TrekJapan

The wind finally let up this morning and I was able to get out and put some miles on the Trek 1.5. GREAT RIDE. Best I've had in a while. Everything went right, nobody tried to kill me and everything just fell into place. Heck the wind felt like it was at my back the whole way too.

Pics were snapped from the Katsuren-jo Castle Ruins Site. Probably 60 degrees or so. My apologies to you guys buried in snow.

RoboCheme

nice. Any more? What are the roads like? Any shoulders?

TrekJapan

Japan is as bike friendly a place as you'd ever want to find. Darn near every road in Okinawa has a bike lane although cars tend to mistake them for parking spots. Still even when you take the lane here it's yours.

John

slimvela

Um, don't make the mistake of callin anyone there Japanese, mmmkay? Been there, could not pay me enough to go back and deal with the natives. They only wanted us off that there island; and our money of course.

Too bad though, it has great diving spots.

rydaddy

Funny, I wanted to see some roads too! Nice pics though. And riding in the wind only makes you stronger.

TrekJapan

slimvela,

I've been here 3 years and spent 7 or 8 years on the mainland in Iwakuni. The Okinawan's seem themselves these days as Japanese although Tokyo dumps on Oki on a regular basis especially as far as US bases and troops are concerned.

I don't really see or feel any hate here. Yes, there's a vocal 10% or so that want us gone but heck you get that around MCAS Miramar CA as well.

My wife is Japanese (mainlander) and has a touch of prejudice against Okinawan's. They're kind of seen as stupid, slow, and fat by the mainlanders.

Long as I'm in Japan working for Uncle Sugar I'm happy. I love the lifestyle out here.

The diving is indeed exceptional. The Kerama Islands is my favorite dive spot here.

John

Kuma

Never been to Okinawa, but spent some time in the Tokyo/Yokohama megalopolis. Tokyo isn't terrible (not as bad as, say, my original hometown of Atlanta) in terms of bike-friendliness, but it isn't wonderful. I guess that many people crammed into that small of a space just doesn't leave much room for anything but mass transit. That said, the cycling community there is friendly and enthusiastic, and the drivers, being Japanese, are more polite than they are in most cities in America. Once you get out of the city, though, there are many beautiful spots in Japan, particularly if you like climbing...

Kuma

Nice pics, by the way, OP. I envy you your nice roads and most of all your weather!