One way to make the most of a visit to japan is to get a used bicycle.
For this, you need the help of your host: not just for negotiating with the
local corner bike shop (there are lots of them), but for securing parking
spaces at your apartment, and for securing a receipt, and if possible local
registration.
You can see my bike above, in the header pix - it is a common model;
euro-style, big kickstand, single speed, rear hub brake, good strong carriers
front and back, front generator light. It looks like a girls bike - don’t worry
they all do.
The rear carrier is wider than the north american version, and comes with
prongs on the bottom for securing a load with the ubiquitous 6ft bungee cods
that wrap around it.
You can see grandmothers biking to the local grocery stores, salarymen picking
up their bikes at the railway station and riding home after a hard days work,
and kids zippping around. Only a few youth use mountain bikes or “10-speeds”.
More bike stuff to follow.
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