Japan 2019 - Beppu to Kyoto

The ride along the coast from Oita back to Beppu was easy and pleasant, especially because the sun was shining and there is a wide cycling path.

Kirsten’s favourite breakfast: white bread stuffed with custard.

From Beppu we took the over-night ferry to Osaka, a twelve hour journey through the Seto Inland Sea. Rather than getting a cabin, we chose the dormitory. The ferry ticket said: room 339B seat 25 and 26. It turned out to be a fulton, a pillow and a quilt each in a women-only room, all very tidy and clean. The ferry even had a traditional bath!

During our dinner of bananas and bread rolls we met two Japanese ladies, who spoke very little English. They sat down with us, kept giving us food and we ended up chatting for 3 hours. They couldn’t believe we cycled from Osaka to Beppu. We had many giggles and misunderstandings, but managed to communicate. Such lovely people! Unfortunately, we were too busy talking to think of taking a photograph.

Arrival in Osaka was at 6am. It was already getting hot, so we started riding immediately. Navigating Osaka rush-hour for 20km was a challenge! Cars, trucks, buses, cyclists, scooters, pedestrians and gaggles of school uniforms coming towards you from everywhere! Once on the Yodo River, the riding was easy all the way to Kyoto.

Three fishermen....

 Dinner (from FamilyMart) in our hotel room in Kyoto, our home for three days.