CYCLING THROUGH JAPAN

My first Japanese breakfast at Haneda for the trip. Free wifi at the airport!

Handmade soba noodles, fried fugu, amazing.

Shrimp Tempura Udon...simply amazing stuff.

Oden, so good...

A small shrine in Kokura stands with the Shibata name on the tori gate. This is my dad's mother's side of the family.

If you don't know, then you don't know...it's best described probably as a moch textured okonomiyaki. If you don't know what okonomiyaki is, that is best described as a flour battered pancake grilled with chopped cabbage and meat...with a marinade sauce over the top.

MOS Burger is like the IN-N-OUT of Japan...simply amazing. Only minus is the lack of ketchup on the fries but I just found out from my Japanese insider Tatsu that you have to ask for it. Melon soda to wash it all down!

A lovely view of the southern cape.

Wild monkeys were everywhere along the cape, they seemed to be plotting and calling each other as I rode by...I was waiting for an ambush at anytime.

I saw these on the way to Shibushi from Minami-osumi...they are called kabuto-mushi in Japanese, they are beetles with horns on their head.

Natural rock formations along Miyazaki coast cleverly named "Demon's washboard."

Udo-jingu shrine, another important shrine built into the cave walls near Nichinan, Miyazaki area.

The view into the cave where the Udo-jingu is located.

I thought this was a Japanese crane, but turns out it is an egret

Yummy...grilled marinated squid! Sounds better than it sounds.

One of Yufuin's attractions other than the onsen is the horse drawn carriage.

Interesting landscape along the plains of Akiyoshido.

Throughout the cave they have various formations, this one is named after Mary...I guess it looks like her?

Touristy but fun, chair lift takes you to the top of the mountain where Matsuyama Castle is...nice view of the town and cherry blossoms below.

This is what they wore to battle, this one is fancier because it belonged to a general.

I'm not sure what the correct term is for these but they are roof tile decor found on the corners and tops of the roof.

Cargo ships passing under the bridge along the Shimanami-kaido cycling road.

One of the bridges you get to go over along the course.

Nice scenic view along the course.

Shrimp tempura udon, extra crisp with extra batter...hand made udon noodles. It's amazing!

Ancient burial mounds found around the Kibi plains area near Soja.

Nicknamed "crow" castle because of it's unique black outer walls...