The motorcycle was washed to a shine, loaded into a container and sent to Australia. BMW F650GS, which the girl affectionately calls Henry, was riding a ferry, the motorcyclist herself was studying Japan. To move around this country, she also chose two-wheeled transport, but more simply - an electric bike. A new one is expensive, so a second-hand Yamaha was bought at a thrift store. In the second report, the girl talks about Japanese cars with a "chopped off" nose, police with flashlights and typhoons.
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Katya is rolling. Who is it?
Katya has been driving a motorcycle for eight years, now moves to the BMW F650GS, which affectionately calls Henry. Before the circumnavigation there were many countries and travels. And now the girl decided on a gamble: quit her job, started a blog and embarked on a motor-trip lasting a year. Just do not need to think that this was a spontaneous decision: months of preparation, obtaining visas, vaccinations, searching for the necessary information (for more details, see our first article).
Behind 15,500 kilometers, five countries. The motorcyclist managed to fall in love with Kyrgyzstan, miraculously did not have an accident in Kazakhstan, tried pilaf in Uzbekistan, admired the mountains in Tajikistan and washed Henry with a toothbrush in Vladivostok (Russia).
And right at the airport there is a "health room" where you can check and get a mask as a gift. Arriving in the country check special machines that scan fingerprints and passport. The queue moves quickly and clearly.
About the subway
After a first glance at the map of Tokyo, Tokyo begins to feel dizzy. True, using the subway several times, you quickly begin to navigate the scheme. You can get to the subway almost anywhere. There are alternatives: ground trains and unmanned monorail.
In carriages, electronic displays in Japanese and English, often indicating which side the door will open, and an exit card depending on which carriage you are traveling in.
About transport and traffic rules
Japan is the most disciplined country in terms of driving I've ever been to.
Everything is very disciplined here. Who would doubt that!
Most cars - with a "chopped off" nose. Due to the fact that the Japanese houses are small and the garages are also miniature, this saves space, and it’s also convenient when driving to intersections. Yellow numbers - for everything that has an engine capacity of less than 650 cubic centimeters. For such vehicles, the most budget insurance and lower taxes.
Yes, this does not solve the problem of traffic jams. But there is another option - paid city highways. To ride on them, you need to mount a special device in a car or motorcycle. A card is attached to the device that is tied to a credit card.
The limit on the highway is 50-60-60 km / h, but this is the only place where everyone together violates, although everything is within the margin of error, since the fines are atrocious. Speeding up to 40 km / h - a fine of up to $ 400, over 40 km / h - deprivation, a fine of up to $ 1,000 and six months in prison, improper parking - $ 150, drinking while driving - $ 20,000, prison and a fine. And pay all the passengers who sat down to a drunk car.
About cycling
In deciding to ride more than 500 kilometers by bike from Tokyo to Kyoto, I did not know about cycling at all. I can tell you about mototourism for hours, but I didn’t have a clue what kind of bike I need for a long journey, clothes, what to bring with me.
Having overcome several mountain passes, having traveled in the rain, cold and scorching heat, I really want to testify respect and respect to bicycle travelers. Those who are real heroes, and not like us, are lazy people with a motor under the fifth point.
It's funny, but on a high-speed train, the path I traveled in two weeks can be done in two and a half hours. Would I like to repeat the route? Of course! On a bike? I think no.
Of course, there are pleasant bonuses from cycling, in particular the opportunity to consider the surroundings in detail and in detail. But there are also many drawbacks: knees constantly hurt, sweat and sweat and consume a huge amount of water (a bottle costs $ 1.5), you get wet through the rain, your face is not protected, entry to some roads is prohibited.
However, I do not regret the choice of transport. I will remember many moments forever. I was able to see Japan from the inside - small towns, not just tourist centers. Often I had to overcome myself, and now I am aware that internal resources are not a myth. Cycling travel also needs accessories.
