Aug 24, 2017
The Best Bike Rides Around Kansai
Bicycles have long been a staple in Japanese life. Many of the roadways are built with designated bike lanes. Bicycle sheds are common at train stations to aid commuters and mechanical bicycle tree storage systems are familiar sights. Bike sharing systems and bike rental operations are ubiquitous and if you don’t have a bike, you can often pick one for up for cheap in a second-hand shop.
So you’ve got a bike and are ready to explore Kansai on two wheels. Where do you go?
Kyoto to Nara
The 45-kilometer journey between the two heritage capital cities of Japan is a popular two-wheel adventure as it covers the distance almost entirely on bike paths. Although the path can be picked up in many places, the marked route begins in Kyoto across the Togetsukyo Bridge near the center of Arashiyama. Along the way you will pass industrial sites, tea farms, and bullet trains. The Nagare Bashi crossed en route is one of Japan’s longest wooden bridges. Expect the entire trip to take about four hours.
Lake Biwa
Cycling around Japan’s largest lake delivers some of the finest scenery you can see from a bike. The entire circumnavigation covers 230 kilometers and requires two or three days but shorter hops can be constructed. Some cyclists prefer tackling Lake Biwa in a counterclockwise direction so the water is always on the left. Others favor going in the opposite direction as it tends to be with the prevailing winds. A shorter out-and-back adventure to such attractions as the Rainbow Bridge, the Ishiyama Temple, or the castle town of Omi-hachiman takes in the best of both worlds.
Japan National Route 308
There is only one way to ride a bicycle from Osaka to Nara and that is on National Route 308. The distance is about 33 kilometers which normally would require less than two hours of pedaling time, but in this case National Route 308 climbs over Kurawami Pass and is considered Japan’s steepest national road. It is also narrow and winding and one of the country’s last stone-paved roads. But as one goes through town, the 15% grade offers refreshments along the way. And your bike’s brakes are sure to get a workout on the other side.
Rokko
While the road from Osaka to Nara is a mountainous necessity, many cyclists go up Mount Rokko, all 931 meters of it, by choice. It is convenient to most of Kansai and out the front door of Kobe and Osaka. From both cities, the hill climbing begins almost immediately and the hill country offers multiple routes on wide roads. One of the most popular takes the rider along the Shukugawa River and up winding Route 82.
Shimanami Kaido
Prefer your cycling hills manmade? The Shimanami Kaido travels 77 kilometers between the islands of Honshu and Shikoku. The well-plotted out route along the Inland Sea is almost universally flat except for the approaches to the bridges. The water and mountain views encountered from the saddle make this one of Japan’s premiere bike rides.
By Fukumoto (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Aug 24, 2017
Get Inked! A History of and Places to Get a Tattoo in Hiroshima
Even before I came to Japan, I’d heard stories about tattoos being a no-go if you wanted to go to an onsen (hot spring) or public bath and a definite no-no for getting a job. As far as the Japanese were concerned, the only people who had tattoos were yakuza (Japanese mafia).
But oh my goodness, so not true. (except for the part about them being socially unacceptable). Once I arrived and started talking to people and doing a little of research, I found out some very interesting information. For starters, tattooing in Japan has a very long history. (despite!)
Like all things rebellious, it was seen as a way of giving the proverbial finger to the ruling class of samurai who imposed strict controls over all aspects of society. It’s no surprise then, that the real height of tattooing in Japan was at this particular point in history.
The boom ended when Japan finally opened its doors to foreign ships during the mid 19th century. Due to its isolation from foreign influences, Japan lacked many of the modern technologies found in the rest of Asia and other parts of the world and thus, risked being conquered.
One popular argument as to why tattooing was banned is because the Japanese government thought Japan needed to appear civilised to its Western visitors and that foreigners would find the practice extremely primitive.
Funnily enough, Japan seems to have forgotten its history regarding this matter. Even funnier, is that when I asked around about places to get a tattoo in Hiroshima, I was told by some locals that there are no tattoo parlours in Hiroshima. Hmm. Let me just say here that Hiroshima is known to be one of the most conservative places in the whole of Japan and thus, I shouldn’t have been surprised by this response.
Nevertheless, there are a number of tattoo parlours here, all doing a roaring trade and considering that us foreigners are in the minority, that means that there are a lot more Japanese people walking around with tattoos than we or they think!
Most people I asked agree that Wild Monkey is Number One and a Google search will back that up. Just to highlight what I mean, for a large tattoo that requires many hours and a number of sessions there is often a six month or more waiting list. Yes, you read that correctly!
The other place that people mentioned was Gak Tattoo.
Despite all that, I ended up going to the third main place in town. A friend made an appointment for me without my knowledge and then told me I was finally going to get them done instead of just talking about them. Thank you, I needed that push!
The place she knew and recommended is Fujiyama Tattoo which has branches in Teramachi, Furuichi and downtown near Namiki Dori.
The guys here don’t speak English, but they told me they have foreigners in all the time. Somehow, they manage to convey their messages both ways and the person is satisfied with their tattoo. In my case my Japanese friend did the fine-detail translating for me and I must admit, it was very reassuring to have someone with me to make sure I didn’t A. Freak out and leave and B. Miss out on a vital piece of information about my tattoo because it got lost in translation.
Whichever place you end up choosing to get your tattoo, remember that the artists are all professionals who will give you the low-down on before and after-care for your tattoo. They will ensure you have the best experience possible and that you’re happy and comfortable before, during and after you leave the parlour. Remember, this is Japan, customer service and appearance is everything!
Granted, tattoos and tattooing in Japan is still a slightly taboo subject, but it is becoming more popular and more widely acceptable than in the recent past, even here in conservative little Hiroshima.
Wild Monkey
広島県広島市中区大手町3丁目3－3 さんさんビル2F
Tel : 082 – 542 – 5081
Tattoo Studio Biorhythm (Gak Tattoo)
730-0043 広島県広島市中区富士見町13-1 清建工業ビル2F
Tel : 080 – 4266 – 6613
http://www.spiral-design.net/pg20.html
Email : gak.tattoo@gmail.com
Twitter : @GAK_XIII
Instagram : @gak_tattoo
Fujiyama Tattoo
(Namiki Dori branch)
広島市中区三川町6-9 並木FIT’sビル1Ｆ
Tel: 082-247-2933
(Teramachi branch)
広島市中区寺町2－31部谷ビル1Ｆ
Tel: 082-293-9499
(Furuichi branch)
広島市安佐南区古市1丁目26-7第二西村ハウス1Ｆ
Tel: 082-831-7660
http://www.geocities.jp/fujiyamatattoo007/index.html
Aug 24, 2017
Celebrate the Last Days of Summer in Hiroshima… Outdoors!
So the weather is cooling down (okay, seriously, who am I kidding?) but with the days still sunny and fine it’s the perfect time to catch the last of the summer activities in and around Hiroshima.
Two such activities are river trekking (sometimes called river tracing) and forest adventure courses.
Gonokawa Canoe Park Sakugi
Gonokawa Canoe Park Sakugi does indeed have canoeing, but one of the other more exciting attractions is river trekking. This activity is only offered during summer due to the higher altitudes of the mountains and thus, the temperature of the river water. Yes, on hot sunny days it’s the perfect way to cool down and on cloudy days, a nice way to get some respite from the humidity.
Located in Miyoshi City, it’s a bit of a drive but well worth your time and money and I guarantee you will have a blast. In our case, we really did have a blast because of the sudden thunderstorm that came up. In fact, our guide made us get out of the water immediately because we could have been struck by lightning. Let me just say our guide and the other guide leading the group ahead of us were great and made sure we were as safe as could be at all times. We took a group of elementary-age students who had no difficulties coping with the activity itself, as well as the elements.
In preparation, you do need to wear your swimmers and bring a change of clothes. There is no way you will not get wet, so if water isn’t your thing, don’t go. At some points the water may be chest deep, but you are fully equipped with safety gear to make sure you’re okay. Due to the nature of the activity (getting wet etc.) you are unable to bring a backpack and of course, no cell phones. Apart from the fact that it would get soaked by water, you literally have no time to stop and take photos and there is no doubt you need both hands free to navigate your way.
When you arrive, the guides will make sure you are fitted with a helmet, life jacket and a cord to secure your glasses if you wear them. Gloves with grip are also provided as you will need to hold onto rocks to assist you and you need protection from cuts etc. You do need to wear suitable shoes and of course, ones that you don’t mind getting wet. My suggestion is to wear long tights/leggings or close-fitting pants and a long sleeve shirt. This will not only protect you from the sun (if it’s sunny), but also from any nasties or weird things in the water.
The water is constantly running and river trekking involves not only walking through water, but up and over rocks. You will lose your balance and it’s essential to take it slowly and not rush through. Most people find the activity mildly challenging, but it’s a sure bet you will discover muscles the next day that you never knew you had!
Mominoki Shinrin Koen
The other fun activity is located in Mominoki Shinrin Koen in Hatsukaichi City. This company also has a number of other locations throughout Japan with different courses at each one.
The two main courses to choose from are the adventure or canopy course, both of which involve a sort of obstacle course through the trees, roughly 20-30 metres off the ground. The final challenge of all is a zip-line to round off the route.
We opted for the canopy course which gives you unlimited access to two routes for 80 minutes. At a cost of 2600 yen for adults or children, it’s not exactly cheap. The adventure course has four options and is more expensive for adults (over 18 years old) at 3600 yen.
Both course activities have height and weight conditions in addition to clauses that involve the supervision of children. For the canopy course, you need to be at least 110cm with a maximum weight of 130kg. Children under eight years of age must be accompanied by an adult and there needs to be at least one adult per five kids. The adventure course requires people to be at least 140cm with the same weight restriction and one adult per two children.
Everyone must sign a disclaimer form and of course, safety equipment including a harness are provided.
The courses are challenging and even adults will find themselves a little wary of just how high they are before they launch themselves across the tree canopy. If children do get stuck or are too scared to continue, the helpful guides will assist to bring them safely back down to earth, as it were.
Both outdoor activities are a lot of fun and are a great way to round off the summer in Hiroshima. Happy adventures!
Gonokawa Canoe Park Sakugi
116 Sakugichō Kōyodo Miyoshi-shi, Hiroshima-ken 728-0131
Tel: 0824-55-7050
Opening hours: 8:30-18:00 (closed on Tuesdays) ONLY open during July and August (summer months)
http://genkimurasakugi.or.jp (Japanese only)
Forest Adventure
1593-75 Yoshiwa, Hatsukaichi-shi, Hiroshima-ken 738-0301
Tel: 080-2128-0320
Opening hours: 9:00-15:00 (schedule may change due to weather conditions) ONLY open Mid-March- November
http://www.foret-aventure.jp (Japanese only)
Photo by Pauline Eccles [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Aug 24, 2017
Have a (Sand) Blast at The Glass Museum!
Summer may nearly be over, but it’s still hot outside and even though you want to go somewhere and do something, sometimes you just can’t be bothered unless it involves air conditioning and being inside.
Ah, but I have a place for you, The Glass Museum; Yes, that’s its official name.
It’s about a 30 to 40-minute ride from downtown Hiroshima out past Kabe in Asakita-ku. You can use public transport (bus and/or train), but to be honest, the easiest way is to drive. For more details, see below.
I went with a group of elementary kids and to be honest, I wasn’t sure they were going to find it all that interesting. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The first thing we did upon our arrival was make a sandblasted glass.
You can choose what size and shape you want and then the staff will explain each step. If you’re not sure or can’t remember, you can always ask, but there are instructions on each table. Yes, they may be in Japanese, but there are pictures and if you have a basic understanding of written Japanese, there will be no problem at all.
After sitting down, we chose the design or designs we wanted from a box on the tables in front of us. The designs are all printed on normal paper and range from Hello Kitty (what I chose), to flowers, greetings and any other thing you can think of.
Once you’ve picked what you want, you fold the paper up and insert it into the glass. Using a thin wooden skewer, you then apply red resign paint onto the glass, tracing your design. If you make a mistake it’s no problem at all as you can use rubbing alcohol and a tissue to remove any drips. After that the staff take your glass and place them into an autoclave for 10 minutes to dry and set the paint.
Before doing the sandblasting, you can use a Stanley knife to remove any final drips or mistakes. The sandblasting tool itself is easy to use and elementary school age students will have no problem with it.
You can choose to simply go around the design or to make the entire glass frosted. Once this is done you can peel the remaining resin paint off before asking the staff to wrap it for you to take home. For 1800 yen (including tax), it’s a relatively cheap activity for the whole family (or just the kids).
After that, take the time to explore the surrounding grounds that include an elaborate glass design, ‘garden,’ and, ‘castle,’ buildings that look like something out of a fairy-tale. The Glass Castle is particularly fun for kids as it houses a range of mirror and interactive optical illusions.
You can also opt to watch the glass-making process, partake in it or simply stroll around the actual museums marvelling at the artists who have their work displayed.
There’s also a restaurant or seats under cover if you decide to bring your own packed lunch.
The Glass Museum is open from 10am until 5pm every day except on Tuesdays and between December 26-January 1. Adults cost 1000 yen, with high school students 700 and Junior High School and younger 500 yen. This price gives you access to all buildings including the World Glass Museum, the Modern World Glass Art Museum, the World Beads Museum and the Glass Castle.
The Glass Museum
731-0201 2-Chome 12-55, Obayashi, Asakita-ku, Hiroshima-shi
Telephone (082) 818-0414
www.garasunosato.net/english
www.facebook.com/pg/garasunosat
Public Transport Access:
By JR, take the Kabe Line to Kabe Station. Exit the Station and find the bus going to Obayashi. It’s about a 15-minute ride and a one minute walk to the Museum from the bus stop.
If you prefer to take a bus right to Obayashi, one is available from Hiroshima Station.
Photo from www.facebook.com/pg/garasunosat, used without permission.
