Day 183 GOAAAL! The Northernmost Point of Japan & Now?

Sep 16 • Blog, Hokkaido • 790 Views • No Comments

On the day I left the city center of Wakkanai, the sun decided to shine despite the opposite forecast. The ocean was so clear I could see the bottom as I cycled along Soya Bay. With the back wind that pushed me to my goal, I got to the northernmost point of Japan, Soyamisaki (Cape Soya). I actually cycled all the way from Okinawa, the tropical southern island of Japan, to where I could literally see Russia!

Yes, I broke my hand and had some down time, but there was nothing like making it to the goal of a project that I’d been scared of at the beginning. I had stomachaches, headaches, my head full of anxiety when I was preparing for this trip, even though it was something that I thought of and decided to do all on my own. For someone who had never been on a bicycle tour to get out for a country-long, total of 5,020km of cycling might have been a bold idea, but now that I look back, this has been the best adventure of my life.

My northernmost meal of Japan was miso ramen noodles with Hokkaido’s scallops on top!

My plan at this point was to turn around, cycle back to the city of Wakkanai, and get on a train to head back south. At least that was my idea until the very moment I got to my goal. I’d only cycled 30km in this perfect weather, and everyone had told me how beautiful the eastern side of Hokkaido was. I said to myself, I’ve cycled aaall the way here, I might as well go a bit more and visit Shiretoko National Park, UNESCO’s World Heritage Site.

So I’m cycling still, just a bit more to take a look at the wild nature full of eastern Hokkaido. Cycling down on the eastern side is already showing me a different beauty with the calm Sea of Okhotsk. Happy looking cows in the huge green farms are enjoying the sun as I am.

On this day, I came across a wild northern fox as well. What a beautiful creature it was! This view, this air, and everything else feel magnified for the better when I’m on my bike. A first-time cyclist has found her life-long enjoyment, helped by many, many new friends all over the country. Now, once I visit Shiretoko National Park, I will take a ferry to visit some of the disaster areas of tsunami in Tohoku region. I’d like to pass on the love I have received from people around Japan to those who are in serious need before I head home.

« Day 180-182 Cycling with Dragonflies & Eco Power in Hokkaido Day 184 Swimming Salmon & Scallop Farmer’s Feast »