From Narita to Sapporo in Hokkaido

Day1: At Narita Skycourt YH enjoying a Japanese breakfast buffet	Andrew and Korey finally awaken. Did you say buffet! Works for me.	Ready to start the tour. We spent last night putting the bikes together.	Shigefumi-san, a friend of a friend comes to greet us	Nice car! Shige offers maps and information. Very nice person.
Korey checking out the convenient store. What to eat?	These 7 & 11 style stores will be our food source on the road	More pic of food offerings.	When in Japan, you have to eat like locals.	Typical Japanese compact car. There's a tax incentive to go small & green.
Walking the bikes over a busy road.	OK, my turn. This is the first of many to come.	Fuel stop, a typical storefront scene.	Catching the 6:30 ferry to Hokkaido. Didn't know it was a cruise!	In the belly of the ferry. Bike are tied along the side.
Economy sleeping quarters. Arrival is 1:00 pm the next day.	Day 2: Geno is happy with the food on the ferry.	"Did you say it's a buffet..." We ate too much!	Coastal fog makes it difficult to enjoy the views.	Picture time kids. "I'm ready to ride..."
Taking a break along the road while looking for our campsite.	Our 1st campsite. We decide on a short ride.	Happening upon a local food festival.	Jay and Geno paying their respects at a local shrine in Hayakita	Jay says it`s a fundraiser for the local shrine.
Traditional style seating at dinner	Day 3: Breakfast stop at 7 Eleven. Now, what to eat?	The first of many Buddhist Temples.	Buddhist Temple	Jay awaiting his lunch.
I'm glad I like ramen noodles. It's the first of many.	Geno's egg over rice. Yummy..	Owner`s of the restaurant	Sumimasen! Now where are we? Guess we'll go to Tomuichi instead..	Rice fields such as this are typical
Our first Rider House was sleeping in this old train car	Scene from Tomuichi, town of 300 people	Jay & Andrew talks with the locals.	Takahachi shows us the local entertainment	A local gives us home grown tomatoes, word of travelers spreads fast in town
Our sleeping quarters in the old train car	Dinner with the Takahachi family	Grandma Takahachi, they let us use their shower since the onsen was closed	Day 4: Takahachi family sees us off.	Thinking about the Takahachi's. Wow! What a great start.
Cooling down in the tatami room after a mineral hot bath.	Our stealth (free) campsite near onsen bath house. Cold night for me. 35 deg. bag not warm enough.	Day 5: Onion fields, unearthed to dry before harvesting	Onion harvest.	Local bike shop; Glad we don't need parts.
"Hey, don't touch my curry!" Korey's favorite dish.	Sunflowers fields are a common sight.	Rices fields on the road to Furano.	Approaching the Asahidake mountains	To be young again. This is Korey running after a long ride day.
Gardens on the hills of Furano	Beautiful color through the garden	Lookout structure on top of hill.	City of Furano below.	View of Furano from the hill top
Volcanic mountains in the background are still releasing steam.	Our campground from the hill.	Day 6: Stopping at a Buddhist temple, the workmanship is a marvel.	Checking out the temple bell. Heavy!!	Roadside gardens such as this attract many tourist.
The sight speaks for itself.		This is beautiful just like Japan.	On the road to Daisetuzan National Park and the Asahidake mountains	We meet Satoshi on the road, he joins us for 2 days
It's a long day with a 3,000 ft.+ ascend at the end.	Roadside break with Asahidake Mountain looming.	Our home, a youth Hostel, after 3,000 ft. of climbing. We all share a tatami room. Too cold to camp,	Dining room in the Youth Hostel is set for dinner.	Day 7: Tram ride to the top, Geno and Satoshi
So much for a rest day off the bike.	Us before the arduious hike around the active volcano.	We deicde on a clockwise 7 mile loop.	The dense under growth gives ways to great open views.	Taking a break in the natural hot pools
Only Satoshi went all the way.	The 1st ascent. Geno's ahead as usual.	Beautiful views from the false summit.	Volcanic view from the top. It's getting windier and colder.	Final ascent must have been a 35% plus grade.
Large group at the top. Most people don't hike the loop.	Top of Asahidake after 6 hours of hiking. A light rain started during the descent.	Andrew's hiking shoes. Locals were amazed.	Japanese style dinner after our hike. The 1,800 feet descent was a knee killer.	Day 8: You need anything? We say goodby to Satoshi.
Purple ice cream. I can't pass this up.	Harvest time, sunrise is at 5:00 a.m.	Lots of clouds but no rain yet.	An all you can eat meat dinner. They didn't know about cyclist's appetites.	Our free campsite in Shibetsu city. Met a Japanese & Korean bike tourist.
Day 9: We encounter our first afternoon rain.	Glad the rain had stopped. The countryside is beautiful.	The views were great. Today is warmer.	Community Structure (w/ onsen) is the only place for miles.	Our free campground in the countryside.
Day 10: Local farms and gardens are a common sights.	Roadside break. Yesterday, we decided to head north foregoing the eastern part of Hokkaido due to time.	Heading to the northern most point of Hokkaido	Geno discovers a new treat at a roadside market.	Farms turn to dairies as we go north. Camped on the coast at a roadside hotel w/ a campground.
Day 11: Scallops drying along the north coast. Where are the sea gulls?	Typical roadside map showing the area. Very helpful.	We're now in dairy and windmill country.	The northern Hokkaido coast.	Locals fishing from shore. Use of multiple poles is common.
Ranches and Rice fields give way to fishing boat along the coast.	Korean and Japanese bike tourist we met several days ago.	The northern most point on Japan.	North coast view from the hill above.	Hilltop view of the nearby city. From here, we rode into a stiff headwind going to Wakanai city.
It was difficult to find this Rider House, but we finally succeeded.	The Rider House. It's 8 to a room w/ side by side sleeping. Smoking is allowed.	Gang at the Rider House in Wakanai. There were round table introductions by all.	Owner of the Rider House, doing it for 18 years.	Day 12: After a convie store breakfast, we're ready to ride to the ferry.
Departing at 11:10 a.m. for Rishiri Island. It's a 1:40 min ride.	Like before, our bikes are tied to the side. What service!	Departing Hokkaido.	Rishirifuji Mountain looms as we approach the island.	Approaching Rishiri Island.
The mountain dominates the view from the island and its surroundings.	A local directs us to a great lunch spot.	It was great home cooking. We decide to come back for dinner.	The owner gives us advice on climbing Rishirifuji.	Master Chef, a one man operation
We go for a short ride on the island.	There's a bike path around part of the island.	Coastal view from the bike path.	Our campsite overlooking the coast. The onsen bath house is across the roadway.	Day 13: Getting ready to hike Mt. Rishirifuji after biking 3 miles uphill to the start.
Round trip is 7 miles.	It's a steep 3.5 mile ascent on tough rocky terrain.	The views great.	We're glad we had the extra large rice balls (nigiri).	The trail goes through dense undergrowth.
As we near the top, clouds and strong winds moved in.	So much for the great views, We`re in the clouds and it's cold.	Day 14: We caught the early ferry to Rebun Island after a wet windy night.	The main road on the island follows the eastern shore.	Views from Rebun Island are dominated by Mt. Rishirifuji across the water.
We road to the southern point on Rebun Island looking for the youth hostel.	Passed many small fishing towns, boats, nets, floats, etc.	The fishing industry supports the local population.	Great view of the dramatic southwest coast. Most of the westshore can not be accessed by vehicle.	The youth hostel is located on the remote southwestern shore.
Views from Rebun island as we ride north along in the eastern coast.	Interesting technique for drying fish. It spins.	Dried seaweed.	Proctect cover over the eastern road.	Fishing villages abound.
Most of the young people have abandoned fishing for city life.	It's a wonderful late afternoon as I head back to the YH.	View of the youth hostel below.	Our youth hostel	It's a 40 years old structure and a popular place for young Japanese.
Beds are on the second floor overlooking the large main room below.	Visitors at the youth hostel gather to sing & dance to the sunset. There were group sing alongs and dancing until 10:00 p.m.	This is a magical place.	Group saying good night to the sun.	Day 15: We are sent off in the morning with song and goodbye shouts.
Crowded ferry back to Hokkaido.	Typical roadside sights throughout Japan are the outdoor vending machines.	There's a headwind most of today. Mt. Rishirifuji still looms offshore as we ride south down the west coast of Hokkaido.	Our Rider House in Teshio. Cheaper than camping, but very tight quarters.	The Teshio Community Center w/ onsen was nearby.
Our dinner at the Community Center.	Day 16: Early morning fisherman working the catch.	More headwinds today, 20+ mph. Lunch at restaurant in grocery store in Haboro.	What do I want?	The fruits are always nicely wrapped.
Notice the nice looking Apple-pear (right).	Stopping at a historic factory; over a century old.	This will be 69-mile day. Shrines are in every town and city in Japan.	80 year old worker at the rider house in Rumoi city. He said he has biked in 66 countries.	Rider House facilities. It's free, but donations are encouraged.
The interior walls are lined with PIC's of past overnighters.	Matsuda-san is on a 2-week bike tour of Hokkaido. His english is good.	Jay enjoying his afternoon coffee and getting acquainted.	Our sleeping quarters on the second floor.	Day 17: Pictures before leaving the Rider House. Expect it to be posted in the wall.
It`s harvest time for the rice fields.	Road to Tsukigata city where we camped for 100 yen (@$1.00).	Day 18: Korey is all ready for the expected rain. There was light rain until Sapporo; dry thereafter.	Jay's favorite Japanese snack.	Approaching Sapporo. Rode on a lot sidewalks today to get away from traffic.
Sumimasen! Where are we?	Bike parking outside our youth hostel in Sapporo.	Catching the subway to downtown.	Sapporo at night during our visit of downtown	Food court in downtown shopping highrise.
What to buy! If we wait until closing time, it's discounted.	MMMM, they all look so good!	Seeing the sights at night.	Day 19: Rest day. The TV Tower, looks like you know what.	Fountain in Odori Park, Sapporo
Commuting by bike is very common	Former Hokkaido Gov't Office	Former Hokkaido Gov't Office	Did I say that bike commuting is common place in Sapporo?	Lunch in Sapporo, one of Andrew favorite places.
Sapporo from the top of JR Tower. Cost 700 yen.	Sapporo from the top of JR Tower.	Jay enjoying the view from the top.	You even get a view when........	Summer Festival in Odori Park.
Our dinner place at the Sapporo Beer Garden.	It's a buffet dinner at a popular restaurant within the garden.	It's our most expense dinner for the trip and all the lamb you can eat.	Night view. That's it from Sapporo, it was a great rest day.