After 2 weeks together, our group had bonded. Having lodged with 4 host families in Otowa, we cycled the few miles to the Hino Train Station, packed our bikes in travel cases, and took a local and then bullet train back to Tokyo.
We had different departure airports and times. No one looked forward to the long international flights.
Toshio's Truck, Heading for the Hino Train Station
Tea Growing in the Village.
Advertising rental bikes at Hino Station
Local Private Line Train
Managed to find a Place Offering Quality Craft Beer
Forgetting that Friday evening is when groups of business men go out to drink, eat, and socialize, all the local interesting restaurants around our hotel were filled. We ended up at the ramen bar in our original hotel.
Nancy and Lily met my San Luis Obispo flight from San Francisco around 4 pm. Good to be home.
First and Final Dog of the Day. Lily, back on our home beach in Cayucos.
Final Thoughts
Thanks to Alex and Nina for a great introduction to Japan. Wonderful healthy food and courteous people.
Cycling street etiquette: Ride on the left, even on opposing one-way streets. Riding on sidewalks is OK. Riding past a column of stopped vehicles on the left side is OK. Everyone rides bikes of all kinds, no one is rude. Saw a few near misses but no accidents.
Quality convenience stores: Seven-Eleven, Family Mart, and Lawsons stores offer a huge variety of items in small spaces, including food, and they happily will heat any item when asked.
Slippers: Japanese houses and many businesses are surrounded by slippers: on the front step, on the back step, in the entry way, in the bath room. Upon entry, one is expected to remove their shoes and don slippers, a clean practice that preserves polished wood floors. Donning slippers to go in and then out of the bathroom was new. Made me want to replace my shoe laces with velcro straps.
Upon arriving at our traditional Otsu hotel, we were confronted by a large entry lined with slippers. I kept tripping while lugging two panniers up the stairs to our third-floor room. Fortunately, Alex noted: Larry, you can climb the stairs in your stocking feet. I finally learned that slippers require a small-step shuffle, something I had failed to master, especially when climbing stairs.
Autos: Small and Square. Toyota dominates; few Subarus; many electric vehicles; small vehicles parked in small garages with inches to spare; good drivers.
Religion: I learned that shrines are Shinto; temples are Buddhist; People pay respect to their ancestors by visiting shrines; few people attend services of any kind on a weekly basis. Also, shrines are everywhere, both large and small. Corporate support of both is common.
RV toilet paper. Here is the Google AI explanation: Japanese toilet paper is often thin because it's designed to dissolve quickly when exposed to water, making it flushable. This allows for easier sanitation and prevents clogs in toilets.
Japanese Toilets: Public restrooms are incredibly clean. Japanese toilets require an operating manual.
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