Brompton
Kamikochi - Great Old Route Via Tokugo Pass 
Kita Onsen Hot Spring 
Hot spring experience after a volcanic mount trail ride
Go over the ridge again: Tsuchiyu Pass
Nyuto Onsen Hot Spring
Ubayu Hot Spring - An ultimate onsen

KTC 15mm Pedal Wrench (MS3-15T)

KTC's light combination wrench is best fit for Brompton. 

KTC light combination wrench 15 mm MS3-15T

It is useful for removing and fixing Brompton pedals and wheels which are often too tight to be removed by other regular portable wrenches.

The wrench is artistic in its design as well as made extremely precise. Please see its grip engraved with lovely cherry blossoms flowing on the river surface. This is indeed a made-in-Japan tool which accommodates both art and quality.

KTC is an abbrebiation of Kyoto Tool Co., Ltd. in Japan's old town Kyoto with more than 1200-year history. A Kyoto company often shows elegance even in such industrial products.

http://en.ktc.jp/

[Manufacturer]
-Kyoto tool co., Ltd.
[Features]
-Double-nut tightening and loosening is convenient for working in narrow gap light wrench.
-Total length is longer than the standard type, easy to add power.
-Undergone a design through the petals of cherry blossoms in the Takase River in Kyoto City to the pattern of river.
-Prevents the concentration of stress in the diameter of the glasses wrenches side, bolt and nut power fit shape has been adopted. * Please note put too much power in so long in length, light type.
[Specification]
-Size:(S)15(L)240(D1)32(D2)21(T1)4.2(T2)8
-Weight: 105 g

Poralis Folding Bike Pod for Brompton

Do you know Poralis Folding Bike Pod? I suppose that it is a perfect bag for your airline travel with Brompton.

I used to travel abroad with my Brompton in the B-bag. The B-Bag is designed to carry Brompton when travelling abroad by plain. It is said that the B-Bag is well padded for protection while the strong straps and caster wheels enable to transport from point to point.

However, frankly speaking, B-bag is not the best solution. The bag is not so portable. Because of its two wheels only style, I always struggled to drag the bag and another suite case from the airport to train station, the  train station to hotel, and from the entrance of the hotel to the room. The bag is well padded but basically soft case. Sometimes a bike suffers a minor damage due to rough handling in a certain airport. In addition, I often experienced damage and tear of the bag itself due to its fragility in its straps.   


What is the option other than B-bag? There is a popular alternative of B&W hard shell case though only the case weighs 7.36 kg. Adding 12 kg of Brompton, approx.20 kg is too heavy, isn't it? We are anxious of possible extra charge for overweight. 

I recommend Polaris EVA Folding Bike Pod to you. It only weighs 4.6 kg. Light but durable enough and simple to store the bike inside.

The Eva Folding Bike Pod is a zip opening suite case with wheels and a built-in telescopic handle. EVA has high impact strength and ideal for bike luggage. The design has been moulded to fit a folding bike (Brompton) for maximum protection during air transportation and transit. The industrial strength zip entry is backed up with quick release buckles and straps. 

I will use the Bike Pod when I go to New Zealand South Island for adventure next month.

Jells Park, Chesterfield Farm, Scotchmans Creek Trail and Gardiners Creek Trail

It is quite a fine spring day. Why not going out for a ride?

Today Brompton and I visited Jells Park and Chesterfield Farm.

After then, we came back to CITY via Scotchmans Creek Trail and Gardiners Creek Trail which is joining to the Main Yarra Trail near Kooyong to follow the city center.

[Data]
Distance 35.8km 
Max. Difference of elevation 149m
Average % of Slope total: -0.2% ascent: 3% descent: 2.4%
Acquired elevation ascent: 66m descent: 305m



A train from Flinders reached Glen Waverley Station. I unfolded my M6L-X to start for Jells Park.

There were a lot of groups of families and of friends in the park.

There were lots of runners and riders on the trail.

Chesterfield Farm. Let's experience country life in the city. The farm's concept is quite similar to Enomoto Farm which is near Tokyo. 

Good morning.

He is also a member of the farm animals. 

I asked a cup of milk and a piece of meat pie to fuel myself. The pie was most delicious ever!

Shall we go back to the city.

A great spring day. On the way back, I met a variety of colorful flowers in full bloom.

After an hour and half, we arraived in the city. It was a nice trip to suburb and good bike trails.