Here are some pictures from my 7000km (2300 mile), 24 day trip around Japan. I hit the four main islands -- Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku.  I had many new and (mainly good) experiences.  I camped on a Sea of Japan beach, stayed in a youth hostel inside a Buddhist temple and even slept once under a highway bridge in Shikoku on a rainy night. I saw lots of scenery (caldera lakes, smoking volcanoes, castles, etc.) and made several new friends. Even the "bad" experiences weren't all that bad. I dropped the bike once and scraped my knee & arm a bit, I had a breakdown and I got my first Japanese traffic ticket. Since that's the worst that happened I certainly can't complain. Enjoy.  (mc 6/2000)

Year 2001 Update: I have finally created a daily trip narrative where the context of these pictures are fleshed out with text.  Start from here or use the Day n links below.

Tip: To view the full-size photos here, it is generally faster to right-click your mouse on the photo and select "Open in New Window"

Day 1 (370km): Tokyo to Sendai;  Dochuan Youth Hostel
Day 2 (230km): Sendai (Miyagi Pref.);  Matsushima
Day 2 (cont): Matsushima (Zuiganji Temple)
Day 3 (300km): Taneyama Kogen Campground (Iwate Pref.);  Jodogahama Beach;  Kuji City Culture Center
Day 3 (cont): Iwate Pref. Pacific Coastline;  Overnight Ferry from Hachinohe to Hokkaido (Tomakomai) Day 4 (170 km): Lake Shikotsu
Day 4 (cont): Sapporo w/ Chiho
Day 4 (cont): Sapporo Day 5 (210km): Coastline road from Otaru to Rumoi
Day 6 (160km): Asahikawa, Bie-cho and Furano w/ Hiroko
Day 7 (300km): Hokkaido Scenery
Day 7 (cont): Lake Akan;  Lake Mashuu
Day 7 (cont): Lake Mashuu;  Mt. Io
Day 7 (cont): Lake Kusharu;  Wakoto Elementary;  A fox;  Sunset off the Sea of Okhotsk
Day 8 (320km): Morning Departure from a "Rider House" near Shari;  travel along Sea of Okhotsk
Day 8 (cont): Shiretoko Peninsula;  Mt.Rausu (1661m);  Kushiro Marsh;  A rider house
Day 9 (375km): Mama-san at "Mickey House";  Ainu Tourist Trap;  Noboribetsu Onsen
Day 9 (cont): Noboribetsu Onsen; (Overnight Ferry from Muroran to Aomori) Day 10 (290 km): Lake Towada; Oyu Artifacts (Japan's "Stonehenge")
Day 10 (cont): Oyu Artifacts;  Hirosaki Castle;  (Aomori) Nebuta Festival Floats
Day 10 (cont): Nebuta Matsuri Fireworks
Day 10 (cont): more fireworks Day 11 (320km): Lake Tazawa (Akita Pref.)
Day 11 (cont): Kakunodate Samurai District, Sea of Japan -- camping on the beach in Akita Pref.
Day 11 (cont) Day 12 (310km) Asahi-Bandai National Park (Yamagata Pref.) Day 13 (280km) Aizu-Wakamatsu Castle (Fukushima Pref.)
Day 13 (cont): Fly Fishing (Nagano Pref.);  Nozawa Onsen Day 14 (180km): World War II Tunnels (Nagano), night at Tenkoji Temple youth hostel (Asahi-machi, Toyama Pref.)
Day 14 (cont): Fellow Travellers at Tenkoji Day 15 (400km): Korakuen Park (Kanazawa, Ishikawa Pref.)
Day 15 (cont): Korakuen Park (Kanazawa);  Miyama Youth Hostel's old-fashioned thatch roof (Kyoto Region) Day 16 (250km): (bike breakdown!);  Hamasaka Youth Hostel BBQ
Day 16 (cont): New Friends at Hamasaka Youth Hostel (Hyogo Pref) Day 17 (250km): Tottori Sand Dunes
Day 17 (cont): Tottori Sand Dunes, Inaka "Cos-Play" Event;  Matsue Castle (Shimane Pref.)
Day 17 (cont): Matsue Castle;  Izumo Temple;  Hinomisaki Lighthouse
Day 18 (250km): Wild Tanuki (Japanese Badger); Hiroshima Castle
Day 18 (cont): Hiroshima Sunset;  Nuclear Bomb Memorial Dome
Day 19 (280km): Breakfast w/ Sachiko;  Akiyoshi-dai Nat'l Park (fields of fossilized limestone); Hagi (Yamaguchi Pref.)
Day 19 (cont): Hagi (famous for its ceramics); Hohoku Camp (Sea of Japan sunset), Local Obon Festival Fireworks in Hohoku-machi (Yamaguchi Pref.)
Day 19 (cont): Local Obon Festival Fireworks Day 20 (130km): (Fukuoka) Marine World w/ Kyoko
Day 20 (cont): Homestay with the Saita's Day 21 (300km): The Saita's home;  Kumamoto Castle entrance
Day 21 (cont): Kumamoto Castle (Kumamoto Pref.)
Day 21 (cont): Kumamoto Castle;  Mt. Aso;  (spent night at Beppu, Ooita Pref.) Day 22 (470km): (AM Ferry Beppu to Misaki, Shikoku);  Matsuyama Castle (Ehime Pref.)
Day 22 (cont): ;  Matsuyama Castle;  Dogo Onsen (Ehime Pref.);  Onomichi (Hiroshima Pref.)
Day 22 (cont): Surprise Visit w/ the Okubo's in Onomichi;  Back to Shikoku (night sights in Kagawa Pref.)
Day 23 (300km): Kouchi Castle, Bridge from Awajijima to Akashi (world's longest suspension bridge)
Day 23 (cont): bridge shots, Okonomiyaki w/ Hiroyoshi in Akashi (Hyogo Pref.)
Day 23 (cont) Day 24 (660km): (hightailed it straight home on the expressway);  Japanese Communist Party Caravan