Japan Samurai Skate Movie

Day 13 Japan samurai skate Kumamoto to Aso

Day 12 Rest in Kumamoto

Day 13 Japan samurai skate
Kumamoto to Aso
Distance : 44km
Time on board : 3 hours 39 mins

Finally I, the Assoh found the Ah Soh in Aso. I could have actually taken the easier flatter but longer 77km route to kurume but decided to torture myself to go to look my buddy Joni in Aso. Aso is at the bottom of Mount Aso and its five peaks. It would be definitely uphill skate all the way for me and I chose it over the easier kurume route. Well I am sadist haha.

Though it is a short 44km skate but it is uphill all the way as I ascended from sea level to 600m elevation in the mountains. So I take a long time to reach Aso. My average speed is just 12kmh, considering I am pushing and paddling uphill all the way. It is not so bad as it seems, as it gradually climbs. Not the steep mountain pass. It is just long gradual climb, so I keep skating at slow steady pace, not to burn myself out. The view is breathtaking as the mountains of Aso appears on the horizon as I skate.

I was tempted to stop halfway and take the train but each time I reach a train station, I decided to go to next one, by then I realize I already reach Aso..

Day 11 Japan samurai skate Minamata to Kumamoto

Day 11 Japan samurai skate
Minamata to Kumamoto
Distance : 85km
Time on board : 6 hours 16 mins

Began riding at 7.42am, already is a climb 150m. Got police checking again At Ashikita. This time they warn me there is a long tunnel ahead, advise me not to go and take a train instead through their Google translation. Well, good news is I cut short journey by few km. Took train to higo-futami and resume skating. By Yatsuhiro, the roads flattens out and smoother. I am able to skate back at my usual touring speed at 15-18km/h

Just before Kumamoto, my phone battery died out cos yesterday there was no charging when I switch off the lights. I am staying in an eco hotel so they really save power. I only realise in the morning. No phone no GPS to navigate to my hostel. But there is 7 11. You can charge ur phone and got wifi and have good meal. I never visited 711 in my lifetime till now.

Day 10 Japan samurai skate satsuma sendai to Minamata

Day 10 Japan samurai skate
satsuma sendai to Minamata
Distance : 65km
Time on board : 4 hours 40 mins

Made a short detour to the samurai museum of satsuma where the movie Last Samurai is based on. Of course there was no Tom Cruise in it. Anyway my trip is called Japan samurai skate. Of course must go to samurai museum

After which I connect to route 3, then I was slammed by the coastal wind in Izumi, at least got Seaview to accompany me along the way.

Reach Minamata city at 2. 15 pm. This city is famous for its chemical pollution, which it's residents were poisoned by chemical dumps in 70s. There is actually a term Minamata disease

Day 9 Japan samurai skate Kagoshima to Satsumasendai

Day 9 Japan samurai skate
Kagoshima to Satsumasendai
Distance : 50.77km
Time on board : 3 hours 34 mins

Today I started out without my buddy Joni as she hurt her wrist. As usual I began at 8am. Found a bumpy but quiet side road beside route 3. Just followed the river then I connect back to route 3. I climb 175 m by now, I am used to climbs already.

During my break, I got stopped by police. Thank God they were very polite. They checked my bag and passport and asked usual questions, eg. What am I doing here? They can't speak English so they resort to Google translation to communicate with me. They called their investigators to come. I wait for 30min and the senior officers still asked me the same questions. Another a lot of calling on their walkie talkie. After 1 hour, I am allowed to continue my way to satsuma. They seemed impressed by what I am doing but they still had to do their job and follow the rules. I guess they haven't met jack courtney and Rob Thompson when they Skated in Japan. After skating in many countries, Cuban police were still the best, they even escort me skating in their police car into the city, like I am the president.

Route 3 road seemed bumpy, combined with hills, it is tough ride, going at average of 14km/h. Found 7 11 along the way and had my lunch. 711 there u can get free WiFi and find cheap microwave instant food but is pretty good I must say. Arrived satsumasendai at 2pm, it is a small town so there isn't any guesthouse therefore I just stayed in budget hotel

Day 8 Japan samurai skate Rest day in kagoshima

Day 8 Japan samurai skate
Rest day in kagoshima

My friend is unable to continue her journey after the accident in miyazaki, even after a day rest. So I will continue my skate to fukuoka tomorrow to meet her there while she takes train

Today is just sightseeing around. A view of nearby volcano island Sakurajima is breathtaking

Day 7 Japan samurai skate Miyazaki to Aoidake

Day 7 Japan samurai skate
Miyazaki to Aoidake
Distance :. 25 km
Time on board : 2 hours 4 mins

Started out in miyazaki at 8.25 am. We followed the route 269. We faced double combo of headwind and uphills. The plan is to ride as far as we can to kagoshima and take train by 5pm. However, we are hampered by headwind and elevation, our average speed is only 13km/h. Kagoshima is 105km away, we can't make it with this speed.

As we ride up the mountains, 15 km of long uphills. Finally reached the peak and going downhill to Aoidake. There is a hot spring at Aoidake, so just nice for a pit stop. I waited for my friend Joni as I climbed faster than her on hills. However, she crashed and injured her wrist. Thank god there is no cars around when she fell. We stop at Aoidake hot spring. I was refused into hot spring cos of my tattoos. Yesterday I was also kicked out from miyazaki onsen cos of my tattoos. This is a common Japanese bathhouse rules due to yakuza's association with tattoos.

Waited for her to finish her hot treatment, as she is unable to continue riding cos of her wrist. We took a bus to nearby miyakono hospital and seek treatment. Luckily there is no fracture, but she needs to rest for a few days. So no ride tomorrow again. We take a train to kagoshima, a city where we can find a hostel.

Day 6 Japan Train to yawatahama and ferry to usuki

Day 6
Train to yawatahama and ferry to usuki

A short ride to train and ferry to usual, the kyushu island

Impressed with the ferry, there are no seats, just do Japanese way. Save alot space. Now in the ferry, on the way to usuki.

Day 5 Japan samurai skate Imabari to Matsuyama

Day 5 Japan samurai skate
Imabari to Matsuyama
Distance : 44km
Time on board : 2 hours 30min

Started out at 8am. We begin by following the route 196 to matsuyama. It is a ride along the coastline of seto sea and we gather pace. Skating average of 18km/h and staying above 20km/h when we are on country road. Roads were mostly smooth and flat. We reached matsuyama city by 11.30am. Did some sightseeing at matsuyama Castle and have luxury food

Tomorrow we will take a ferry to Oita and train to miyazaki so we won't be riding for next 2 days. Time to rest my legs

Matsuyama Castle

Day 4 Japan Samurai skate Onomichi to imbari

Day 4 Japan Samurai skate
Onomichi to imbari
Distance : 65km
Time in longboard : 3 hours 59 mins

Started out at 8am. We took the ferry from onomichi to next island to begin our ride. Today ride is crossing 6 islands and 6 bridges. Japan built a dedicated cycling track from onomichi to imbari, just like Korea. It is easier than Korea, as there is a blue line on the road, we just have to follow the blue line all the way. The ride is mostly flat except when approaching the bridge, there are steep slopes. We have to climb average of 1km at 3% gradient on each bridge. Today my partner had her luggage sent to our hostel, so she is carrying lighter load to climb these slopes. Going downhill is exhilarating for me. I control my speed with my Westssup pole. I think I can join downhill race of they allow me to use my pole. Since today path is smoother and less traffic, I skate way faster than previous day. We reach our hostel by 1.30pm. Time to reward ourselves with Japanese onsen.

Day 3 Japan samurai skate Kurashiki to Onomichi

Day 3 Japan samurai skate
Kurashiki to Onomichi
Distance : 68km
Time in longboard : 5 hours

Cuorea Guesthouse

My partner Joni was too tired from yesterday hills ride and wanted to see more of kurashiki so she left me alone to skate to onomichi while she took the train.

It was a good decision to skate. Today was perfect and sunny day. I followed route 2 and the roads beside. Sometimes the side road can lead you to the Countryside. Detour to a Japanese temple. You never know what roads can lead you to. That is an adventure

Japan Day 2 Samurai skate Himeji to okayama, kurashiki

Day 2 samurai skate
Himeji to okayama, kurashiki
Distance:75km
Time in longboard : 5 hour 18m

Himeji Guesthouse

Started at 7 am from Himeji with rain and headwind. Skated on route 250 all the way to destination. Just after we left Himeji city, we ride into coastal road and into a fishing port. Got sea view cost hand. Of course, when skating along the mountain coast, we got uphill and lots of it.. Uphill is actually nothing to me but is downhill, I am worried with. On wet ground, makes braking and speed control This whole day is just skating all these mountain passes plus the headwind. Thank god I am trained for the headwind, thanks to new Zealand ruapuana ultraskate. Just When it get sunny, I take off my jacket then it rains again. I give up on changing clothes already.

My partner Joni had difficulty cycling uphill on her fully loaded Brompton. I skated faster than her on uphill and she is faster on downhill. So I always go ahead of her on hills and wait for her on downhill end.

At hinase, after the downhill end I waited for Joni for 20 minutes, still can't see her. I backtrack to find her and ask drivers along the way but they can't speak English and say no. I have no local Japanese sim card to contact her. And asking local Japanese in English is like finding a needle in ocean. So I pressed on to nearby town Bizen to find Internet or means to contact Joni. After trying shops, cafes and post office, but to no avail. Lucky I got the address of the hostel we staying tonight. I hurry on to okayama but it is already 4pm and sun is setting so after 75km, I stopped and took a train to kurashiki so I can get to hostel wifi and contact her

At kurashiki station, I managed to find Starbucks and WiFi to contact her. She was too tired at mountain passes so she took bus and train to kurashiki that is why I couldn't find her. Lucky we got reunited at kurashiki station and find our hostel now

What a day of adventure. Climbing mountain passes with headwind, losing my friend and found her again. Today is really up and down.

Japan Samurai Skate Day 1 Osaka to Himeji

Day 1 Japan samurai skate
Osaka to Himeji
Distance: 13km skated. Train from Osaka to kobe, kobe skate to ashaki, train to Himeji

Arrived in Osaka airport. Assembled our gears and stuff then train to kobe. Since it was late by the time we reached kobe, we had kobe beef for lunch. By the time we are ready to ride, it was 1 pm, Trying to navigate out of the busy kobe centre. It was raining. Lost our way just before ashaki and since it was winter, it is going to turn dark by 5pm, we took train to Himeji before night fall

Got into a nice hostel and visited famous Himeji castle.

Tomorrow we shall resume our ride to okayama!

Wagyu Kobe Beef

Himeji Castle