15/09/14 – 02/10/14: Shimonoseki, Japan to Tokyo, Japan

First night in Japan. Not a bad start waking up with this view out of the tent window. Yamaguchi, Japan
Everything is so orderly here. Kids walking contentedly to school in their pairs. Near Yamaguchi, Japan
Easily some of the most stunning mountain roads of the trip. This has been the most incredible day of cycling up in the mountains. Takase Lake, Japan
Epic descents. Heading for Iwakuni, Japan
The Atomic Bomb Dome. One of the few things still standing as it was directly under the blast. Hard to describe the feeling of being here and the thoughts that go through one’s head. Hiroshima, Japan
The Inland Sea, littered with islands. Takehara, Japan
Takahara, Japan
What a campsite. Watching the tankers and fishing boats cruising in and out of the protected bays between the islands. Innoshima Island, Japan
Incredible cycling infrastructure. Dedicated cycling paths around and over the massive suspension bridges joining the islands. Ikuchi Island, Japan
The last of the suspension bridges hopping over the islands to Shikoku, Japan
The food in this country is exceptional. You can’t seem to go wrong with whatever you pick and wherever you go. They just know what they’re doing when it comes to food. This guy just couldn’t stop laughing as he was cooking up our lunch. Imabari, Japan
The World is a small place. Meeting up with Nick and Louise for beers in Kyoto (they have been travelling from London on trains, buses and boats). Kyoto, Japan
There are hundreds of picture-book Zen gardens around Kyoto. Very peaceful. Kyoto, Japan
This must be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. You can just imagine all the Geisha floating between tea houses back in the day when there were more of them. Gion, Kyoto, Japan
Climbing into the Japan Alps, the heavens opened so we retired to a little Japanese Inn in the mountains. Wearing our Kimono (Yukata) and drinking tea. Gujo, Japan
The start of a 1500m vertical ascent into the Japan Alps. Up to the Kamikochi Resort, Japan Alps
Top of the climb. Feeling the leg burn. Hirayu Pass, Japan Alps
We’ve made it to the Far East! The Japan Alps, Japan – 26/09/2014
What an epic mountain road. A breathtaking and at times dangerously steep descent out of the mountains. Heading for Matsumoto, Japan
West of Matsumoto, Japan
Steam and smoke bubbling out from one of the springs in the side of a volcano. We didn’t know at the time but we were not far from the base of Mt Ontake and the day after this there was an unexpected eruption. Volcanic eruptions certainly weren’t on the risk assessment for this trip! It was awful to learn later that many people had died as a result of the ash cloud from the eruption. Heading to Matsumoto, Japan Alps, Japan
Down from the mountains and into another valley. Back amongst the agriculture and urbanisation. Shiojiri, Japan
The city of Okaya sitting in an enormous bowl with Lake Suwa in the centre. Endless vistas around here. Okaya, Japan
Near Saku, Japan
It’s raining arachnids. Not a great place to try and camp if you don’t like the eight legged types. They’re taking over. Tomioka, Japan
Great to see Matt McVicar again and have him show us around Tokyo. This is a strange place. Eight floors of Manga getting increasingly explicit as you go up the escalator. It’s hard to make sense of it. Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan
1000’s of people crossing every time the man goes green. The busiest pedestrian crossing in the world. Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
A strange day starts getting stranger. Probably the most garish bar you’ve ever seen. For some reason there are robots playing Stevie Wonder on guitars and harps at the end of the room. Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
? Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Giant robots fighting aliens and dancing to Lady Gaga. Mind is completely overloaded. Our senses have been completely spammed. Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Fighting Dr McVicar with a “lightsaber”. Trying to fit into the weirdness around us. Robot Restaurant, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Yes, these girls are driving giant girl robots with girls hanging off the side. Our 24 hours in Tokyo has been like arriving on a different planet. Don’t think anything would surprise us anymore. Actually, just after this a person in a gorilla costume came flying in carried by a giant robot dragonfly and Kung Fu Panda was charging around on a cow. Robot Restaurant, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan