Thanks to all of my crazy adventures around Asia and the 200+ articles I’ve published here on Resurface to Reality, I finally got an offer for a sponsored motorbike trip around the Kansai region of Japan (meaning all expenses were covered). The trip lasted for a span of 4 days and we road to many places including shrines, beaches, and mountain paths that are impossible to access by car or other vehicles. Granted I wasn’t the one driving due to not possessing a full Japanese driver’s license, but I was in charge of doing photography and video as well as preparing our camp. Even though I rode on the back of the bike it was still one of the most thrilling and exciting experiences of my life. I loved the feel of the wind in my hair and the clear view of the mountainous landscape and rivers as opposed to looking at them through a foggy train window. Yeah, this is the life!
About the Bike
The bike model we rode on was a BMW F900XR that had extremely powerful capabilities. It can carry a lot of weight and has high long distance performance. I rode with an experienced driver who I had previously met before and trusted. They also were a fan of Ghost in the Shell and loved obscure places in Japan so naturally we got along well. Usually we both prefer traveling alone, but for the sake of trying something new we agreed to go on this trip together. It was amazing to have such an experienced guide with me so I could learn more about the history of the places that we were visiting. If for whatever reason our itinerary failed (which fortunately it did not), I had the option to return home via train. That’s one of the best parts of living in Japan━for the most part the road and train system is impeccable.
What’s that about a Sponsorship?
I want to iterate that there’s really no big secret to getting sponsored. This opportunity was presented to me without me seeking it. I’m just extremely passionate about travel and am always sharing my experiences with others (on this website and in real life; drunkenly at bars too). I prefer to waste no time and have no hesitations when I travel somewhere new. Naturally that draws me to other people who have similar interests. If you are interested in travel and have the time, then I encourage you to go for it and keep a detailed log of your journeys. You will thank yourself later and also have stories for ages. I am lucky that my sponsor offered me the option to go on future trips like this because I took the chance and succeeded!
Departure
The 4 day journey began on August 1st and I departed Tokyo at 6am. We had practiced riding on highways in Tokyo a few times and I was pretty comfortable with the feeling of it. However, I decided to ride the shinkansen to Nagoya Station and meet my driver at Kinjofuto Harbor so we could ensure a smoother trip. Morning traffic on the highways can be a bit rough so this way the load would be lighter and my driver wouldn’t have to take as many breaks. Kinjofuto Harbor is hilariously located next to Lego Land (which I visited exactly 3 years ago), and has easy access to the country roads. We met up around 9:30am (exactly as planned), I put on my helmet and gear, and then we rode to our first destination: Ise Shrine. This trip took approximately 3 hours with breaks in between.
Ise Shrine: Home of Amaterasu
Ise Shrine, known as “Japan’s most sacred shrine” actually consists of two shrines: The Inner & Outer Shrine. These shrines were built over 2000 years ago and are said to house the Goddess of the Sun, Amaterasu. If you’ve played the Shin Megami Tensei series, you already know that this goddess is a big deal. The outer shrine is easy to access and has areas were you can pray and buy good luck charms. I bought a pink one that looks like a magatama for hopes of safe travel. As you walk further into the forested area, you will come across a large wooden bridge that will lead you to the inner shrine. Photography is strictly prohibited here, but you can take photos from the bottom of the stairs. Reaching the inner shrine is like reaching the origin of Japan. This sanctuary is built out of sacred wood and is a cherished relic of this country. I would highly recommend coming here if you ever get the chance because I definitely felt enlightened here. For Japanese people and believers of the Shinto Gods, this is the holy ground.
Okage Yokocho
After visiting Japan’s most sacred shrine, we walked through the old-school street reminiscent to ancient times called Okage Yokocho. Here you can get your fortune told (I got moderate luck), buy all sorts of souvenirs, and try some delicious seafood! The oyster on a stick coated with soy sauce I tried was amazing. There were also cute stray cats basking in the sunlight and wind chimes adorned on some of the buildings. Though it was somewhat touristy, if definitely had an atmosphere of its own.
For lunch I had an amazing seafood ricebowl from the very first restaurant we walked passed because I was starving. You kind find udon, unagi, and sushi places all over this street but this was my all time favorite. You can’t beat the freshness of this shrimp:
Iseshima Skyline
After eating we rode for around 40 minutes and drove up a large hill to see Iseshima Skyline. You can only access this viewpoint by vehicle because the incline is quite steep and the road is around 16km. I have a video of us driving here that I will upload when I finish editing. This skyline is famous because on a clear day you can even see Mt. Fuji! I am happy that I traveled here by bike so I could experience it. My video doesn’t do it justice.
Camping on Mihama Beach
Mihama Beach was hands down my favorite part of the trip! We rode about 2.5 hours to reach here and arrived right before sunset so I could go swimming and do photography. The sunset was breathtaking and looked like something you’d see in Southeast Asia. Not to mention the beach was so remote that hardly anyone was there—just the way I like it. The people I did run into were very friendly and asked me where I was from and the usual. I wish I would have talked to them more but I was so focused on the aesthetics that it was hard for me to do anything but swim and frolic on the beach. I was supposed to go the the Philippines and Bali this year, but due to the pandemic my trips were cancelled. Mihama Beach is likely the closest I will get to being in a tropical paradise this year so I will forever travel my experience here.
My driver set up camp while I was swimming (that was super nice of them). It was a simple tent that fit two sleeping bags. I was pretty exhausted by that point, so I fell asleep immediately and barely remember “camping”. However, our campsite was gorgeous because it was right in front of the beach. I’m happy that this could be my first camping experience in Japan.
Day 1 Itinerary: 100% Completion
Though this was my first full day riding a motorbike and it was pretty intense, we successfully went to every destination we planned. The rainy season had just ended and it was extremely humid, but other than that it was a perfect ride. My legs were a bit sore from riding but I got a lot of exercise in so I was fine. I am so grateful for all the rare things I was able to see. The next few days had their itineraries slightly altered due to rain, but the setback led us to see other amazing things. Please stay tuned for the next 3 days!